Former Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa will be allowed to continue his legal battle over the world championship he lost in 2008. The High Court in London ruled on Thursday that it will admit the Brazilian’s lawsuit against the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Formula One Management (FOM), and former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. Beyond the title itself, Massa is seeking at least 75 million euros in lost prize money, sponsorships, and commercial opportunities.
The lawsuit, filed in March 2024, centers on the infamous “crashgate” scandal. The case traces back to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, where Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately crashed his Renault into the barriers, triggering a safety car at a moment that directly benefitted his teammate Fernando Alonso. Until that incident, Massa had been comfortably leading the race, but the manipulated crash overturned the result.
The full truth came to light later, leading to the suspension of Renault officials Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds. Massa argues that without the orchestrated accident he would have secured enough points to win the championship over Lewis Hamilton, who ultimately claimed the title by a single point. The FIA, FOM, and Ecclestone deny all accusations, asserting that Massa performed poorly in that race and that the lawsuit was filed too late.
However, Judge Robert Jay concluded that while Massa is unlikely to prove that the FIA owed him a direct duty, he does have “a realistic prospect” of demonstrating a conspiracy and the use of illegitimate means that may have influenced the final outcome of the championship. With this ruling, the Brazilian is cleared to move forward with one of the most controversial and high-profile legal challenges in modern Formula 1 history.
