FORMULA 1

Singaporegate--Felipe Massa celebrates acceptance of lawsuit regarding 2008 Formula 1 title: 'Tremendous victory'

Felipe Massa promises to go to the highest courts to seek the 2008 Formula 1 world title. The former driver celebrated on social media the acceptance of his lawsuit by the English courts this Thursday and stated that it was a "tremendous victory".

Judge Robert Jay, of the High Court of the United Kingdom, in London, accepted the lawsuit that Massa filed against Formula 1, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and Bernie Ecclestone, former head of the category, regarding the 2008 season title.

The defendants tried to prevent the process from moving forward even before its initial phase, but after examining the arguments presented, the English Court categorically rejected these attempts on essential points and concluded that the conspiracy theory has plausible grounds and a real prospect of success. With this, the case will proceed to full trial.

"It's a tremendous victory and a great day for me, for justice, and for everyone who loves Formula 1..."The court recognized the strength of our case and did not allow the defendants to suppress the truth about 2008. We will investigate everything thoroughly. I am more determined and confident than ever!"...The court recognized the strength of our case and did not allow the defendants to suppress the truth about 2008. We will investigate everything thoroughly. I am more determined and confident than ever! Justice will be done: for me, for Brazilians, for the tifosi, for all motorsport fans who deserve an honest sport, and for the very future of Formula 1....I am deeply grateful to my legal team, my family, and God, who has always guided me and strengthened my faith....We will go all the way, together!"...Massa assured in a post on Instagram(https://www.instagram.com/massafelipe/)

Understand the case: Felipe Massa's lawsuit, filed in 2024, is based on the scandal dubbed "Singaporegate" or "Crashgate," which occurred at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, when Renault ordered Nelson Piquet Jr. to intentionally crash during the race to bring out a safety car and benefit Fernando Alonso, who won the race.

At the time driving for Ferrari, Massa was leading the race at the time of the accident, but had a problem during his pit stop—the fuel hose got stuck in the car—and finished only 13th. The Brazilian lost the season title to Lewis Hamilton by just one point. Had the Singapore Grand Prix been annulled, Felipe Massa would have been champion.

Massa explains that the lawsuit is not to take away the title won by Lewis Hamilton, but to "correct an injustice," allowing for the recognition of both as 2008 champions.

— My fight is not against Lewis, but against a race that was manipulated. This is about justice. In other sports, results have also been reviewed. It's not impossible that this could happen in Formula 1 — he declared.

The scandal was only revealed the following year by journalist Reginaldo Leme during a live broadcast on TV Globo. Renault boss Flavio Briatore and engineering director Pat Symonds were banned from F1, but ended up reversing the decision in a French court. Briatore currently heads Alpine, formerly Renault. Nelsinho Piquet was fired from the team at the end of 2008 and never competed in the category again.

Ecclestone's 2023 Interview Made Massa Decide to Take Legal Action...Massa even considered requesting the annulment of the Singapore GP at the time, but ended up giving up due to the impossibility of reversing the decision, because of the International Sporting Code, which determines that the championship result cannot be changed after the award ceremony.

However, an interview Ecclestone gave to the German website F1 Insider in August 2023 made the Brazilian driver decide to take the case to court. On that occasion, the former F1 boss revealed that he already knew about the scandal back in 2008, but decided not to disclose the information so as not to harm the category and the FIA ​​— and that he considered the Brazilian the legitimate world champion.

— Max Mosley (FIA president at the time) and I were informed during the 2008 season about what had happened at the Singapore race. We decided not to do anything at the time. We wanted to protect the sport and save it from a major scandal. "There was a rule at the time that the world championship standings were untouchable after the FIA ​​awards ceremony at the end of the year. So, Hamilton received the World Championship trophy and that was the end of it," Ecclestone said in 2023.

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