Author: Shreyas Sharma
In a recent turn of events, former Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa has responded to criticism from Bernie Ecclestone, the former head of F1. Ecclestone claimed that Massa’s ongoing lawsuit over the 2008 F1 title was financially motivated. Massa, however, made it clear that his quest is for justice and the trophy, not for money.
The Brazilian driver’s legal battle revolves around the controversial “Singapurgate” episode during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. In that race, Nelson Piquet Jr., under instructions from Renault team boss Flavio Briatore, crashed intentionally to provoke a safety car. This maneuver was planned to benefit Fernando Alonso, Piquet’s teammate, who ended up winning the race. Massa argues that this manipulated result has affected his chances in the championship.
Ecclestone, who initially remained silent on the matter, spoke out in a Swiss newspaper, “Blick”, accusing Massa of being concerned only with financial gain. He even drew parallels with Max Verstappen’s controversial 2021 title win over Lewis Hamilton, suggesting that Hamilton and Mercedes could also have taken legal action, but chose not to.
Massa responded by saying that Ecclestone only spoke out after realizing the seriousness of the situation.“He’s probably afraid of everything that will come out with the lawsuits,” said Massa through his advisor.
In August, Massa sent a letter to the main bodies in motorsport, including Ferrari, Alpine and the FIA, contesting the 2008 title. This week, their lawyers sent “preservation notices” to these organizations, asking them to keep all related documents as evidence.
Both the International Automobile Federation and Formula One Management have until mid-October to respond to Massa’s allegations. The Brazilian driver is not backing down and is committed to his “battle for justice in sport”, as he puts it.
The unfolding legal drama adds another layer to Formula One’s complex history, raising questions about the integrity of the sport and how far competitors will go to win.