Felipe Massa has clarified Lewis Hamilton’s role in his lawsuit against the FIA, seeking the reversal of the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship result.
Massa has initiated legal action against the FIA in hopes of reclaiming the title he lost to Hamilton by just one point that season. His grievances are centered around the infamous ‘Crashgate’ scandal during the Singapore Grand Prix, where Renault instructed Nelson Piquet Jr. to deliberately crash, leading to a safety car period that allowed his teammate Fernando Alonso to win the race.
At the time, Massa was leading but faced a pit stop error when the safety car came out. He attempted to leave the pits with a fuel hose still attached, forcing him to stop until his mechanics could reach him. This mistake resulted in him finishing 13th, costing him 10 crucial points in the championship standings.
After a seventh-place finish in Japan, Massa found himself behind Hamilton, who could only manage a 12th in that race. However, Hamilton had already gained an advantage by defeating Massa in China before the dramatic finale in Brazil. Massa thought he had secured the championship when he crossed the finish line first in Interlagos, but Hamilton passed Toyota’s Timo Glock in the final corner under changing weather conditions, clinching fifth place and the title.
If Massa’s case is successful, it could mean Hamilton would lose one of his record seven championships. In a recent interview with Motorsport.com, when asked if he had discussed the lawsuit with Hamilton, Massa simply replied, “No.” He emphasized that his focus is not on Hamilton but rather on the integrity of the sport, seeking the annulment of points from the Singapore race.
“To be honest, this is not a battle with Lewis,” Massa explained. “Lewis has nothing to do with this struggle. This is about those involved in the race that was not fair. The fight is about this race being canceled.”
Massa has not come close to another championship since 2008. Following that season, Brawn GP emerged as a dominant force in 2009, and Fernando Alonso became the main figure at Ferrari from 2010 onwards. Massa’s former engineer, Robert Smedley, recently shared in a podcast that Massa reacted with “uncontrolled” tears after the devastating outcome at Interlagos, while Ferrari technicians were celebrating in the garage before Hamilton’s crucial move.
After the disappointing qualifying sessions in Singapore, former Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo jokingly told Massa that Piquet should cause a safety car to give him a chance for points. This remark angered Massa.
Regardless of the events of 2008, many of Hamilton’s fans will likely believe he deserved another championship, especially considering the controversial decisions made by FIA race director Michael Masi during the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which ultimately affected Hamilton’s chances at an eighth title.
