FIA delivers fierce response to Massa's 2008 title claim

From one of the documents that surfaced in the newly opened trial, a statement from the FIA’s defence didn’t hold back on the matter: “Mr Massa's claim is as torturous as it is overly ambitious.”

Finally, the statement ended:“Mr Massa's claim conspicuously overlooks a catalogue of his own errors or those of his team, Ferrari, during the Singapore GP and at other GPs which contributed to his overall second place finish in the Drivers' Championship that season.”

Fifteen years on from the dramatic 2008 season, Felipe Massa’s fight for justice has entered the courtroom. The Brazilian is not looking to rewrite history or reclaim the title lost to Lewis Hamilton — a defeat shaped by the controversial Singapore Grand Prix — but is instead demanding $82 million in damages from the FIA, FOM, and former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.

His case stems from Ecclestone’s 2023 F1-Insider interview, in which the Briton admitted the race should have been annulled in light of the “Crashgate” scandal.

The matter is now being examined at London’s Royal Courts of Justice, where preliminary hearings began on Tuesday and will continue until October 31. Judges will decide whether the case can advance to a full trial — a crucial step for Massa and his legal team, who are not only seeking compensation but also official recognition that the loss of the 2008 championship resulted from a breach of Formula 1’s sporting regulations.