The Crashgate affair is far from over. Eighteen years after the scandal that marred the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, Felipe Massa continues his legal battle against Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA, and Formula One Management (FOM). This battle has just entered a new phase with the intervention of the British Supreme Court.
Massa: "I lost my peace of mind because I knew I had been deprived of something."
The representatives of the FIA, FOM and Bernie Ecclestone seek to prevent the case from being examined in a full trial. Their objective is clear: to overturn the High Court's decision that had authorized Felipe Sponge to pursue some of its claims.
The old pilot Classic Ferrari for sale is claiming tens of millions of dollars in damages, arguing that the events of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix directly influenced the outcome of the world championship won that year by Lewis Hamilton.
The still-burning memory of Singapore 2008
At the heart of the case is the deliberate accident caused by Nelson Piquet Jr.. on instructions from Renault in order to favor the victory of his teammate Fernando Alonso.
The intervention of the safety car had then plunged Classic Ferrari for sale in chaos. Felipe Massa had left his pit with the fuel hose still attached to his car, an error that had cost him valuable points in the title race.
The Brazilian never hid his bitterness.
"I lost my peace of mind because I knew I had been deprived of something." ", told Mass.
"This championship was a constant battle. I achieved the most wins that season and secured the most pole positions."
A case with potentially historic consequences
Even if the court does not rule on a possible reassignment of the 2008 world title, the proceedings could have major consequences for the image of the Formula 1.
A legal victory Sponge would open the door to new disputes concerning the handling of past sporting scandals and would raise the question of the responsibility of governing bodies when a competition is manipulated.
The defendants have already been ordered to pay part of the legal costs incurred by the former Ferrari driver, proof that the case is being taken very seriously by the British courts.
A verdict awaited by the entire paddock
The Supreme Court's decision will be crucial for the future of the case. If the appeal...Ecclestone, of the FIA and of FOM is rejected Felipe Massa will be able to pursue its legal action in a highly publicized trial.
Conversely, a decision in favor of the governing bodies could definitively end one of the longest legal sagas in modern history. Formula 1.
Nearly two decades after the events, the specter of Crashgate continues to haunt the paddock and could still hold a few surprises.
