Felipe Massa’s Attempt to Alter 2008 F1 Championship Sparks Controversy

Former Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa has stirred up a storm by initiating legal proceedings against the FIA, FOM, and ex-F1 president Bernie Ecclestone, aiming to challenge the outcome of the 2008 drivers’ championship. Massa contends that he was the rightful champion and seeks $82 million in compensation, alleging lost prize money and damages due to missed earnings.

The crux of Massa’s argument revolves around the ‘Crashgate’ scandal during the Singapore GP, where Nelson Piquet Jr intentionally crashed his car to aid Fernando Alonso’s victory. Massa, leading the race at the time, was adversely affected after pitting under the subsequent safety car, ultimately finishing 13th and losing the championship to Lewis Hamilton by a single point.

Frentzen jokes about Massa case

Former F1 driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen has ridiculed Massa’s endeavor, likening it to his own experience in 1997 when he finished behind Jacques Villeneuve. Frentzen humorously suggested seeking legal recourse for allegedly illegal fuel use, emphasizing the impracticality of revisiting historical results.

“I think Jacques in 97 was running illegal fuel, I am looking for a lawyer as well,” Frentzen joked, writing on his official X account. “Please for those who don’t think I am funny, I did run the same fuel like Jacques and I finished officially 2nd in the F1 championship.”

The legal firm representing Massa, Vieira Rezende, alleges that if the FIA had acted appropriately, Massa would have been crowned the champion in 2008. This assertion is supported by Ecclestone’s revelation in 2023, where he admitted awareness of potential breaches during the season but chose not to intervene. Ecclestone’s acknowledgment that the race should have been cancelled adds weight to Massa’s case for championship status.

“But to be serious this time, my opinion is that the sport we love is as good as it is designed to be. The traditional rules that 2 hours after official results are confirmed there is no chance to appeal. For the simplicity sake. F1 Sport is here for entertainment. At least that was my job description when I entered a foreign country at custom.”

The move by Massa has divided opinions within the F1 community, with some questioning the feasibility of retroactively altering championship outcomes. The controversy underscores the intricacies of sports governance and the challenges in revisiting past events to rectify perceived injustices.