After the Crashgate scandal in 2008, the FIA too serious action against the perpetrator team Renault, imposing a multi-year ban on them. However, in terms of the race results of the concerned GP, no changes were made.
The effect of this is that Felipe Massa would lost out on the world championship that year. More recently, the Brazilian has initiated legal action challenging the validity of the 2008 drivers’ standings, and thus challenging the validity of Lewis Hamilton’s first Formula 1 title.
Lewis Hamilton responds to the Felipe Massa’s 2008 F1 title lawsuit
In 2008, Lewis Hamilton won his first Formula 1 championship with only a few corners left in the season. That same season, the Crashgate scandal took place at the Singapore GP.
Massa looked set to finish ahead of Lewis at Singapore, before the scandal shuffled the points up enough to cost him the championship that year! However, nothing was done about it and the race results were upheld. Recently, Massa initiated legal action against Formula 1 and the FIA over this matter, claiming compensation and the 2008 F1 title.
Lewis Hamilton on Felipe Massa appeal for the 2008 championship
"I'm only focused on the present moment and helping the team get back in the hunt for the championship. I'm not really focused on what happened 15 years ago." pic.twitter.com/MDevr2psYU
— MenaGrandPrixEN (@MenaGrandPrixEn) August 24, 2023
Recently, Hamilton responded to the situation, stating, “I’m only focused on the present moment and helping the team get back in the hunt for the championship. I’m not really focused on what happened 15 years ago.”
It is clear from this that Lewis is not too concerned about Massa’s legal action, with his priority being getting his team, Mercedes, back in a position to fight for championships.
But perhaps his lack of concern is reassured by the recent updates on Massa’s legal action?
Felipe Massa’s situation appears dire with latest update
Almost 15 years after losing the 2008 title, Felipe Massa is making a last ditch attempt over a a decade and a half later to claim his championship, or at the very least, compensation in terms of what he lost as championship earnings.
However, recently Sky Sports reporter Craig Slater explained that the FIA rules do not permit a situation where a championship is overturned.
Elaborating on this, he said, “So why didn’t something happen in 2009 when all of this came to light? Well, according to the FIA Statutes, once the trophy had been handed over to Lewis Hamilton at the FIA Prize Giving ceremony, there was no course of appeal for Massa or his Ferrari team.”
He explained why, saying, “So all of the competitors within the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship effectively sign up to the rules that state once the Prize Giving happens, you cannot appeal a result.”
The fresh evidence that Massa is claiming as the ground to overturn the title was also dismissed and set aside by Slater, who explained, “So even if there is this fresh evidence that in 2008, Max Mosley, who was then the FIA president and Ecclestone himself knew about this, there is no course of appeal within the FIA system.”
He even discussed the lack of other possible recourses, elucidating “Now, Massa could go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He could get a decision there. But the snag is the FIA does not recognize CAS decisions, except in the case of doping violations. So that would not help him overturn or change the result of that grand prix.”
However, Massa’s main priority is the compensation claim and not the title being overturned, to reassure Lewis and his fans even further.
Do you think Massa will get what he’s look for? Comment what you think down below!
