Felipe Massa’s case disputing his missed 2008 Method 1 world title is heading to court docket in London this week, with Massa in search of damages on the Royal Courts of Justice.
The Brazilian filed a lawsuit in opposition to governing physique the FIA, industrial rightsholder FOM, and former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone after an interview with the F1-Insider web site in 2023.
Ecclestone admitted that he after which FIA president Max Mosley had discovered about ‘Crashgate’ from the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, however determined to not take motion to keep away from tarnishing F1’s picture. Later, Ecclestone claimed his quotes have been mistranslated.
In Singapore, Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr purposefully crashed at Flip 17 to set off a security automobile, which helped team-mate Fernando Alonso win the race.
Nelson Piquet Jr., Renault F1 Staff R28 crashes into the wall
Photograph by: Sutton Photographs
Renault officers Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds have been initially banned for his or her involvement, but these punishments have been later overturned by a French court docket.
Massa was main the Singapore race early on, however a botched pitstop below the security automobile, the place Ferrari prematurely launched him with the hosepipe nonetheless within the F2008, led to him ending off the rostrum.
He consequently missed out on essential championship factors that Massa felt price him the title to Lewis Hamilton, who gained it by some extent within the dramatic Brazil finale.
Hearings began on Tuesday, choose Sir Robert Jay reads the case information and can hear from each events concerned. It might be determined as early as Friday whether or not the trial warrants a full listening to sooner or later and, if the defendants are profitable, Massa’s case might finish there after which.
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