F1
Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA and FOM ordered to pay a fine in the Massa case
© DPPI
Several months after Judge Robert Jay rejected attempts by Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA, and FOM to have the trial dismissed, the defendants were ordered to pay £250,000 (approximately €288,000) to Felipe Massa in the "Crashgate" case. A paltry sum compared to the millions claimed by the plaintiff, to be paid within 14 days.
As a reminder, the trial opposing the former pilot Classic Ferrari for sale to the leaders of the F1 opened in October 2025. At the heart of the dispute: the scandal during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. Felipe Massa was indeed suing FOM (Formula One Management), the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) and Bernie Ecclestone, the former financial mastermind of the sport, following the manipulation of the result by the team. Renault, which had resulted in a victory for Fernando Alonso, during a Grand Prix where Massa experienced a problem in the pits, restarting with his fuel hose attached. The Brazilian subsequently lost the world championship to Lewis Hamilton, in Brazil.
The Brazilian driver was claiming £64 million in damages, arguing that he had been robbed of the Formula 1 world championship title. However, the British courts rejected his claim that he should have won the title.
For his part, Felipe Massa has not given up hope that justice will be served. I am eager to prove in court that they conspired to conceal the truth, and I will use all legal means to ensure this injustice is rectified. he assured. Formula 1 is the greatest sport in the world, but it is essential that it is also the fairest. »
However, the battle is far from over. The judge partially granted the defense's requests by referring a crucial point of law to the Supreme Court. This decision temporarily suspends the trial while the UK's highest court deliberates.
As a reminder, the Renault team orchestrated Fernando Alonso's victory at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix through an accident deliberately caused by their second driver, Nelson Piquet Jr. With the race subsequently neutralized, the leader, Felipe Massa, made a hasty pit stop. Poorly executed by Ferrari, this stop ruined his race. This illegal strategy was allegedly covered up by F1 officials to avoid a scandal and protect the sport's image.
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Paul Lucas
09/03/2026 at 09:14 a.m.
Ah, how difficult it is to fight against the "vampires" of F1... but also, alas, in many other "sports"... only money matters :(:(:(:
Ben
09/03/2026 at 05:50 a.m.
The mistake was made by Ferrari; the rest is just details. Hamilton therefore deserved his first title.
eric stevens
09/03/2026 at 12:07 a.m.
He doesn't deserve any recognition for losing anything; he lost points in Singapore because he left with the fuel hose. According to his logic, it's the mechanic who stole the title from him! He's a petty winner, a frustrated whiner. He should hold Alonso accountable, the one who came up with the idea...
Alain Féguenne (🇱🇺 Luxembourg)
08/03/2026 at 10:34 a.m.
In this case, it's only fair that Felipe be compensated, and not just financially 💵💵💵💵, but if justice is to be served, then also in the championship, and I've been saying for a long time that he's the one who deserves to be crowned World Champion…. We'll see… more to come ‼️ alainkf1@pt.lu 😎 Massa 🇧🇷 👍. Exhibition: Ayrton Senna Forever - Wickrange / Luxembourg 🇱🇺 Galleria 610 - GRIDX President: Alain Féguenne Ayrton Senna Memorial Club of Luxembourg 🇱🇺.
Hilton Leon
08/03/2026 at 09:12 a.m.
Some people still call F1 a sport. Too bad, it's not April Fool's Day.
vincent moyet
08/03/2026 at 07:19 a.m.
The courts have acknowledged that the championship was manipulated by the leaders at the time, so it wasn't pure fabrication. However, the compensation offered seems paltry. Nevertheless, there will be further legal proceedings that will benefit from this initial recognition of the facts.