1 F2008 title - Massa's lawyers give F1 and FIA another month to respond

F1 and the FIA are investigating the viability of Felipe Massa's appeal over the title lost in 2008. The Brazilian's lawyers have granted additional time to respond to their request.

Published 15/10/2023 à 11:29

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1 F2008 title – A new twist in the Felipe Massa affair?

A new episode in the Massa saga - 1 F2008 title... © Xavi Bonilla / DPPI

Felipe Massa affair – F1 2008 title, new episode. The saga between the Brazilian and the authorities of the Formula 1 continues with a new update given by the old pilot's lawyers Classic Ferrari for sale. The latter granted an additional month of time to F1 and the International Automobile Federation (FIA) to respond to the threat of legal action over the loss of the 2008 world championship.

A little reminder of the history: considering himself wronged in the loss of the world title in 2008, Felipe Massa and his lawyers sent a letter to F1 and the FIA in August to obtain financial damages. In the absence of a convincing response, the Paulist threatens legal action to recover, fifteen years later, the title obtained by Lewis Hamilton.

The former Ferrari driver, now 42, says a “conspiracy” deprived him of the world title, notably in connection with the Crashgate of which Bernie Ecclestone, the former big boss of F1, was aware, even before the end of the 2008 season.

A deadline set for November 15

A mid-October deadline had been set for Formula 1 and the FIA to respond to the August 15 complaint letter, but lawyer Bernardo Viana said in a statement released on Thursday that an extension had been agreed.

“The FIA and FOM (Formula One Management) are currently carrying out an internal investigation and have requested a final extension of the deadline they had initially requested, from October 12 to November 15, did he declare. We agreed to this latest delay because if the new administration does indeed examine the matter in good faith, it will certainly come to the same conclusion as we and so many others around the world. »

In this context, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA, confirmed that Felipe Massa had been contacted and that he was leaving the matter to the FIA legal team. “I answered him saying: 'It's up to you, you do what you think is right for you but the FIA will have to protect itself', he told the Reuters agency on the sidelines of the Qatar Grand Prix. We have our rules, our sporting rules, our statutes which say that after a certain period of time you can no longer do anything… but people can challenge that.”, added the Emirati.

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