'Crashgate' Returns! Felipe Massa’s 17-Year Fight For F1 Justice Begins; Seeks £60 Million In Damages

Last Updated:October 29, 2025, 13:55 IST

The Brazilian takes F1’s power brokers to court over the 2008 title controversy that changed his career forever.

Felipe Massa ended up as the runner-up in the 2008 F1 Drivers' Championship (X)

Seventeen years after missing out on the Formula 1 world championship by a single point, Felipe Massa is taking his fight for justice to the courtroom: an unprecedented move in F1.

The Brazilian’s legal battle against the FIA, Formula One Management (FOM), and former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone begins this week at London’s Royal Courts of Justice.

Massa is seeking £60 million in damages, claiming the sport’s authorities conspired to cover up the notorious 2008 ‘Crashgate’ scandal — a decision he argues cost him the title, his legacy, and millions in potential earnings.

‘Crashgate’: The Night That Changed Everything

The case traces back to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, when Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately crashed to bring out a safety car — a move that ultimately helped teammate Fernando Alonso win the race.

Massa, leading at the time, suffered a disastrous pit stop during the chaos and finished 13th. His rival, Lewis Hamilton, finished third, just enough to win the championship in Brazil by a single point.

Although Renault and team boss Flavio Briatore were punished in 2009, the results stood. Under F1 regulations, once a season is formally closed, championship standings cannot be changed.

Ecclestone’s Comments Reignite the Fire

In 2023, Ecclestone appeared to admit that he and then-FIA president Max Mosley knew about the deliberate crash before the 2008 season ended, but chose not to act to “protect the sport’s image." He later claimed his remarks were “mistranslated," but the damage was done.

Massa’s legal team, led by Nick De Marco KC, argues that this inaction violated the FIA’s own rules and robbed Massa of a fair shot at the title.

A Verdict That Could Rewrite F1’s Legacy

Ecclestone, now 94, has dismissed the case, insisting: “There is no way anyone could cancel that race."

Judge Sir Robert Jay will now decide if Massa’s case proceeds to trial, and a ruling could arrive as early as Friday.

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

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News sports 'Crashgate' Returns! Felipe Massa’s 17-Year Fight For F1 Justice Begins; Seeks £60 Million In Damages

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