Felipe Massa: Former Ferrari F1 driver faces wait on £64m claim over Lewis Hamilton's 2008 World Championship

Felipe Massa, the former Formula 1 driver from Brazil, is facing a lengthy wait to discover whether he can pursue a £64 million claim against several high-profile figures over the 2008 World Championship. The dispute centers on allegations that Massa was unfairly denied the title after a deliberate crash by his teammate Nelson Piquet Jr at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Massa claims that Mr Bernie Ecclestone, then the head of Formula One, and the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) governing body were complicit in a cover-up. The Brazilian driver maintains that he was the rightful winner of the championship, which he lost to Lewis Hamilton by just one point.

According to Massa's lawyers, Ecclestone and the FIA should have investigated the deliberate crash more thoroughly. Massa is seeking damages for loss of earnings and sponsorship as well as declarations that the governing body breached its own regulations.

The case has been delayed, with the High Court in London telling a judge it had "judgment reserved" pending further consideration. Ecclestone's lawyers argue that Massa's claims are without merit, stating he performed poorly in the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix and lost the championship due to his own actions.

Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, expressed interest in Massa's case, citing the potential precedent it could set for similar disputes in the future. However, Nick De Marco KC, representing Massa, maintains that the defendants cannot rule out Massa's claims without a full trial, arguing that the declarations he seeks are the "most effective means of doing justice" in his case.

The highly publicized case is a fresh chapter in one of the most infamous scandals in F1 history.

Ugh, can't believe this is still going on . Like, come on, Massa was robbed of that title fair and square. It's not like he crashed on purpose (he didn't, btw). The whole thing with Piquet Jr's deliberate crash just makes it even more suspicious. And now they're saying Ecclestone and the FIA were in on it? That's wild. I don't get why Wolff is all for it though. Doesn't he know that this is basically a case of "my teammate screwed me over"? Wouldn't want to set a precedent like that...

Massa's 2008 drama still hasn't aged well . I mean, who needs a decent investigation when you've got a good PR spin job? Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA were just trying to keep the peace... and their reputation intact . It's not like they had anything to hide (cough). Meanwhile, Felipe Massa is still waiting for his £64 million payday . I'm sure it'll be worth it in the end... when he finally gets around to proving all those claims . Toto Wolff thinking this case could set a precedent? More like a PR stunt to distract from their own team's mistakes .

I'm still amazed how much drama there was back in 2008 . I mean, who knew that a deliberate crash could cause so many problems? It's crazy to think about how this whole thing went down and how long it took to get to court. I remember watching the Singapore GP and being like "wait, what just happened?"

I don't know if I'd say Massa is entirely in the right or wrong here, but I do think there should have been more of an investigation into that crash. It's a pretty serious allegation, so I'm not surprised that Massa wants some answers .

And can we talk about Bernie Ecclestone for a sec? He was always known for being a bit shady, but this takes the cake. I mean, is he really going to try and defend himself against these claims?

I'm intrigued by Toto Wolff's interest in this case, though. It could be interesting to see how it all plays out. But at the end of the day, justice should be served .

I'm so confused about this whole thing... like, how could Mr Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA just ignore what really happened at that Singapore GP? Massa was basically robbed of his rightful title and now he's trying to get justice for it. It seems like Toto Wolff is being all cool and saying that this case could set a precedent, but I don't think that means we should just take both sides' words at face value. What if Massa was telling the truth about what happened? And wouldn't it be weird if Ecclestone's lawyers are trying to downplay everything and say Massa is being a sore loser? I don't know, man... this whole thing just feels like one big mess. Can someone explain it in simpler terms for me?

OMG u guyz! I cant even imagine Massa gettin all that $$$ from Bernie & the FIA!!! he deserves it tho, they literally ruined his chances at winnin the title! he was robbed! that deliberate crash by Piquet Jr was SO suspicious. and can u believe Ecclestone's lawyers are tryin to tell Massa that HE caused his own downfall? like, no way!!! anywayz, I'm all for it tho, Massa should get every penny of that £64 million! he's the real MVP (Most Valuable Punter?)

OMG u guys i cant even believe massa is taking on ecclestone & the fia over that 2008 singapore gp incident lol remember when ppl thought it was just piquet jr being reckless but now we know he was like a puppet on strings my bro's cousin's bestie worked with ecclestone at one point and he said bernie's always been a sneaky one anyway, i feel bad for massa cuz he had that championship snatched from him maybe his lawyers can prove that it wasn't just a stupid crash but a deliberate act gotta keep an eye on this case u guys

I'm low-key excited about this case Massa's story sounds like something straight outta Ocean's Eleven (if it were a Formula 1 drama ). I mean, who wouldn't want to take on Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA? It's like playing David vs Goliath. On one hand, you've got these powerful figures trying to cover their tracks, but on the other, you've got Massa fighting for what he believes is right.

It's also interesting to see Toto Wolff getting involved . Maybe he sees an opportunity to set a precedent and create some changes in F1 history. I'm curious to know how this all unfolds . Will justice be served? Or will the system ultimately prevail? Only time (and a lot of drama ) will tell!

This whole thing still feels pretty fishy to me . I mean, we all know what really went down that day at Singapore - it was a deliberate crash by Piquet Jr and everyone knew it at the time, but somehow it got swept under the rug. It's not like Massa is just some bitter loser who can't accept defeat... he was genuinely robbed of the championship title . I think it's pretty reasonable that Massa wants some answers and maybe a bit of justice after all these years . The fact that Toto Wolff is coming out in support of his case just makes me think there might be some truth to it... or at least, a whole lot more drama than we thought .

I THINK IT'S KIND OF SAD THAT MASSA IS STILL WAITING TO GET ANSWERS ABOUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN THE 2008 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!!! I MEAN, COME ON GUYS! IF YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE OUT A TITLE, MAKE SURE IT'S FAIR AND SQUARE!!! MASSA DESERVES TO KNOW WHETHER HE WAS RIGHTFULLY ROBBED OF HIS CHANCE AT THE TITLE

This whole ordeal reeks of a massive cover-up, and I'm not surprised Felipe Massa is still fighting for justice all these years later . The fact that Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA are dragging their feet is just icing on the cake . It's high time someone took responsibility for what went down in Singapore 2008, and I hope Nick De Marco KC gets his way in court .

The potential precedent this case could set for future disputes is enormous, especially considering the shady dealings that were allegedly involved . It's interesting to see Toto Wolff getting on board with Massa's cause, but at the end of the day, it's all about doing what's right and holding people accountable .

This whole saga just highlights how much power Formula 1 drivers have in their hands when they speak out against injustice . It's a delicate balance between speaking truth to power and potentially jeopardizing one's career, but I think Massa has done the right thing by fighting for his rights .

Ugh I'm so done with this whole thing ! Can't believe it's been 15 years and Massa is still trying to get some justice . I mean, come on Bernie Ecclestone was basically accused of orchestrating a cover-up and nobody did anything about it . It's like they all just wanted to sweep it under the rug.

And now Toto Wolff is trying to say that this case could set a precedent? Like, good luck with that . Nick De Marco KC is right though, without a full trial you can't really know what happened. But at the same time, it's not like Massa's going to get any younger from waiting around .

This whole situation just feels so messed up and unfair . The fact that the FIA didn't even bother to investigate properly is just crazy . I hope they finally get some answers, but I'm not holding my breath .

I don’t usually comment but I think it’s kinda wild that Felipe Massa is still going on about this 2008 thing The whole situation with Nelson Piquet Jr's deliberate crash and Ecclestone covering it up is pretty shady, imo It's been a long time since then, but if Massa really believes he was robbed of the title, I don't think he should give up on it. Maybe this case can finally bring some closure to all the people involved And yeah, having Toto Wolff on board as an interested party is interesting - maybe his team has something to gain from Massa's claim or something

Man ... can you believe it? The 2008 Singapore GP crash still has me shaking my head . I was glued to my TV, and I know what really happened on that track. Nelson Jr deliberately crashed into Felipe's gearbox, and the FIA just covered their tracks . It's unbelievable they haven't done more to investigate it all these years.

And now Massa is still fighting for justice . £64 million? That's a small price to pay for what he went through . I'm not surprised his team principal, Toto Wolff, is backing him out . It's about time someone stood up for the guy who got robbed of that championship title.

The FIA and Bernie Ecclestone think they're above the law? Give me a break . This case should be settled a long time ago, but I guess it's all about setting a precedent for future disputes . My money's on Massa winning this thing ... fingers crossed!

Ugh I'm torn about this whole thing... on one hand, it's crazy that Felipe Massa still hasn't gotten the recognition he deserves for being robbed of the title , and if his case goes through, it could be a big win for other drivers who feel screwed over by the system. But on the other hand, I'm skeptical about how believable his claims are... I mean, Nelson Piquet Jr's deliberate crash was a pretty blatant move, and you've got to wonder if Massa is just trying to stir up drama . And then there's Bernie Ecclestone, who's basically a figure of legend in F1 - if anyone knows the ins and outs of the sport, it's him . Still, I think it's worth investigating further... maybe we'll finally get some closure on this whole mess

.. I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing . I mean, who knew Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA could be involved in something like this? Back in my day, we didn't think about all that fancy stuff going on behind the scenes... just racing, baby! But seriously, it's crazy that Felipe Massa is still fighting for what he feels is rightfully his. I'm kinda rooting for him, you know? It's not every day you see someone from Brazil take on the big boys like Ecclestone and Hamilton. And who knows, maybe Toto Wolff was just trying to stir up some drama... but either way, it's gonna be a wild ride. Can't wait to see how this all plays out!

can you believe this is still going on after all these years? massa's claim is pretty legit, i mean who doesn't think that piquet's crash was suspiciously convenient for hamilton to win? and now it's coming down to whether the fia and ecclestone can just brush it off or not. but honestly, the whole situation still feels like a conspiracy theory from back in 2008 even if massa did have a decent season, losing by one point is pretty harsh

this whole situation with Felipe Massa just got juicier i mean, we all know about the 2008 Singapore GP debacle where Nelson Piquet Jr deliberately crashed his car to help Lewis Hamilton win the title but now it's coming to light that Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA might've been in on the cover-up what a plot twist! Massa deserves justice for being robbed of his rightful championship win i hope Toto Wolff's interest in the case means he'll actually help get truth out there

I'm utterly perplexed by the complexity of this situation. The allegations against Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA governing body seem to be riddled with inconsistencies . If Massa's claims are to be believed, it would imply a level of corruption that's hard to fathom in the world of motorsports. I'm not sure if I buy into Massa's narrative that he was unfairly denied the title, but at the same time, I can understand why he'd want to pursue his case in court .

The potential precedent this could set for future disputes is indeed intriguing . It'll be fascinating to see how this case unfolds and what kind of resolution Massa will reach with his claim . I'm also curious to know more about the role that Nelson Piquet Jr played in all of this, given the allegations of a deliberate crash .

It's a shame that this case has been delayed for so long – justice does seem to be taking its sweet time . I just hope that when it finally reaches its conclusion, we'll get some clarity on what really went down in 2008 .

I'm low-key fascinated by this whole thing ! Massa's claim about Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA covering up the crash is wild, but at the same time, it makes sense? Like, who wouldn't want to investigate a deliberate crash that cost them the title? The way his lawyers are pushing for justice through declarations is a good point too - it's not just about the damages, it's about making sure the governing body holds up to their own rules.

And omg, Toto Wolff getting involved is like, totally unexpected! I don't know if he's doing this out of solidarity with Massa or something, but it's definitely interesting. The fact that Ecclestone's lawyers are saying Massa's claims are without merit just shows how defensive they must be feeling .

I'm still rooting for Massa to win his case - I think it'd be a major victory for him and for transparency in F1. And even if he doesn't, this whole ordeal is gonna be a wild ride to watch unfold ️