Former System One driver Felipe Massa stated on Monday he had filed a lawsuit in a London courtroom in opposition to auto racing’s governing physique FIA, collection proprietor System One Administration (FOM) and FOM’s former CEO Bernie Ecclestone amid his try to say the 2008 title.
The 42-year-old Brazilian added that he’s looking for to obtain an quantity in damages that he didn’t disclose.
– Unlapped: Learn how to pay attention or watch ESPN’s F1 present
Massa, who has stated since final yr he’s the “rightful” champion of 2008 as a result of incident generally known as ‘Crashgate,’ was the runner-up within the Driver’s Championship to Lewis Hamilton.
Former Ferrari and Williams driver Massa stated in an announcement his case can be heard on the King’s Bench Division of the Excessive Courtroom.
Massa, who retired in 2017, was main the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix when fellow-Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr. intentionally crashed his Renault into the wall on lap 14 of the 61-lap race.
The crash triggered a security automobile that benefited his staff mate Fernando Alonso, who went on to win whereas Massa failed to attain after a bungled pitstop.
Hamilton, racing for McLaren on the time and now an honorary Brazilian citizen, finally beat Massa by a degree for the primary of his record-equalling seven championships.
Michael Schumacher, Massa’s former Ferrari staff mate and shut buddy of the Brazilian throughout his racing profession, is the one different driver to have gained seven titles.
F1 had a rule on the time that the result of a championship couldn’t be modified after the tip of season awards ceremony.
Info from the Related Press and Reuters contributed to this report