Bernie Ecclestone, F1, and FIA granted appeal in £64 million Felipe Massa court case

Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA, and Formula 1 have been granted an appeal against the verdict to allow Felipe Massa's £64 million court case to go to full trial by the UK Supreme Court. 

In October 2025, Massa attended a three-day hearing at London's High Court, with RacingNews365 present throughout, as he sought to take former F1 CEO Ecclestone, F1's governing body the FIA, and FOM itself to trial to seek damages over the handling of crashgate in 2008. 

Massa was seeking £64 million in damages after he alleged a 'conspiracy' between Ecclestone and then-FIA president Max Mosley in that they became aware during the 2008 Brazilian GP weekend that Nelson Piquet Jr had crashed on purpose in Singapore. 

Ecclestone and Mosley maintained that they only became aware in 2009 when Piquet went public with his claims. 

Massa was not seeking to overturn the 2008 championship, won by Lewis Hamilton, but to be declared publicly as the rightful champion. 

In the course of the three-day hearing, Mr Justice Jay ultimately decided that Massa could proceed to a full trial of the UK High Court, but only for one of the claims he initially lodged, this being for tort of unlawful means conspiracy. 

Lord Justices Reed, Hamblen, and Richards granted the appeal on June 4th.

RacingNews365 has approached Massa's lead lawyer Nick de Marco KC for comment. 

When approached, an F1 spokesperson offered 'no comment' on the decision to allow the appeal. 

When approached, an FIA spokesperson declined to comment.