Massa files 'Crashgate' lawsuit against FIA and FOM

Former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa has officially filed a lawsuit against the FIA, FOM and ex-F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone over the events of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

Representatives of the Brazilian confirmed on Monday that a lawsuit has been lodged against the three mentioned parties in the High Court of Justice.

In what is an incident recognised around the world as 'Crashgate', Nelson Piquet Jr deliberately crashed at the Marina Bay Circuit in 2008 to trigger a safety car, allowing teammate and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso to claim the win.

Massa failed to score a point on the day following a disastrous pit-stop, which saw him leave his pit box with the fuel hose still attached - the incident happening under the same safety car.

Little was made of the situation until it was confirmed in 2009 that Piquet Jr had crashed intentionally, although at that point Massa was informed that it was too late to change the results.

Had the race results not counted, Massa would have been crowned world champion later that year instead of Lewis Hamilton.

'Unsuccessful' attempts at finding a solution

The saga was brought back up last year following an interview Ecclestone did, which he has no recollection of, where he admitted that there was enough evidence available at the time for Renault to have been investigated and the results not counted.

A statement from Brazilian law firm Vieira Rezende Advogados read: "Mr Massa is seeking declarations that the FIA breached its regulations by failing to promptly investigate Nelson Piquet Junior's crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix and that had it acted properly.

"Mr Massa would have won the drivers' championship that year. Mr Massa also seeks damages for the significant financial loss he has suffered due to the FIA's failure, in which Mr Ecclestone and FOM were also complicit."

The ex-F1 driver's legal team submitted questions to both the FIA and FOM last year, although their approaches have been unsuccessful following delays, including the 2023 summer break.

The statement added: "Attempts to find an amicable resolution have been unsuccessful, leaving Mr Massa with no choice but to initiate legal proceedings."