Massa 'has right' to pursue 2008 title justice - Smedley

Felipe Massa has the "personal right" to pursue legal action over the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship, according to ex-engineer Rob Smedley.

Smedley was Massa's engineer during the Brazilian's spell with Ferrari, culminating in a challenge for the 2008 title against McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, who emerged victorious by a single point.

However, the controversial Singapore Grand Prix is subject to legal action from Massa after then-F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone claimed that he was aware during the season that Renault had ordered Nelson Piquet Jr to deliberately crash.

It was under the resulting Safety Car that Massa pitted from the lead, but drove off with the fuel rig still attached after a mistake, finishing a lap down and in the points.

Massa has told RacingNews365 that he wants to clear up misconceptions around the case and how it is different to the 1994 and 2021 deciders, which were both controversial and while Smedley does keep an eye on the case, he is largely focused on the future, including his all-electric karting series.

"I've always been a person that, whatever happened yesterday, whether it was good or bad, I get up and dust myself off and move on," Smedley told The Race.

"More pots and pans, more medals whatever you want to call it, is fairly meaningless for me. I'm interested in what's happening today and tomorrow and the day after that. But that's my personal opinion.

"What I will say is this is something that Felipe feels strongly about. It's no secret that Felipe is a really good pal of mine.

"If this is something that he feels strongly and passionately about - and he when he talks about it he's very compelling and convincing in the fact that he's doing this for what he feels is justice - everybody should have their personal right to pursue whatever they feel is just.

"That’s the case with Felipe here.

"There's a lot of different parties involved, we're starting to look back at the past. Where this will end I've got no idea.

"I keep a watching brief on it, that's all I can or want to do. It’s of interest but if it does get flipped, what does that open up at that point in terms of sporting decisions, not only in Formula 1, but in the past?

"That's not to say that's right and wrong, I'm not trying to fall on either side of the fence. It's just a really interesting element of all of this.

"If there is a decision that favours what Felipe's gone after, that will then be very interesting in general how sport deals with past unjust decisions."