Felipe Massa is taking authorized motion in opposition to F1 and the FIA for an alleged conspiracy to deprive him of the 2008 title.
In response to Reuters, a proper eight-page Letter Earlier than Declare was despatched to F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali and FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem on August 15.
The Letter Earlier than Declare is a authorized necessity earlier than courtroom proceedings can start, because the Brazilian’s London-based consultant, Enyo Legislation alleges that the previous Ferrari driver was “the sufferer of a conspiracy dedicated by people on the highest stage of F1 along with the FIA and Method One Administration”.
As a result of deliberate crash involving Nelson Piquet Jr on the Singapore Grand Prix – despite the fact that Massa completed thirteenth – it’s claimed that the Brazilian missed out on profitable the title thereby depriving him of tens of thousands and thousands in misplaced earnings and bonuses.
Within the aftermath of Piquet’s crash – which was subsequently discovered to have been deliberate and resulted in Renault workforce boss, Flavio Briatore and director of engineering, Pat Symonds, each being handed bans from the game – Massa took quick benefit by pitting.
Nonetheless, it was a disastrous cease with the Brazilian heading again down the pitlane with the gasoline hose nonetheless connected to his automobile and a mechanic laying on the bottom injured.
The Ferrari driver stopped on the finish of the pitlane and as his crew ran to take away the hose, the TV replay confirmed that the Ferrari lighting system had given him the all-clear. It was not Massa’s fault.
Earlier than the cease Massa has been main, whereas after the cease he was eighteenth. He finally completed thirteenth, whereas title rival Hamilton completed third.
Following the Singapore occasion simply three races remained with the title ultimately taking place to the wire in Brazil.
Although Massa crossed the road to win the race thereby claiming the title, his championship rival, Lewis Hamilton was operating sixth behind Timo Glock, thereby leaving the championship stage when it comes to factors however within the Brazilian’s favour on depend again.
Nonetheless, as Massa’s household celebrated within the Ferrari storage, Hamilton handed Glock within the closing nook and 38.907 seconds later snatched the title proper again by one level.
In an interview with the Each day Mirror earlier this yr, then F1 boss, Bernie Ecclestone revealed that he and FIA president, Max Mosley have been made conscious of Piquet Jr’s actions shortly after the occasion however opted to not take motion.
“Piquet Jr had advised his father Nelson that he had been requested by the workforce to intentionally drive into the wall at a sure cut-off date in an effort to set off a security automobile section and assist his team-mate Alonso,” stated the previous F1 supremo. “We determined to not do something in the intervening time. We wished to guard the game and reserve it from an enormous scandal.
“There was a rule on the time {that a} world championship rating was untouchable after the FIA awards ceremony on the finish of the yr. So Hamilton was offered with the trophy and all the pieces was wonderful.”
“Merely put, Mr Massa is the rightful 2008 driver’s champion,” reads the Letter Earlier than Declare, “and F1 and FIA intentionally ignored the misconduct that cheated him out of that title.
“Mr Massa is unable to completely quantify his losses at this stage however estimates that they’re more likely to exceed tens of thousands and thousands of Euros
“This quantity doesn’t cowl the intense ethical and reputational losses suffered by Mr Massa.”
Whereas F1 has not but reacted to the transfer, an FIA spokesperson stated: “The matter is below evaluate and we is not going to be offering remark at this stage.”
“I do not keep in mind any of this, to be sincere,” Ecclestone advised Reuters in the present day. “I do not keep in mind giving the interview for positive.”
In response to the Letter Earlier than Declare, Massa intends to “pursue authorized motion in an effort to search compensation for the hurt he has suffered” and needs “recognition that, however for these illegal acts, he would have been awarded the 2008 championship”.
Within the absence of a substantive reply inside 14 days, this attorneys warned that they count on to be instructed “to start authorized proceedings within the English courts with out additional discover to you”.
