Massa's Quest for Justice
In a shocking revelation, former Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa has spoken out about the immense financial burden he is facing in his ongoing legal battle against the FIA, F1, and Bernie Ecclestone. The Brazilian driver is seeking justice for the alleged wrongdoing that cost him the 2008 F1 championship, which was ultimately won by Lewis Hamilton.
The controversy surrounding the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, known as "crashgate," has been a point of contention for Massa and his team. Nelson Piquet Jr.'s deliberate crash, which triggered a series of events that led to Fernando Alonso's victory, has been cited as the reason for Massa's loss. The Brazilian driver was leading the race at the time of the incident but finished 15th due to a botched pit stop.
Massa's legal team, Vieira Rezende Advogados, filed a lawsuit in London's High Court in March, seeking declarations that the FIA breached its regulations by failing to investigate Piquet Jr.'s crash promptly. The lawsuit also seeks damages to compensate Massa for the loss of the championship and the subsequent 16 years of being denied recognition as an F1 champion.
In an exclusive interview with RacingNews365, Massa revealed that the case has been ongoing for "four, five months" and has been a significant financial strain. "I hope the correct thing happens, for justice, for something that was not part of the sport that punished me big time," he said. "This is what we are fighting for, which I believe is correct, especially after 16 years and on hearing things which you never thought it was really like that."
Massa's decision to pursue legal action was triggered by comments made by Ecclestone last year, claiming that he, along with then-race director Charlie Whiting and then-FIA president Max Mosley, knew about Renault's race-fixing during the 2008 season but chose to keep it quiet to protect F1 and the FIA.
The Brazilian driver has assembled a team of professional lawyers from various countries, who believe that the outcome of the 2008 championship was unfair. "After that, I decided to put a big team together, professional people, divided by many different countries. They really believe it was not fair what happened, for the sport, and I definitely paid," Massa said.
While Massa is hopeful for a positive outcome, he acknowledges that the legal process is slow and expensive. "I never thought I was going to be part of such a thing in my life," he said. "It's not easy. It's also very expensive, a lot of money, so I really hope things finish soon."
As the case continues, Massa remains committed to seeking justice and ensuring that the truth comes to light. "We've been waiting so long now for justice, we have to hope the truth comes out and there will be justice," he said.
The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the world of Formula 1, and fans around the globe will be watching with bated breath as the drama unfolds. Will Massa finally receive the recognition he believes he deserves, or will the FIA and F1 emerge unscathed? Only time will tell.
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