Bernie Ecclestone responds to Felipe Massa’s legal battle for 2008 F1 championship. Felipe Massa continues his legal battle to claim the 2008 Formula 1 world title.

Felipe Massa continues the fight for the 2008 title: Bernie Ecclestone steps in and says enough

Former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa is still fighting to obtain the long-coveted Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship title that he lost to Lewis Hamilton in 2008. With the confirmation that the famous “Crashgate” case will go to court next month, former Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone has stepped in to respond to the Brazilian driver.

Almost twenty years later, this remains one of the most debated controversies in recent Formula 1 history. It is not something easily forgotten: many believe the outcome of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix ultimately decided the world championship, which could have been Ferrari’s last drivers’ crown. Felipe Massa was leading the race until Nelson Piquet Jr. crashed into the wall.

The Safety Car was deployed, an event that dramatically benefited Piquet’s teammate Fernando Alonso. By the chequered flag, and after also suffering a disastrous pit stop when the fuel hose failed to detach properly, Felipe Massa finished outside the points. In Brazil, at the season finale, the championship went to Lewis Hamilton by just a single point. The scandal erupted later, when it was revealed that Piquet had deliberately crashed to help Alonso secure victory.

Massa’s fight takes a legal turn

Now, however, Felipe Massa’s fight seems to be taking a new turn. The Brazilian has launched legal action against the FIA, Formula One Management, and Bernie Ecclestone himself. In an interview with The Times, Ecclestone offered a sharp response: “Enough! There is no way in the world to change or annul the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. My lawyers, the FIA’s lawyers, and F1’s lawyers do not understand how this can even be discussed in court… It’s absurd.”