Felipe Massa’s F1 court case over the 2008 ‘crashgate’ scandal opens in London’s Royal Courts of Justice today (30 October 2025). The 44-year-old Brazilian’s historic legal action is against Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA, and Formula One Management (FOM). Coincidentally today’s start date falls on Ecclestone’s 95th birthday.
In a never-before-seen F1 court case, Massa is seeking recognition as the rightful 2008 World Champion. And $90 million in damages for lost earnings. He’s arguing that the sport’s governing bodies failed to act properly following Nelson Piquet Jr’s deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore GP.
HISTORIC F1 COURT CASE
As such, Massa’s lawyers claim the FIA ‘violated its regulations by failing to promptly investigate’ the incident. If they had done so, Massa asserts that he ‘would have won the F1 World Drivers’ Championship that year.’ However, FOM and the FIA are pushing for the lawsuit to be dismissed entirely. Because it is negative publicity they can ill afford.
In its filing on the F1 court case, the FIA describes Massa’s claim ‘as torturous as it is ambitious.’ The sports governing body notes that the Brazilian’s case ‘conspicuously overlooks a catalogue of his own errors. Plus those of his team, Ferrari, during the Singapore GP and other races that season.’
RIGHTFUL 2008 WORLD CHAMPION
Meanwhile, Ecclestone’s lawyer, David Quest KC, told the court that the case was a ‘misguided attempt to reopen the 2008 World Championship. He called it ‘a sports-club-debate exercise that would deprive Lewis Hamilton of the 2008 title.’ Likewise, Anneliese Day KC, representing FOM, added that Hamilton outperformed Massa throughout the Singapore GP and the entire 2008 season.
On the other side of the lawsuit, Massa’s lawyer Nick di Marco argued that the FIA and FOM have failed to show the F1 court case ‘lacks any real prospects of success.’ Di Marco just recently represented Alex Palou against McLaren. And he insists that Massa has a real chance of winning in all respects. Judge Sir Robert Jay will hear preliminary arguments this week. And will decide whether the case proceeds, with a ruling expected by Friday 7 November 2025. – with GMM
But what do you think? Can and should the entire 2008 F1 World Championship be overthrown over the ‘crashgate’ scandal? Let us know in the comments section below …
