“Ball Is in Their Court”: Mind Games Erupt Between FIA & Felipe Massa as Fight to Snatch 2008 F1 Title Away From Hamilton Heightens

When a championship battle in Formula 1 is as intense as in 2008, one moment can change everything. For Felipe Massa, that moment was what’s infamously come to be known as Crashgate. Driving for Ferrari back then, Massa was up against McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton. Eventually losing the championship by just one point, Massa believes what transpired during the Singapore GP lost him the title. Crashgate is one of the biggest scandals in F1 history, but it’s been 15 years since then. Why is Massa bringing this up now?

Recently, the Brazilian heard the FIA had conclusive evidence to dismiss the Singapore GP’s results owing to Crashgate. Seeing how it didn’t take action in 2008 after knowing what happened, he’s filed a $13 million lawsuit against the FIA to claim the title. And now, he’s given the FIA an ultimatum.

Felipe Massa is done waiting around for the FIA to respond

For 15 years, Massa believed he’d lost the title on track. He believed that—while Crashgate tipped the title in Hamilton’s favor—he couldn’t have done anything to change the outcome. But then-F1 owner Bernie Ecclestone said, “We wanted to protect the sport and save it from a huge scandal. I still feel sorry for Massa today. He was cheated out of the title he deserved, while Hamilton had all the luck in the world and won his first championship.” This instigated the lawsuit against the FIA to strip Hamilton of his first title.

Filed almost a month ago, the FIA has still not responded to the accusations. It hasn’t even acknowledged what Massa has to say. In an interview with Reuters, one of Massa’s lawyers, Bernardo Viana, revealed the ultimatum they’ve handed to the FIA. “The ball is in their court. We’ve been waiting for their response. They asked for more time until mid-October, and in good faith, we have agreed to that.” 

Read More: Amid Lewis Hamilton Rejecting Liability, Felipe Massa Accuses FIA of ‘Manipulation’ Over Crashgate Scandal

With Massa’s team having kickstarted the mind games, the FIA has a month to take action. If it doesn’t, this case will be going to court, and the FIA will have no option but to be party to the proceedings. Amidst all this, Massa revealed he’s also expecting Ferrari’s support (even though he hasn’t gotten it), considering he’s also fighting for its title.

Kimi Raikkonen isn’t Ferrari’s most recent champion

The 2008 season wasn’t the first time Hamilton was involved in a season-long championship battle. In his rookie season, he went up against Fernando Alonso (his McLaren teammate) and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen. With Hamilton and Alonso losing by just one point to Raikkonen, the Finn is Ferrari’s most recent champion. Well, that’s not what Massa thinks. As reported by Express.co.uk, Massa said, “I have one certainty: that title is mine and it is Ferrari’s 16th drivers’ title.”

To add to this, he called out Ferrari for not having supported him yet. “I have hired a team of very strong lawyers. We will fight to the end to obtain justice in this sport. I don’t understand why a case of manipulation cannot be verified in the way right, even if a year, two years, or 15 years later. At this moment, I have not yet had the support of Ferrari, but I expect help from them. I am optimistic: I will fight for justice until the end,” said the Brazilian.

Watch This Story: Felipe Massa’s Attempt to Take Back the 2008 F1 Championship Explained

Now that the ball is in the FIA’s court, what do you think will happen? Will the FIA respond within four weeks, or is this case going to court?