The 2008 Brazilian GP still haunts the memories of the Tifosi and Brazilian fans alike. In a year filled with dramatic highs and lows, one man was hoping to secure a much-deserved world title, in front of an adoring home crowd. Although the Ferrari man secured his last race win that day, his hopes of bringing the title home were shattered when the unthinkable happened.

What was destined to be his debut title, became Lewis Hamilton‘s instead. However, the story does not end there, as Felipe Massa opens Pandora’s box, looking to reclaim what he believes is rightfully his! Although he’s filing for a $13 million lawsuit against Hamilton’s debut title, fingers are being raised at Massa’s irony after the Brazilian spoke about the Interlagos circuit.

‘Every raindrop’ – Felipe Massa gives a heartfelt tribute to the Brazilian GP despite 2008 incident

In a small neighborhood in Sao Paulo, a future F1 star would be born. That’s where Felipe Massa’s heart lies to this day, at the Interlagos Circuit, where his dad races with Massa’s icons. His dad was no Michael Schumacher, but in the young Massa’s mind, that was far from reality. Little did he know, he would go on to be the one to whom Schumacher passed the baton. He moved across the world during his early days to compete in the Formula Renault championship. After battling the odds and becoming a Formula Renault champion, his journey to F1 was fast-tracked by Jean Todt, former Ferrari boss.

In an interview with PlayersTribune, Felipe Massa spoke more about his love for Interlagos. When asked about what are some of his fondest moments, Massa put aside the tainted 2008 Grand Prix to speak about his one true love, he shared, “Living is creating memories. Good memories. That’s why I always want to remember the colors, the smell, the heat, every raindrop. I want to remember all the good things that happen in my heart when I’m in Interlagos.”

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While Massa finally had the chance to fulfill his lifelong dream of driving on the Interlagos circuit at the top of the sport, that relationship would turn bittersweet in 2008. Massa had driven a flawless race on the circuit and was soaking in the feeling of becoming world champion at his home venue.

“This Is Bulls**t”: Felipe Massa Berates FIA’s Minor Punishment Over Lewis Hamilton’s Controversial Title Win

But the euphoria would not last for long, as Lewis Hamilton overtook Timo Glock to finish fifth, denying Massa’s claim to the title. While the Brazilian has spoken out about his love for Interlagos and the fond memories he shall remember, it might be a bit hypocritical after expressing interest in reclaiming the title he lost at the circuit in 2008.

Is Lewis Hamilton’s debut title under threat after the lawsuit?

The 2008 Singapore GP saw the infamous ‘crash gate’ scandal take place. The Renault team had a devious plan to make the race play into Alonso’s hands. In what many call the most competitive season in recent memory, the pressure was on Renault to outclass Ferrari and McLaren. Fernando Alonso‘s teammate deliberately crashed out, allowing the Spaniard to cruise to victory.  The crash had triggered a safety car, and amidst the chaos, Ferrari gave Massa the signal to leave the pits, but his fuel hose was still attached! This resulted in the Brazilian finishing 13th, adding fuel to the championship battle.

The Brazilian is aiming to fight a legal case against the FIA and F1 Management for the 2008 controversy. Massa and his team are waiting on a formal response from the FIA, with or without which they will proceed further. His aim is not just to reclaim Lewis Hamilton’s title from the lawsuit that he should have won without the Singapore GP results.

WATCH THIS STORY | Felipe Massa’s Attempt to Take Back the 2008 F1 Championship Explained

Massa supposedly lost out on tens of millions of dollars as a result of the scandal, along with future commercial opportunities. While it may be difficult for the parties to quantify what could have been, it remains to be seen if Massa will get the justice he seeks from chasing Lewis Hamilton’s lawsuit.