Almost one year on from revealing that he was considering legal action over F1 and the FIA’s handling of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix ‘crashgate’ controversy, Massa has put his money where his mouth is in seeking redress.
The Brazilian has sprung into action after revelations last year from then F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone that grand prix racing’s chiefs were aware early on of Nelson Piquet Jr having crashed deliberately in Singapore to help Renault team-mate Fernando Alonso win.
Knowing that something was amiss prior to that year’s F1 season finale, and especially the end of season FIA prize gala where championships are officially awarded, means there was plenty of time for a proper investigation to be conducted and appropriate action taken.
Massa believes that if the FIA had acted in the way he thinks they should have done, the result of the Singapore GP would have been changed - and he, not Lewis Hamilton, would have ended the year as champion.
The arguments surrounding the controversy have long been discussed, but the process of going legal means that more specific details of the case have been revealed.
Autosport has seen the British High Court documents lodged by Massa’s legal representatives and they offer a fascinating insight into the legal arguments at play – and what outcome is being sought.
Source: Autosport