Mr Massa argues that, however for the FIA’s dealing with of the crash, he would have received the drivers’ championship.
These declarations deal with the court docket as a sports activities ‘debating membership’, asking it to embark upon a counterfactual train in regards to the ‘refereeing’ of a sporting occasion which occurred almost 17 years in the past.
— David Quest KC, lawyer for former F1 head Bernie Ecclestone, in an announcement in regards to the lawsuit filed by former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa. Massa completed second within the 2008 F1 championship, one level behind McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton. Massa’s lawsuit alleges F1 did not correctly deal with “Crashgate” throughout the 2008 season, whereby rival constructor Renault ordered their driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash his automotive throughout the Singapore Grand Prix to be able to stage a win for his teammate Fernando Alonso, thereby resulting in a security automotive, compromising his technique and costing Massa the world championship. Quest continued, noting, Massa’s declare would “deprive Mr Hamilton of his 2008 title” regardless of Hamilton being “equally uncovered to the crash.”
Anneliese Day KC, for Formulation One Administration, wrote, “In fact, it was not the deployment of the protection automotive which modified the course of historical past for Mr Massa, however slightly a collection of subsequent racing errors by him and his group throughout the remaining 47 laps of the race.”
John Mehrzad KC, lawyer for the FIA, agreed, saying Massa’s declare is as “torturous as it’s overly formidable” and “conspicuously overlooks a listing of his personal errors.” These “errors” famously embody Massa driving away from a pit cease prematurely with the gasoline hose nonetheless attaching and pulling down a member of his pit crew.
Ecclestone, the FIA and Formulation One Administration are in search of dismissal of the lawsuit.
