Felipe Massa’s case against F1 on the way in London

Felipe Massa’s long-running bid to rewrite Formula 1 history has officially reached the courtroom. The former Ferrari driver’s legal challenge began this week at the High Court of Justice in London, where he is seeking recognition — and millions in compensation — over what he calls a “historic injustice” dating back to the 2008 Formula One season.

The case, filed earlier this year, names Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA, and Formula One Management (FOM) as defendants.

Massa, now 44, argues that F1’s governing bodies failed to act appropriately following the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, which was later exposed as having been deliberately manipulated by Renault to help Fernando Alonso win.

What the case is aboutMassa’s legal team claims that had the FIA acted when evidence of foul play first emerged, the Singapore race should have been annulled — a change that would have handed him the 2008 World Championship, which he lost to Lewis Hamilton by a single point.

The former Ferrari star is not seeking to have Hamilton’s title stripped, but rather official recognition that he was wronged and an estimated £64 million in damages for loss of earnings, sponsorship, and reputation.

According to court documents filed in London, Massa “seeks a declaration that the FIA acted in breach of its own regulations by failing to investigate the Singapore Grand Prix when it knew, or ought to have known, of the deliberate crash.”

The filing further states that the governing body has “a duty to exercise power in a fair and equitable manner” and must not enforce its rules in a way that “prevents or impedes a competitor.”

Massa’s pursuit for justice

Speaking after filing the case, Massa said: “I always said that I would fight until the end. As FIA and Formula One Management decided to do nothing, we will seek the correction of this historical injustice through the courts.

"The matter is now with the lawyers and they are fully authorised to do whatever is necessary so that justice is done for the sport.

"Being defeated fraudulently is revolting. And sweeping the dirt under the rug is vile. The world of sport needs an answer and deserves reparation. For my part, I still live with a tremendous feeling of injustice.”

Timeline of events:

September 2008: Nelson Piquet Jr. crashes deliberately during the Singapore GP, triggering a safety car that ruins Massa’s race.

November 2008: Massa loses the championship to Hamilton by one point.

2009: FIA confirms Piquet’s crash was intentional; Renault’s leaders Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds are banned.

March 2024: Massa formally files his legal action in London.

October 2025: The case reaches the High Court for its first hearings.

Former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone, who is among the defendants, has been outspoken about the case. Earlier this year, he admitted in an interview that he and then-FIA president Max Mosley had known about the Singapore scandal at the time.

“We decided not to do anything. We wanted to protect the sport and save it from a huge scandal,” Ecclestone said.

“Massa has every right to bring this case in England. If he believes he was wronged, the courts are the right place to go.”

As the trial gets underway in London, the motorsport world is watching closely. If Massa succeeds, it could set a precedent for how far back sporting bodies can be held accountable for events long thought settled.