At the invitation of Formula 1
Massa surprises at the scene of dramatic “injustice”
November 5th, 2023, 12:15 p.m
It’s been 15 years since the drama: Felipe Massa in a Ferrari won the Brazilian Grand Prix, but it wasn’t enough for overall victory in Formula 1. The awarding of the title could have been done incorrectly, and this is still being debated. Massa is now a surprise visitor at his home race.
At the scene of the dramatic World Cup decision against him a decade and a half ago, Felipe Massa reiterated his fight for late justice from his point of view. The fact that he even showed up in the Formula 1 paddock at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in São Paulo surprised quite a few people. Especially since he had previously been quoted by the specialist portal motorsport.com when asked whether he would be there at the race weekend: “I don’t think so.”
But he was there at the invitation of Formula 1, as he explained on Sky. Not in his role as an ambassador for the premier class of motorsport, but as a spectator. “I couldn’t avoid coming here at all. This is my place,” said Massa.
It is possible that he and those responsible for the racing series and the International Automobile Association (FIA) will appear before a civil court in the foreseeable future. “We are here to fight for justice in sport,” said the 42-year-old Brazilian. “We are waiting for the FIA and FOM to respond to the letter.”
Legal action planned
On November 2, 2008, the then Ferrari driver won the Brazilian Grand Prix in his hometown of São Paulo. But it wasn’t enough for the title, Massa was left behind with one point less than Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren. The drama in the season finale is not the reason for possible legal repercussions.
Massa wants to challenge the classification of the Singapore Grand Prix beforehand, in which Nelson Piquet Jr. caused an accident at the behest of the then Renault team management. As a result, his stablemate at the time, Fernando Alonso, won the race. Because the then Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone admitted this year that he and the then and now deceased FIA boss Max Mosley were aware of the fake accident but did nothing before the end of the season, Massa may want to sue. The answer is still pending.