riverIt seems like F1 cannot get over the controversial 2008 season and the Crashgate scandal as all of it has been brought back into the limelight once again by Felipe Massa. The Former Ferrari driver believes that he was a victim of the incompetence shown by authorities. He is now seeking $13,000,000 in compensation for damages to his reputation. However, F1 expert Joe Saward believes that Massa is only doing this under the influence of his lawyers, who just want money.
The whole legal saga kicked off after former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone recently made some comments claiming that they had enough information about the scandal to cancel the Singapore GP back in 2008. This was the race where Massa had lost out on a win due to a botched-up pit stop resulting from a safety car that came out due to Renault’s Nelson Piquet Jr. crashing his car deliberately.
Felipe Massa walking past Nelson Piquet Jr today in Miami…
— Ferrari News 🐎 (@FanaticsFerrari) May 7, 2023
This would prove to be costly for the Brazilian as he went on to lose the 2008 championship title to Lewis Hamilton by just one point. Ecclestone’s comments, on which he has surprisingly backtracked recently, was triggered Massa to take the legal route.
Felipe Massa is being influenced by his lawyers
Joe Saward, however, believes that Massa is doing a great disservice to himself by doing what he is doing. In the latest edition of his ‘Green Notebook’ blog, Saward speaks about the ongoing incident involving Massa. To him, it seems like an act of desperation, whereas Massa has shouldn’t have a reason to be desperate.
🚨 | Felipe Massa’s team have started legal proceedings against FOM and the FIA over the 2008 title.
They are seeking compensation for damages, the Letter Before Claim reads as follows:
“Simply put, Mr Massa is the rightful 2008 Driver’s Champion, and F1 and the FIA… pic.twitter.com/a5sJU5tL14
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) August 17, 2023
Saward believes that Massa is doing this under the influence of his lawyers and says, “Lawyers, as the cynics know, will say anything if they think it will make them money. And I would be astonished if any court anywhere agreed to hear what appears to be a hopeless case.”
Saward believes Massa is ruining his legacy
Joe Saward further explains that the final race in 2008 rendered Massa as somewhat of a hero, despite the fact that he lost out on the championship. “His defeat in Brazil in 2008 was a crowning piece of sportsmanship. He was the hero of the day,” notes Saward.
He believes that all Massa is doing now with this legal kerfuffle is ruining his legacy. The ex-Ferrari driver is doing irreparable damage to his image and showing off a desperate side of himself, that he really doesn’t need to.
