Why Massa’s lawsuit can damage Hamilton’s 2008 Formula 1 title but cannot overturn it

The big controversy surrounding Lewis Hamilton ’s 2008 Formula 1 world championship title has returned because of Felipe Massa’s legal case in the UK High Court. Massa lost the title that year by just one point, and the key moment was the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, where Nelson Piquet Jr. crashed on purpose to help his Renault teammate Fernando Alonso.

This incident, now known as “Crashgate”, changed the whole race. Ferrari’s Massa, who was leading at the time of the crash, saw his race destroyed because the safety car came out and his pit stop went wrong. He finished 13th in the race and lost crucial points, which eventually cost him the title to Hamilton, who was part of the McLaren team in 2008.

An investigation into the crash was launched by the FIA in 2009 after Piquet Jr. alleged that he was ordered by his Renault bosses to drive into the wall to help Alonso. The FIA formally accused the Renault F1 team of race-fixing later that year and charged them with various breaches. The Renault then decided not to contest the charges and sacked its managing director and executive director of engineering.

Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone suggested in a 2023 interview that he and then-FIA President Max Mosley knew about the deliberate crash before the 2008 season ended but chose not to investigate it to “protect the sport.” Massa says this was a cover-up that cost him the championship. He has now filed a £64 million (Rs 735 crore approx) lawsuit against Formula One, the FIA, and Ecclestone.

Will Hamilton lose his first F1 title because of the case?

The UK High Court judge has allowed Massa’s case to go to a full trial. However, the judge refused to change the championship result or officially declare Massa as the 2008 world champion. This means Hamilton’s title will not be taken away by the court, but the trial could still cause serious trouble for Formula One, the FIA, and Ecclestone

“In my judgment, Mr. Massa is not entitled to claim declaratory relief for reputational or publicity reasons. The present claim cannot of course rewrite the outcome of the 2008 drivers’ world championship, but if declaratory relief along the lines sought were granted that is how Mr. Massa would present his victory to the world and it is also how it would be perceived by the public," the judge said.

The court cannot legally take the championship away from Hamilton, but it could damage the legitimacy of his 2008 win. Massa’s lawyers argue that if the Singapore race results were cancelled, Massa would have won the championship by points. Hamilton finished third in that race and got six points, which made a direct impact on the final standings.

While the FIA and Formula One argue that Massa himself made mistakes in the Singapore race and that he brought the case too late, the judge said these arguments are not strong enough to stop the trial now. Massa’s legal team is calling the ruling a “major victory,” saying they are confident they can prove there was a conspiracy to hide the truth.