Felipe Massa's Crashgate Lawsuit: Trial Proceedings outcomes

(GMM) The legal battle between Felipe Massa, Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One Management (FOM) and the FIA over the 2008 world championship has been put on hold, with the judge reserving his decision.

Following a three-day hearing in London, Judge Robert Jay announced that no ruling would be made for the time being.

“The verdict is reserved and will be announced at a later date,” he said, providing no further details.

According to f1-insider.com, the development means further waiting for both sides as the court considers whether the case will continue.

FOM’s lawyer Anneliese Day told the court: “Mr Massa will not get the prize he wants from this lawsuit. The only winners will be the lawyers.”

November 3, 2025

On September 14, 2008, during the Singapore Grand Prix, Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately crashed his Renault on lap 14 to trigger a safety car period, benefiting teammate Fernando Alonso. Now in 2025, Felipe Massa (pictured center) is in court fighting for what he feels is rightfully his.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

This “Crashgate” incident, revealed in 2009, led to the FIA investigating and banning Renault team principal Flavio Briatore and engineer Pat Symonds. However, the FIA did not revisit the race results or 2008 Drivers’ Championship standings, which Lewis Hamilton won by one point over Felipe Massa.

Massa filed a High Court lawsuit in July 2024 against the FIA, Formula One Management (FOM), and former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone, seeking £64-90 million ($82-115 million) in damages for lost earnings, sponsorships, and recognition as the 2008 champion. He claims the FIA breached its regulations by failing to promptly investigate and annul the Singapore results, which cost him the title. The suit alleges Ecclestone and former FIA president Max Mosley knew of the crash plot mid-season but concealed it to protect the sport’s image.

The pre-trial hearing opened on October 28, 2025, in London’s Royal Courts of Justice—coinciding with Ecclestone’s 95th birthday—before Mr. Justice Sir Robert Jay. It spanned three days (October 28-30), focusing on the defendants’ application to strike out the claim on grounds of excessive delay (17 years) and lack of merit.

Key arguments:
– Massa’s counsel, Nick De Marco KC, asserted the FIA’s inaction violated its duty of integrity, citing Ecclestone’s 2023 admission of prior knowledge. De Marco argued annulling Singapore would have awarded Massa the championship, with viable prospects for success.
– FIA’s John Mehrzad KC countered that Massa’s pit stop error (jammed fuel hose) and Ferrari’s strategy caused his 13th-place finish, not Crashgate. He emphasized Hamilton’s season-long superiority and the claim’s untimeliness.
– FOM’s Anneliese Day KC and Ecclestone’s David Quest KC echoed delay and causation issues, noting Massa did not pursue legal action earlier despite 2009 revelations. Quest dismissed Ecclestone’s interview as unreliable memory.

Massa testified on Ferrari issuing him a “gagging order” post-scandal, restricting public comments. Public criticism emerged, with some media labeling the suit opportunistic.

The hearing concluded October 30, 2025, with Justice Jay reserving judgment. As of November 2, 2025, no ruling has been issued; the court will decide whether the case proceeds to a full trial.

Felipe Massa has told the London court that Ferrari attempted to stop him from speaking publicly about the 2008 ‘crashgate’ scandal – and that his then-future teammate Fernando Alonso knew about the deliberate crash from the start.

“In October 2009, I told journalists that I believe Fernando Alonso knew the crash was intentional,” Massa said in his testimony as he sues the FIA, F1 and former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

“This assertion was not well-received at the time.”

The Brazilian claims Ferrari’s contract management company, GSA, drafted an official letter urging him to retract the comments. “The letter was signed by Henry Peter,” Massa said, referring to the Swiss lawyer who represented Ferrari.

According to Massa, Ferrari wanted him to make the statement public, but he refused. “Ferrari then prepared a statement for me, but I refused to release it. Instead, I simply said it was time to look ahead,” he explained.

Massa, who lost the 2008 world championship by a single point to Lewis Hamilton, also testified that Jean Todt, Ferrari’s team principal at the time – and father of Massa’s manager Nicolas Todt – already believed the Renault crash was deliberate.

“Todt said he was convinced Nelsinho had crashed the car on purpose,” Massa said. “I didn’t believe it at the time because I knew how much Jean disliked Flavio Briatore. There was a personal rivalry between them at the time.”

The revelations come as Massa continues legal proceedings over alleged inaction following the Singapore GP scandal, which he claims cost him the 2008 world title.