Former F1 driver Felipe Massa has been delivered a dose of reality by Sky reporter Craig Slater, who has confirmed that there is no FIA legal system that will allow them to overturn the controversial 2008 world champion triumph that went the way of Lewis Hamilton.
While Hamilton’s fans have been clamouring about the controversial decision taken by former F1 race director Michael Masi that saw Max Verstappen claim his maiden world championship in 2021, Massa’s demand of looking into the 2008 championship was recently supplemented by a controversial Bernie Ecclestone interview.
Bernie, who was leading the sport at the time, claimed that the ‘Crashgate’ scandal during that season’s Singapore GP went against F1’s statutes at the time.
He said the event should have been cancelled altogether, which meant that the result would not be counted towards deciding the world championship.
If this were to be followed, the title would automatically be awarded to Massa.
However, reporter Slater has pretty much ended this speculation while speaking on Sky Sports.
“Had that happened, Hamilton would have lost the points for coming third, Felipe Massa, who finished second in the Championship by a single point, would have lost nothing however,” Slater said.
“Despite qualifying on pole for that Singapore race, he finished outside the points.
“So why didn’t something happen in 2009 when all of this came to light? Well, according to the FIA Statutes, once the trophy had been handed over to Lewis Hamilton at the FIA Prize Giving ceremony, there was no course of appeal for Massa or his Ferrari team.
“So all of the competitors within the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship effectively sign up to the rules that state once the Prize Giving happens, you cannot appeal a result.
“Now, I understand that still to be the case. So even if there is this fresh evidence that in 2008, Max Mosley, who was then the FIA president and Ecclestone himself knew about this, there is no course of appeal within the FIA system.
“Now, Massa could go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He could get a decision there. But the snag is the FIA does not recognise CAS decisions, except in the case of doping violations. So that would not help him overturn or change the result of that grand prix.”
Slater confirmed that Massa’s representatives are not so keen on the winner’s medal. Rather, they are seeking compensation for the entire event.
“Massa’s solicitors have written to both the FIA and Formula 1,” Slater said.
“They believe their driver is due compensation.
“I have contacted both bodies, neither have a comment to make at this time.”
As things panned out, Massa never even came close to winning a title after that and although he did make a switch to Williams in 2014, he soon retired from the sport in 2017.