Felipe Massa has confirmed that November 15 is the date that Formula One Management (FOM) and the FIA have to respond and provide evidence as the Brazilian attempts to get the 2008 title overturned. Massa has insisted that he is not interested in financial compensation from the case but wants to be recognised as a world champion.
Lewis Hamilton’s first title 15 years ago came in contentious circumstances, after former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone admitted that he along with then-race director Charlie Whiting and FIA president at the time Max Mosley knew of Renault’s decision to purposefully crash in Singapore – but opted to keep it quiet.
Nelson Piquet Jr deliberately crashed to help his team-mate Fernando Alonso win, but it resulted in a safety car and botched pit stop for Massa who dropped from race leader to 13th. This impacted the title, which Massa lost by a single point to Hamilton, and Ecclestone’s comments prompted him to start legal action.
He has already called on the Mercedes star to speak up in the face of “injustice”. Massa was asked by PlanetF1 whether or not he was worried that crucial documents had been destroyed or misplaced as he updated the timeline for the case.
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“I’m not worried about that, because I’m sure there are so many things inside, there are so many things that we know already, and my team knows already,” Massa replied. “So many things that, if it goes to the court, it will come out. So many things related to my case, so many things not related to my case but other politics as well.
“We are waiting for FOM and the FIA to answer all of the documents and everything that we asked them. They’ve already asked twice to extend, but now is the last time. So, after the 15th of November, we need to have that answer, and we will decide if that’s enough for us or if we need to go to court.”
Hamilton has so far remained silent alongside his fellow drivers as they were questioned about the topic ahead of Massa’s home race in Brazil this weekend. But the now-retired driver believes that he has a chance of overturning the result to claim his only F1 title.
“I’m confident for justice, definitely,” Massa added. “I think you need to be confident you know that what’s happened, what you’re doing, is correct for the justice of the sport.
“What I can say is that the team that is working for me is very professional. They are very confident so they believe what’s happened to me. It is a big case. But they are very confident, so that’s what I can tell you.”
