What's happened
Felipe Massa has filed a lawsuit against Formula One, Bernie Ecclestone, and the FIA, claiming he is the rightful 2008 world champion due to the 'Crashgate' scandal at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Why it matters
Felipe Massa's legal action against Formula One, seeking recognition as the 2008 world champion, highlights the impact of the 'Crashgate' scandal on the championship outcome and raises questions about the integrity of the sport. The lawsuit could have significant implications for the sport's governance and historical records.
What the papers say
The Guardian reports that Massa believes he is the rightful winner of the 2008 title lost to Lewis Hamilton due to the 'Crashgate' scandal. The Independent provides additional context on the lawsuit, detailing Massa's claims and the financial compensation he is seeking.
How we got here
The lawsuit stems from the 'Crashgate' scandal at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, where Nelson Piquet Jr deliberately crashed to help Fernando Alonso win, impacting Massa's championship chances. Massa's legal action seeks to address the alleged failure of the FIA to investigate the crash promptly.
More on these topics
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Felipe Massa is a Brazilian racing driver. He competed in 15 seasons of Formula One between 2002 and 2017, where he scored 11 Grand Prix victories, 41 podiums and finished as championship runner-up in 2008 by one point.
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Bernard Charles Ecclestone is a British business magnate. He is the former chief executive of the Formula One Group, which manages Formula One and controls the commercial rights to the sport, and part-owns Delta Topco, the previous ultimate parent company
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Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton MBE HonFREng is a British racing driver currently competing in Formula One for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team.
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The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is an association established on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users.
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Formula One is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and owned by the Formula One Group.