Felipe Massa awarded £250,000 costs in legal battle with FIA and Ecclestone
Felipe Massa has been ordered to receive £250,000 in legal costs from the FIA, Bernie Ecclestone and Formula One Management as part of his ongoing court case regarding the 2008 world championship.
A High Court judge ruled that the defendants must pay the sum within 14 days following the latest round of applications in the dispute.
The 43-year-old launched a £64m claim last year related to the “Crashgate” scandal at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
While the court previously ruled Massa could seek damages, it rejected his request for a declaration that he should have been crowned champion instead of Lewis Hamilton.
Supreme Court intervention
Despite the cost order in the Brazilian’s favour, the judge granted part of the defendants’ application regarding a specific legal point.
This issue has been certified to go directly to the Supreme Court for a final decision.
Proceedings are now stayed pending the outcome of that application, though parties must exchange amended pleadings.
The former Ferrari driver remains determined to expose what he believes was a cover-up by the sport’s hierarchy.
“I look forward to proving in court that they conspired to conceal the truth, and I will use all legal means to ensure that this injustice is corrected.”
“Formula One is the greatest sport in the world, but it is essential that it is also the fairest.”
The 2008 controversy
Massa’s legal action centres on events during the inaugural night race in Singapore nearly two decades ago.
Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr crashed deliberately to aid team-mate Fernando Alonso’s strategy, triggering a safety car that ruined Massa’s race.
The Brazilian finished 13th while Hamilton finished third, eventually securing the title by a single point at the season finale in Brazil.
Lawyers for Massa argue that Ecclestone, the former F1 supremo, knew the crash was deliberate at the time but failed to investigate.
