Massa has begun a legal course of to attempt to overturn the 2008 F1 title end result, after believing {that a} conspiracy robbed him of the possibility to win the crown.
The Brazilian has suspicions {that a} cover-up by the FIA and F1 chiefs in the best way it dealt with the Crashgate controversy from that yr’s Singapore Grand Prix value him the championship.
In letters earlier than motion despatched to the FIA and F1, it was argued that the lack of the title subsequently damage him with a broken fame and lack of earnings.
Final week, Massa’s Brazilian lawyer stated that he believed they’d a robust case and had been adamant that their mission was to overturn the 2008 championship end result, which was gained that yr by Lewis Hamilton.
Bernardo Viana stated: “The target is to deliver the trophy house. It isn’t monetary. To get there, a number of measures might be taken with totally different goals, some to acquire info and others to acquire statements.
“We wish every thing that occurred in 2008/2009 to return to gentle.”
Massa’s actions in attempting to pursue a authorized problem over a misplaced championship has prompted some dialogue about whether or not or not a profitable end result for him may open the door for different controversial FIA selections to be contested.
And the obvious is the 2021 championship, which swung in a controversial closing spherical at Abu Dhabi after the FIA’s dealing with of a late security automotive restart opened the door for Max Verstappen to grab the race win and title on the ultimate lap.
Talking on the Singapore Grand Prix, Wolff stated that Mercedes was preserving a watching transient over developments within the Massa case – as a result of there was scope for authorized precedent to be set.
Felipe Massa
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
“Effectively, attention-grabbing… attention-grabbing to observe,” stated Wolff, when requested by Autosport for his ideas on the matter.
“[It’s] clearly not one thing that anyone noticed coming. The foundations are fairly clear in Components 1. It’s a civil case behind it. It might actually set a precedent, no matter it’s. We’re wanting from the sidelines with curiosity.”
Pushed additional to make clear whether or not or not that may imply a possible problem to the 2021 world championship end result, Wolff replied: “The FIA commented on the 2021 race with a transparent assertion. So, that’s why we’re wanting with curiosity.”
It’s understood that Wolff’s comment in regards to the FIA feedback pertains to the governing physique admitting that it did make errors in its dealing with of the Abu Dhabi GP.
In a press release issued following a gathering of the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council in March 2022, when it printed its report in to the occasions of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the FIA owned as much as getting issues incorrect.
“The method of figuring out lapped vehicles has up till now been a handbook one and human error lead [sic] to the truth that not all vehicles had been allowed to un-lap themselves,” stated an FIA assertion.
In the mean time, the FIA statutes declare that the very best authority that may make a ruling on issues is the impartial Worldwide Court docket of Attraction – and that any individuals concerned in a championship agrees to abide by this.
Ought to Massa’s authorized motion present that FIA rulings could be challenged outdoors of the jurisdiction of the governing physique, then that could possibly be sufficient to immediate Mercedes to think about an extra assessment of the 2021 Abu Dhabi occasions.
On the time it elected to desert going forward with an official enchantment as a result of it felt there was little to be gained in taking the matter additional.