Prompted by an interview with ex-F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone earlier this yr, plus archive footage of late FIA race director Charlie Whiting, Massa believes F1 and the governing physique have been conscious of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix ‘crashgate’ scandal in time to take action before the championship was decided.
Former Ferrari and Williams racer Massa says he’s creating a subsequent authorized case to gain “justice for the sport” somewhat than recoup the “tens of thousands and thousands of euros” that his group believes have been missed out on after shedding that yr’s championship by one level to McLaren driver Hamilton.
However Bernardo Viana – from the Sao Paulo Vieira Rezende Advogados legislation agency that represents Massa in Brazil – hopes that Hamilton will help the case that may theoretically result in him shedding the primary of his seven drivers’ championship crowns.
Chatting with Reuters, Viana mentioned: “He is a crucial ambassador for the game and has all the time defended sporting integrity.
“He’s an honorary Brazilian citizen and really properly appreciated by Brazilians, so I hope he’ll help us.
“We’ve got completely nothing in opposition to Hamilton.”
Except for Hamilton, it’s identified that Ferrari – for which Massa drove in 2008 – is not going to be part of forces for the case.
In the identical Reuters interview, Viana additionally revealed that Massa’s authorized group have pushed again the deadline for F1 and the FIA to answer a Letter Earlier than Declare till mid-October.
Felipe Massa
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Beforehand, the letter – which outlined that the F1 summer time break and personnel being on vacation was not ample a motive for the FOM and FIA delays in replying – said a deadline to reply of final Friday (8 September) forward of potentially launching a formal challenge in the British High Court.
Chatting with Autosport final week, Viana mentioned: “They’ve requested for extra time, and we’re assessing internally if we’ll give them extra time in good religion,” added Viana.
“They’re nonetheless inside the time that we’ve supplied them, so we’re ready for his or her response. If their response is satisfactory, and in the event that they strategy us for any dialog, that is OK.
“If it’s not, if their response just isn’t satisfactory, we’re simply going to maneuver ahead with the authorized technique that we’ve in place.”
Further reporting by Jonathan Noble