Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 F1 title remains in jeopardy.
Former Ferrari and FIA chief Jean Todt has backed Felipe Massa in the Brazilian’s ongoing legal battle with the FIA over the result of the 2008 F1 World Championship. Massa is seeking compensation from the association for Nelson Piquet Jr’s “deliberate accident” at the Singapore Grand Prix that caused him to lose the Drivers’ Championship that year to Lewis Hamilton.
The FIA was given until mid-October by Massa’s attorney, Bernardo Viana, to reply to a letter before claim that was sent to them in August. Since then, the deadline has been extended, and later this month, a decision regarding whether or not the case could proceed to trial is anticipated. Should the matter proceed to court, Hamilton might lose his world championship.
“Taking home the trophy is the goal. For Viana, it’s not about money, Motorsport.com reported. “Several steps will be taken to get there, each with a different goal in mind—some will be to obtain statements, others to obtain information. We want the truth to be known about everything that occurred in 2008–09.
Without influencing the other evidence we are seeking for or the information that will eventually surface, we are quite confident in the evidence we currently have. We are aware that even more information exists but is not yet available to the public.”
Todt, who oversaw Ferrari’s racing department from 1993 to 2007, feels that the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix was “rigged” and has taken the side of his former teammate. Todt told the Italian newspaper La Stampa, “I won’t get into the controversy, but it was very hard for him psychologically.”
There is no doubt that the Singapore Grand Prix was rigged and ought to have been canceled, but perhaps we could have handled the situation more strongly when it first came to light.
According to Massa’s legal team, a cover-up cost the former Ferrari star an F1 title as well as “tens of millions of euros” in lost revenue and reputational damage. The conspiracy involved former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and then-FIA president Max Mosley.
“Back then, there was a rule that a world championship classification after the FIA awards ceremony at the end of the year was untouchable,” Ecclestone later said about the incident in an interview with F1-Insider. After Hamilton was given the trophy, everything was alright.
“Enough information was available to us in time to look into the situation. In these circumstances, we ought to have canceled the race in Singapore in accordance with the statutes.
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