Can Max Verstappen Lose His 2021 World Championship Title to Lewis Hamilton?

Lewis Hamilton could lose the 2008 championship, but he’ll still be a seven-time champion. If you’re wondering how that’ll work out, let’s start from the very beginning. It all comes down to the 2008 championship battle between Hamilton and Felipe Massa. While the final race in Brazil was the championship decider, Massa believes he lost the title much before that. At the Singapore GP, courtesy of Crashgate—one of the darkest events in F1 history.

Crashgate was a pretty significant scandal. The FIA, though, only looked into it in 2009, long after the 2008 results were set in stone. But are they really set in stone? Because Massa is doing his best to snatch that title away from Hamilton. The thing is, the consequences of Massa’s actions could end up affecting Max Verstappen as well.

Max Verstappen could be collateral damage to the Massa-Hamilton feud

Former F1 owner Bernie Ecclestone recently told Massa that he and the FIA had conclusive evidence to declare the Singapore GP null and void. Seeing as that didn’t happen, Massa has filed a $13 million lawsuit against the FIA for making him “the victim of a conspiracy.” He wants the FIA to overturn the outcome of the 2008 championship in his favor. If this does happen, both Hamilton’s and Verstappen’s maiden titles are in danger.

An earlier YouTube video by The Race established that Massa’s actions will probably have no consequences. Why? Because of the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP. The video said, “There was no recourse to make Hamilton the 2021 champion after a race that, months later, the FIA essentially admitted was fundamentally influenced by the wrong application of the rules.” It also stated that Crashgate didn’t directly influence the 2008 championship outcome. But what happened in Abu Dhabi did. Despite that, Mercedes decided to forgo legal action and accepted Verstappen as the champion. Turns out, the outcome of Massa’s legal battle could give Hamilton and Mercedes ammunition of their own.

Read More: Felipe Massa’s $13,000,000 Accusation Against Lewis Hamilton Dismissed by Citing Max Verstappen’s Controversial Triumph

In an interview with The Race, Toto Wolff discussed the possible repercussions of Massa’s lawsuit. He said, “It will certainly set a precedent—whatever it is. We’re looking from the sidelines with curiosity.” Suppose Massa successfully claims the title based on an event that didn’t directly affect the championship outcome. In that case, Hamilton will have every right to claim the 2021 title after what went down in the final lap of the season. So, that’s the thing. If Hamilton does lose the 2008 title in court, it’s almost certain he’ll claim the 2021 title. Massa is all set to fight for what he thinks is his. For now, the ball’s in the FIA’s court.

T-minus four weeks for Felipe Massa v. the FIA

For 15 years, Felipe Massa believed he’d lost the title to Lewis Hamilton on track. Nothing could’ve changed that outcome. But then, Ecclestone said this: “We wanted to protect the sport and save it from a huge scandal. I still feel sorry for Massa today. He was cheated out of the title he deserved, while Hamilton had all the luck in the world and won his first championship.” Massa didn’t need another invitation to file that lawsuit. It’s already been a month since the Brazilian made the first move. The FIA still hasn’t responded.

In an interview with Reuters, one of Massa’s lawyers, Bernardo Viana, revealed they gave the FIA an ultimatum. “The ball is in their court. We’ve been waiting for their response. They asked for more time until mid-October, and in good faith, we have agreed to that.” If the FIA doesn’t respond by then, the case will be settled in court. Needless to say, Red Bull and Mercedes would also be keeping a close eye on the proceedings. If Massa wins, so will Hamilton. The only loser to come out of this would be Verstappen.

Watch This Story: Felipe Massa’s Attempt to Take Back the 2008 F1 Championship Explained

What do you think will transpire in the next few months? Will Felipe Massa be a championship winner? Will Max Verstappen have only one title to his name? Either way, Lewis Hamilton will remain a seven-time champion.