Former F1 driver Felipe Massa is out on his quest to seek justice. He recently made headlines when he filed a $80 million lawsuit against F1 and FIA, demanding accountability for the 2008 ‘Crashgate’ incident that took away the World Champion title from him. The Ferrari driver was leading the race at the Singapore Grand Prix when Nelson Piquet Jr., ‘deliberately’ crashed bringing out the safety cars. Following a disastrous pitstop, Massa failed to hold on to his position, and ultimately, lost the championship to Lewis Hamilton. Moreover, guess what was the margin of this victory? Just a point!

But Ex-McLaren engineer Marc Priestley holds a different opinion in light of these events. While talking to MARC, Priestley said: ” I believe that you cannot claim a world title. I think you can very well claim some kind of injustice or correct some kind of decisions, but you can’t go back and change the titles because there was more than just that incident that was affected in Singapore. There are too many unknowns that would have developed differently.”

What Priestley was trying to imply is that, maybe, the outcome of the race would’ve been the same, even if Piquet hadn’t crashed. Moreover, trying to revise the past results would only set a worrisome example. It can also bring a degree of mistrust among the audience, which in turn, would affect the sport and put a big question mark on the integrity of F1 and FIA. The sport runs on established rules and regulations applicable to each individual, so, changing the course of past events would only bring more chaos into the picture.

Regulations aren’t so easy to bend based on ‘isolated’ incidents. And from a legal aspect, Massa’s case is a lot more complicated than it seems. But here, his war is not for the $80 million monetary compensation, but for the acknowledgment of ‘forced ignorance’ on the organization’s part. Massa’s outrage is on the fact that Lewis Hamilton’s victory was orchestrated and not genuine. And the governing bodies chose to do nothing about it.

Massa wants FIA to rectify what was taken from him and given to Lewis Hamilton

What happened in Singapore 16 years ago has influenced many sides of Massa’s life. A World Championship could’ve changed the trajectory of his career just like it did for Lewis Hamilton. He would’ve added a feather of success to his hat, so, this lawsuit is not for money; it is for FIA to reflect on their past mistakes and take responsibility for what had happened. Felipe Massa has called the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix akin to corruption and manipulation. His demand of over $80 million includes the prize money and other potential deals he could’ve acquired had he won the Championship.

This shows how a single event can turn an athlete’s entire career upside down. Massa’s pursuit of rectifying what he sees as a pivotal injustice in his career sheds light on judgment transparency. Additionally, the outcome of this case could potentially influence how Formula 1 manages controversial incidents and its historical records. Many factors in a race can influence outcomes in ways that are hard to quantify or reverse. Sueing FIA or F1 or Bernie Ecclestone or Lewis Hamilton could also trigger potential discontent among fans.

And as one might wonder, why after so many years did Felipe Massa choose to race his voice? Marc Priestley’s cautionary stance on revisiting historical events aligns with the complexities and challenges inherent in Felipe Massa’s lawsuit. While Felipe Massa seeks accountability, the practical and legal hurdles in changing past championship outcomes are substantial.

It will be intriguing to see how F1 handles controversial incidents, balancing sporting integrity and demands for justice. What are your opinions on this controversial lawsuit?  Share your thoughts below.