The deadline for former Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa’s pursuit of retrospective world champion status in the 2008 season has been extended once more, giving F1 and the FIA additional time to respond to his threat of legal action.
Massa, a former Ferrari driver, is resolute in his quest for the championship he believes he was robbed of due to the infamous ‘crashgate’ scandal.
Eddie Jordan, a former F1 personality, recently advised Massa to move on from his pursuit of the 2008 title.
On his “Formula For Success” podcast, Jordan expressed his opinion, saying, “If it was me, I’d turn the page my man.”
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However, Massa remains steadfast in his pursuit, convinced that he was unjustly denied the championship.
Massa insists that the FIA and F1 were aware of the intentional crash orchestrated by Nelson Piquet Jr. during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, but chose to take no action to preserve the sport’s reputation.
In an interview with Infobae, Massa expressed his sentiments, stating, “They didn’t do anything because they didn’t want to destroy the name of F1.
“We have prepared a large legal team with lawyers from six countries, and we are going to fight until the end because what happened was not fair for the sport, for me, for my country, for the fans, for Ferrari.”
The original deadline stipulated in Massa’s initial letter of demand to F1 and the FIA had already been extended to mid-October.
Now, it has been granted an additional extension, pushing the deadline to November 15, as confirmed by Massa’s lawyer, Bernardo Viana.
Viana emphasised their willingness to extend the deadline in anticipation of a good-faith examination of the issue by the new administration.
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Massa remains committed to his pursuit of justice and the championship, explaining, “We will see the response they give us and if we are going to go to court or a tribunal.”
He refuted claims made by former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who suggested that Massa’s quest was primarily driven by financial motives. Massa clarified his position, saying, “For sure in the fight, there is money to claim, but I base the claim on the championship.
“The trophy is the most important thing for me.”