Felipe Massa set for awkward encounter with Lewis Hamilton in Miami

Brazilian driver Felipe Massa is in the middle of a legal challenge over the outcome of the 2008 world championship, which he believe he should have won.

With Felipe Massa in the middle of a legal bid to overturn the result of the 2008 season, the Brazilian driver could be set for an awkward run in with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton claimed his first title in 2008, winning it by just one point over Massa thanks to a last lap overtake at that year’s Brazilian Grand Prix.

The moment was particularly painful for Massa who thought he had won the world title when he crossed the line, only to be denied it moments later thanks to Hamilton’s finishing position.

The season, 15 years ago, was blighted by the so-called ‘crashgate’ scandal, which had seen Nelson Piquet Jr deliberately crash his car in Singapore to aide his Renault teammate at the time.

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Massa eventually lost out on crucial points that race, ultimately costing him the title, due to the crash and ultimate Safety Car.

Recently, former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone admitted that officials at the time knew the crash had been intentional but still failed to take action.

With Massa seeking to strip Hamilton of his first world championship, the pair could have an uncomfortable interaction this weekend, as they are both at the Miami Grand Prix.

“I think the first thing when Bernie’s comment [came out] I was really, really surprised, for those comments,” Massa told RacingNews365 during an appearance in Miami

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“Because everybody knows what’s happened in the race, everything came out in 2009.

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“We hear after that also that Charlie [Whiting] knew and Max [Mosley], so for me it’s the injustice for the sport. 

“It shows that maybe every decision on the legal side, everything that happens, it was not correct on that situation.”

The FIA seems unfazed by the threat of legal action, as they have a policy of refusing to change the result of a title fight after the trophies have been awarded.