Lewis Hamilton has admitted that he’s “not really focussed” on Felipe Massa’s legal action over the outcome of the 2008 World Championship, with the seven-time World Champion instead focussing on this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.
Hamilton enters the Dutch GP this weekend having enjoyed a relaxing summer break, despite an awful lot having happened in regard to one of his titles.
The Mercedes driver claimed his first of seven Drivers’ Championships in 2008, although the legitimacy of it has recently been thrown into doubt.
2008 rival Massa is set to take legal action against Formula 1 and the FIA, over the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix ‘Crashgate’ scandal.
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At the Marina Bay Circuit 15 years ago, Renault instructed Nelson Piquet Jr. to purposefully crash, something which triggered a Safety Car and put team-mate at the time Fernando Alonso into a position where he could claim victory.
It wasn’t until the following year that the scandal was announced to the world; however, former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone is recently quoted as having said that he knew about Renault’s instructions at the time, as did former FIA president Max Mosley.
Ecclestone has since said that he doesn’t remember saying such thing, with the comments having resulted in one of the sport’s biggest scandals resurfacing.
Due to Renault having fixed the race, Massa would’ve won the 2008 title had the results been voided.
Instead, he lost the championship to Hamilton at the final race of the season, the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Following Ecclestone’s supposed comments, Massa is set to take legal action, with his team of lawyers insisting that the Brazilian is owed millions in compensation due to the money he would’ve received if he’d become World Champion.
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If Massa’s action is successful, then it could have an impact on Hamilton, although the 38-year-old is far from concerned about the former Ferrari driver’s court intentions.
“I have a really bad memory so I don’t really remember a lot to be honest,” Hamilton said, as reported by RaceFans.net.
“I’m really just focussed on here and now and helping the team get back to the championship and the race and not really focussed on what happened 15 years ago.”