Ex-Formula 1 driver Timo Glock ponders whether Felipe Massa’s legal action against the FIA and the FOM could result in the 2021 Drivers’ Championship being revisited, potentially in court.
The FIA and FOM have until mid-November to respond to Massa’s lawyers or face a trip to court, where the result of the 2008 Drivers’ Championship could be changed.
Massa is demanding that the results of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix are cancelled, after ex-F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone revealed earlier this year that he knew about ‘Crashgate’ but opted to say nothing to protect the sport.
It’s not only Ecclestone who knew, as he admitted that ex-FIA president Max Mosley was also aware at the time that Renault had purposefully manipulated the 2008 Singapore GP.
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If Massa’s legal case is victorious, then he will be crowned the 2008 World Champion, reducing Lewis Hamilton a six-time World Champion.
However, Hamilton might not remain a six-time World Champion for long if Massa wins.
Glock has a feeling that Mercedes could take legal action if Massa is victorious and try to overturn the results of the 2021 Drivers’ Championship.
Had former race director Michael Masi not ignored the rule book, then Hamilton would’ve become an unprecedented eight-time World Champion.
The Silver Arrows would certainly have a very strong case to present to a court, with Glock seemingly expecting Mercedes to keep a close eye on Massa’s legal action.
Somewhat ironically, it was Glock who Hamilton overtook at the penultimate corner of the 2008 Brazilian GP to deny Massa the crown.
“Well, it’s a good question,” Glock told PlanetF1.com, when asked about Massa’s legal case.
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“I mean, I’m not 100% sure if it’s the right way to do it, let’s say.
“I was surprised when I saw it because, you know, after such a long time to go in front of court… I don’t know if it will work out for him. I mean, he knows what he’s doing. He knows the facts, I don’t know the facts, actually, what are the details of it.
“So we will see. In the end, if he makes the step and even wins it, we could see another court facing maybe Lewis Hamilton against Max Verstappen.”