BRAZIL: The hopes of Felipe Massa to overturn his contentious 2008 Formula One World Championship defeat to Lewis Hamilton have been dashed by a recent revelation from former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.
Media sources reveal that no avenue exists within the FIA system for Felipe Massa to challenge the championship result, despite new insights into the ‘Crashgate’ scandal surrounding the 2008 Singapore GP.
The 2008 season saw Hamilton dramatically snatch the championship title from Massa during the final lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix, marking the start of Hamilton’s illustrious seven world titles.
Ecclestone’s recent interview has, however, cast a shadow over the legitimacy of Hamilton’s victory and ignited debates about the validity of that season’s results.
Ecclestone’s revelation stems from the aftermath of the ‘Crashgate’ scandal, a race-fixing controversy that unfolded during the 2008 Singapore GP. Ecclestone claims that, according to the FIA Statutes, the event should have been invalidated due to the scandal, potentially leading to Massa’s victory in the championship.
Slater clarifies that this hypothetical scenario, if realized, would have stripped Hamilton of his third-place points while not affecting Felipe Massa’s standing. Despite this newfound perspective, the FIA Statutes maintain that once the championship trophy is awarded, no further appeal can be made.
Even with the emergence of fresh evidence regarding the 2008 events, the FIA system lacks provisions for post-award appeals, leaving Massa without recourse within the organization.
Although the option of turning to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) exists, the FIA does not acknowledge CAS decisions outside of doping violations, rendering it ineffective for Massa’s situation.
Reportedly, Felipe Massa’s legal representatives are now seeking compensation for the Brazilian driver, given the turmoil and implications caused by the 2008 saga.
As the saga continues, Massa’s solicitors have reportedly reached out to both the FIA and Formula 1, seeking redress. Despite inquiries, neither body has stated anything at this time.
Felipe Massa’s hopes of reliving the championship glory that narrowly eluded him in 2008 seem to have been shattered, leaving the controversial result to stand as a defining moment in the history of Formula One.
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