The media immediately dubbed it Crashgate. It was 2008, the F1 Singapore GP, lap 14. Nelson Piquet Jr, then a Renault driver, ended up against the barriers at Turn 17. There and then it seemed like just another incident, but then, when all is said and done, came the twist. The Brazilian admitted that he was ordered by his race wall to crash, so as to force the entry of the Safety Car and facilitate the recovery of teammate Fernando Alonso. The outcome of the searing confession was that the Enstone-based team was put on trial. While the 'son of art' would never return to the Circus, for team principal Flavio Briatore and technical director Pat Symonds there was a ban for several years, except to return through the front door as if nothing had happened.
The affair then, seemed to be totally forgotten and outdated, until in 2023 Bernie Ecclestone, for years at the helm of F1, let slip in the course of an interview a bombshell detail, namely that he had been privy to the wizardry and therefore aware that on that day, at Marina Bay, the now 40-year-old had not made a mistake, but had actually been instructed to be a part of the sham.
Upon learning the news, Felipe Massa, second in that World Championship just one point behind Lewis Hamilton, immediately decided to file a lawsuit in the hope of obtaining that title, which in his view, had been fraudulently delivered into the hands of the then McLaren driver.
Ousted from the paddock as a persona non grata, he is back in the news these days. Although the former Ferrari driver's battle can be said to be far from won, he has nonetheless earned a point in his favor. On Thursday, November 20, British judge Robert Jay officially rejected any attempt by the defendants to dismiss the case.
According to Motorsport.com, the 44-year-old commented on the ruling, "This is an extraordinary victory, an important day for me, for justice and for everyone passionate about F1. The Court acknowledged the strength of our case and did not allow the defendants to smother the truth about 2008. The deliberate crash cost me a world title, and the authorities at the time chose to cover up the facts instead of defending the integrity of the sport. They did everything they could to stop the lawsuit, but our fight is for justice, and today we took a decisive step. The truth will prevail at trial. We will investigate everything thoroughly: every document, every communication, every piece of evidence revealing the conspiracy among the defendants will be presented."
"I am more determined and confident than ever. When the whole truth comes to light, justice will be served: for me, for Brazilians, for the tifosi, for all motorsport fans who deserve an honest sport, and for the very future of F1," he concluded, also thanking all those who have made this long journey through lawyers and paperwork possible.
"I am deeply grateful to my legal team for their brilliant work and unwavering trust, to my family for their constant support, and to God, who has always guided and sustained me in faith. We will go all the way together."
While on the one hand the development of this affair could be considered positive in terms of cleaning up and making the sport transparent, on the other hand it sets an important and heavy precedent that could make case law.
Indeed, it cannot be ruled out that, especially if the outcome were to be in Massa's favor, even in MotoGP someone might decide to overturn the outcome on the track, sending colleagues and the discipline to the bar. In particular, 2015 comes to mind with Valentino Rossi, potentially penalized by a deal between Spaniards, and Marc Marquez ready to lend a hand to compatriot Jorge Lorenzo so he could win his last MotoGP title to the Italian's detriment. The press spoke of an 'Andorra Pact,' which later turned out to be a hoax.
Incidentally, the one in the world of two wheels is a case that continues to arouse considerable debate in the paddock and amongst the supporters of one and the other rider and which in fact ended a civil relationship between the ace of Tavullia and the Cervera champion, who have been at loggerheads ever since.