Felipe Massa drives the Ferrari F2008 in Goodwood – and recalls the controversial 2008 World Championship decision against Lewis Hamilton with a pointed comment …
Former Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa was one of the star guests at the annual Festival of Speed in Goodwood on Friday, where he drove the legendary Ferrari F2008 in which he almost became world champion in 2008. And during an interview on the sidelines of the event, he couldn’t resist making a tongue-in-cheek comment about the 2008 season.
The Brazilian’s reunion with the red racing car was an emotional moment as he drove the car that helped Ferrari win at least the Constructors’ Championship in 2008 up the famous hill climb. After his run, Massa beamed with pride and enthusiastically described his impressions of the iconic event.
“It’s just an incredible feeling to be back in the 2008 car after such a long time,” said Massa. “That was definitely my best year. A car with which we won five races. It was Ferrari’s last constructors’ title – and, if you like, mine too,“ he added with a smile.
The comment made the interviewer laugh before Massa continued: ”But never mind. It’s just a wonderful moment to be here in Goodwood, seeing all these great people. And it’s a great feeling to be driving this car again after such a long time.”
Massa has filed a lawsuit against Formula 1, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and Bernie Ecclestone. He is seeking damages for not being awarded the 2008 world championship title, which ultimately went to Lewis Hamilton.
At the heart of the lawsuit is the so-called “Crashgate” scandal, in which Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately crashed into the track barrier at the Singapore Grand Prix to help his Renault teammate Fernando Alonso win. Massa wants the race result to be annulled and the world championship title awarded to him.
The lawsuit will be heard by the London High Court, with the trial scheduled for October this year. “According to the statutes, we would probably have had to cancel the race in Singapore under those circumstances,” Ecclestone told F1-Insider.com in 2023. “That means it would never have counted towards the World Championship. Felipe Massa would have been world champion, not Lewis Hamilton.” According to Ecclestone, Mosley decided at the time not to take any action so as not to damage the image of Formula 1.
“I hope that the right thing will now happen. In the name of justice, for something that had nothing to do with real sport and hit me hard at the time,” Massa said in October last year. “That’s what we’re fighting for. And I’m convinced it’s the right thing to do. Especially after 16 years and now that we’re learning things that we couldn’t have imagined before.”
