Lewis Hamilton could be stripped of F1 world title as ex-rival plots challenge over ‘crashgate’

Lewis Hamilton’s ex-rival is considering legal options to challenge the Brit’s maiden F1 world title over the “crashgate” saga.

Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton speaks at a press conference after the qualifying round of the 2023 Formula One Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne on April 1, 2023. (Photo by Paul CROCK / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

Lewis Hamilton’s maiden F1 title in 2008 could be challenged in court by Felipe Massa, who finished that season as the runner-up.

The Sun reports Massa famously lost out on the final lap of the final race in Brazil, when Hamilton moved into fifth to clinch the title by one point.

However, the decisive point that season proved to be the deliberate crash at the Singapore GP when Nelson Piquet Jr was told to go into the barriers, resulting in the safety car that ultimately helped his then teammate Fernando Alonso win the race.

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In the chaos, Ferrari made a mess of Massa’s pit stop and he finished 13th while Hamilton was third, earning him a solid haul of points.

While Massa’s hopes of overturning the result initially faded, he is now seeking his legal options following remarks from former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Ecclestone claimed that both himself and former FIA president Max Mosley subsequently discovered the plot, known as “crashgate”, during the 2008 season.

Ecclestone told German website F1 Insider: “We decided not to do anything for now. We wanted to protect the sport and save it from a huge scandal.

Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton in 2008.

Massa feels like he was robbed of the 2008 F1 world championship. Photo: AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS

“That’s why I used angelic tongues to persuade my former driver Nelson Piquet to keep calm for the time being.

“Back then, there was a rule that a world championship classification after the FIA awards ceremony at the end of the year was untouchable.

“So Hamilton was presented with the trophy and everything was fine. We had enough information in time to investigate the matter.

“According to the statutes, we should have cancelled the race in Singapore under these conditions.

“That means it would never have happened for the championship standings. And then Felipe Massa would have become world champion and not Lewis Hamilton.”

Massa is now seeking to explore his options following Ecclestone’s bombshell in a move that could see Hamilton potentially stripped from the title, through no fault of his own.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Massa said: “There is a rule that says that when a championship is decided, from the moment the driver receives the champion’s trophy, things can no longer be changed, even if it has been proven a theft.

“At the time, Ferrari’s lawyers told me about this rule. We went to other lawyers and the answer was that nothing could be done. So I logically believed in this situation.

Lewis Hamilton won the first of his seven world titles with McLaren.

Felipe Massa is considering a legal challenge over ‘crashgate’. (AP Photo/Oliver Multhaup)

“But after 15 years, we hear that the [former] owner of the category says that he found out in 2008, together with the president of the FIA, and they did nothing to not tarnish the name of F1.

“This is very sad, to know the result of this race was supposed to be cancelled and I would have a title.

“In the end, I was the one who lost the most with this result. So, we are going after it to understand all this.”

Massa admits his chances of overturning the result are slim but will still investigate.

The Brazilian added: “There are rules, and there are many things that, depending on the country, you cannot go back after 15 years to resolve a situation.

“But I intend to study the situation; study what the laws say, and the rules. We have to have an idea of what is possible to do.

“If you’ve been punished for something that wasn’t your fault, and it’s the product of a robbery, a stolen race, justice has to be served.

“In fact, the right situation is to cancel the result of that race. It is the only justice that can be done in a case like this.

“We have already seen other situations happening in sports, such as Lance Armstrong, who was proven to have doped, and he lost all the titles. What is the difference?”

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Lewis Hamilton could be stripped of F1 world title as ex-rival plots challenge over ‘crashgate’