Former Components 1 driver Felipe Massa is keen to go to court docket to say the 2008 F1 title that was granted to Lewis Hamilton who was driving for McLaren on the time.

Reuters first reported in mid-August that legal professionals for Massa have began authorized motion in opposition to F1 and the FIA looking for damages ensuing from the so-called Crashgate incident on the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix that probably denied him the 2008 title.

And final week, Reuters, citing feedback made by Massa to Brazilian web site GE, reported that Massa can be looking for the title.

“I’ve nothing in opposition to Hamilton—this battle is a few race that was rigged,” Massa is reported to have mentioned.

Massa, who was driving for Ferrari on the time, began the 2008 Singapore race on pole and was within the lead when Renault’s Nelson Piquet Jr. intentionally crashed on lap 14 with a view to go the lead place to teammate Fernando Alonso who began the race at fifteenth on the grid.

Piquet Jr.’s crash was timed to comply with an early pit cease made by Alonso. With the protection automobile out, all different drivers pitted, handing the lead spot to Alonso who ultimately went on to win the race, forward of Williams’ Nico Rosberg in second and Hamilton in third.

Throughout his pit cease, Massa left the field earlier than the gasoline hose was eliminated, which dropped him to final place. He completed the race in thirteenth place, leaving him out of the factors.

Hamilton finally gained the season and his inaugural title with only one level separating him from Massa who has argued that the race ought to have been canceled.

Reuters reported that Massa sought authorized recommendation after Bernie Ecclestone, who was F1’s chief on the time, was quoted in March as saying he and former FIA chief Max Mosley knew in 2008 that the crash was deliberate however had didn’t act. The difficulty was solely investigated the next yr after Piquet Jr., after being dropped from Renault, alleged that Renault bosses advised him to crash, one thing Renault mentioned on the time it “won’t dispute.”

Ecclestone, who’s now 92, advised Reuters in a telephone interview what he could not keep in mind saying the important thing quotes attributed to him.

Massa remained in F1 till 2017 regardless of a 2009 crash that left him with a extreme head harm. Nevertheless, he did not win one other race after the 2008 season.