Bernie Ecclestone has downplayed the significance of Felipe Massa’s claim for damages — reported at up to $82 million — as the Brazilian presses ahead with legal action over the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, the race at the heart of F1’s ‘Crashgate’ scandal.
The case: what happened in 2008
At Singapore 2008, Renault’s Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately crashed, triggering a pivotal Safety Car period that helped teammate Fernando Alonso win. Massa, who had been leading amid a title fight with Lewis Hamilton, finished 13th and ultimately lost the championship by a single point. The affair became public the following season and remains one of the sport’s most contentious episodes.
Ecclestone’s stance
The former F1 boss says there is “no way” the race result could be changed or canceled retroactively, arguing there were no provisions at the time for such an intervention. He also questioned how a past interview in which he appeared to suggest early knowledge of Renault’s plot could stand as evidence, pointing to translation and note-taking issues and insisting the legal teams do not see grounds for it to be heard in court.
Massa seeks accountability
Massa has framed the lawsuit around accountability and fairness, with a court date set for October 28. While altering a world championship outcome remains highly unlikely, the legal process will revisit the timeline of what was known and when — and whether the sport’s institutions acted appropriately based on the information available.
What’s at stake
Beyond potential damages, the case touches on F1’s governance and historical record. Whatever the outcome, the hearing promises to re-open difficult questions about the balance between sporting integrity, due process and the limits of retrospective justice.
