Why have Felipe Massa’s lawyers started legal action over 2008 ‘crashgate’ with Lewis Hamilton?

Felipe Massa’s lawyers have started legal action against Formula 1 and the FIA over the 2008 F1 title loss to Lewis Hamilton, seeking substantial damages following that year’s “Crashgate” scandal.

Lawyers acting on Massa’s behalf allege that the former Ferrari driver has been “the victim of a conspiracy committed by individuals at the highest level of F1 together with the FIA and Formula One management.”

Massa missed out on the 2008 title in dramatic circumstances at the final race in Brazil as Hamilton – then driving for McLaren - claimed the point he needed on the final lap in wet conditions.

“Crashgate” rocked the sport when the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix saw Renault’s Fernando Alonso win the race before it emerged that his team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr. had deliberately crashed to bring out a safety car that played into Alonso’s hands.

That safety car prompted a Massa pit stop that Ferrari mishandled, with Massa eventually finishing the race 13th while Hamilton came home third.