Massa threatens Formula One with another lawsuit

There are new developments in the now long-running conflict between Felipe Massa on the one hand and FOM and FIA on the other. The Brazilian former F1 driver is still competing for the 2008 Formula One World Championship.

According to Massa, he is the rightful 2008 title holder, and not British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton. Massa says the FOM and FIA had withheld information about the infamous Crashgate incident during the Singapore Grand Prix. Massa argues that the race would have been cancelled if this information had come out immediately, and then he would have been the 2008 world champion. The battle at the moment is mostly legal.

Massa demands investigation

In August, Massa's lawyers had submitted a formal request to FOM and FIA to conduct an investigation into the events in 2008. By doing so, Massa hoped to uncover new information. The deadline for Massa's team of lawyers was 15 October. The FOM and FIA did not meet it in time and asked for an extension to 15 November, which Massa agreed to.

But that, Massa said in an interview with Reuters, was really the last time. If there is no answer by 15 November, a lawsuit will follow. Remarkably, Massa also said he expected the response from FOM and FIA to be "what we consider to be the right thing". He added: "We are waiting for their response to see if the case will have to go to court". By this, the Brazilian seems to be saying that there may also be a court case if he does not like the FIA and FOM's response.

To be continued no doubt...