Jun.12 (GMM) Formula 1, the FIA and former supremo Bernie Ecclestone have won permission to take Felipe Massa’s crashgate case directly to the UK Supreme Court.
The latest development marks a significant counterattack by the defendants after Massa scored a partial legal victory earlier this year.
The Brazilian, who lost the 2008 world championship to Lewis Hamilton by a single point, is seeking damages linked to the infamous Singapore crashgate scandal.
Massa argues that the outcome of the championship was unfairly affected when Renault ordered Nelson Piquet Jr to deliberately crash during the Singapore GP, helping Fernando Alonso win the race while compromising Ferrari’s strategy.
In March, a High Court judge ordered the FIA, Formula One Management and Ecclestone to pay Massa 250,000 pounds towards legal costs incurred during earlier stages of the case.
However, according to Sky News, the same judge also certified that a key legal issue should be considered directly by the Supreme Court.
The defendants have now been granted permission to pursue that route, effectively leapfrogging the Court of Appeal.
The Supreme Court will consider arguments by Ecclestone, Formula 1 and the FIA aimed at having parts of Massa’s case dismissed.
Last year, a court ruled that Massa’s damages claim could proceed to trial, although his separate attempt to be officially declared the rightful 2008 world champion was rejected.
Massa has repeatedly vowed to continue the fight.
“I look forward to proving in court that they conspired to conceal the truth,” he said previously.
“I will use all legal means to ensure that this injustice is corrected.”
“Formula One is the greatest sport in the world, but it is essential that it is also the fairest.”
