Feb.26 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone will spend his ninety fifth birthday in London’s Excessive Courtroom – with Felipe Massa.
Massa, the previous Ferrari driver, launched a reportedly $82 million lawsuit in opposition to the FIA, Method 1, and former F1 CEO Ecclestone a few 12 months in the past.
He alleges that 2023 feedback by Ecclestone made abundantly clear that each F1 and the FIA had enough data previous to the top of the 2008 season – earlier than the ‘crashgate’ scandal emerged publicly – that Nelson Piquet had crashed his Renault on goal in Singapore.
Revered specialist publications at the moment are reporting that the Excessive Courtroom has set a date for the opening of the proceedings – October 28 of this 12 months, which is coincidentally Ecclestone’s birthday.
Additionally summoned to the proceedings are FIA and FOM representatives.
“Makes an attempt at an amicable decision failed, leaving Mr Massa no possibility however authorized motion,” Massa’s attorneys at Vieira Rezende Advogados declared. “He seeks justice for a historic unsuitable and compensation for his losses.”
The Brazilian driver, now 43, instructed Globo: “This combat is about equity in sport. The courts will determine what the FIA and FOM refused to handle.”
The FIA and F1 industrial rights holder Liberty Media haven’t commented on the most recent developments.
However reporting from Bahrain forward of pre-season testing, long-serving F1 journalist Roger Benoit mentioned in Blick newspaper: “The trial is not concerning the world championship title, however solely a few attainable multi-million compensation cost to Massa.”
