World champion – almost: Felipe Massa on the podium in São Paulo in 2008.
Image: picture-alliance/ dpa
Was the then Ferrari driver Felipe Massa robbed of his world title in 2008? The Brazilian is demanding damages, his lawyers are on the offensive – their prospects seem slim.
Where is Felipe Massa, the Formula 1 ambassador and 21-second world champion? In 2008 in Sao Paulo, at the finish of the last race of the season, his entourage at Ferrari proclaimed him champion. Massa cheered happily. Then Lewis Hamilton shot past Timo Glock in the final corners in fifth place and won the title with a one-point advantage. Poor Massa. He stood calmly at the award ceremony as the first in the Grand Prix and yet was badly beaten on the podium. He bravely gained greatness: “Whoever has more points is world champion.”
Anno Hecker
Responsible editor for sports.
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15 years later, the Paulista believes he is the rightful champion. His lawyers claim that the Singapore Grand Prix in September of that year should have been cancelled. Your client is entitled to damages, satisfaction and compensation for scorn and ridicule. The International Automobile Federation FIA has not yet commented on the attack. According to “Motorsport-total.com”, Massa is said to have been told that he would rather not show up as an ambassador at the Italian Grand Prix.