LONDON: Felipe Massa’s claim for $85 million in a legal case against Formula One was described in court Wednesday as a “misguided attempt” to reopen the 2008 drivers’ championship that he lost to Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton’s first F1 title is the subject of civil action in London brought by the Brazilian against former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One Management and the FIA governing body.
Lawyers for the defendants applied Wednesday for the case to be thrown out.
Massa, who never won a drivers’ title, believes he was the rightful winner in 2008. He missed it by a single point after a deliberate crash at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The Renault team staged a win for Fernando Alonso by ordering Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash. That brought out a safety car and led to Massa finishing 13th after his strategy was compromised.
Piquet revealed the next season he had been told by team bosses to crash deliberately.
Ecclestone, the longtime F1 boss before being ousted in 2017, suggested two years ago the sport’s executives were aware of the cover-up during the 2008 campaign.
Massa was at the High Court to bring claims for breach of contract or duty and loss of earnings and sponsorship. His lawyers say Ecclestone knew the crash was deliberate and that he and the FIA failed to investigate it.
In written submissions, Ecclestone’s lawyer David Quest said Massa’s claims “are a misguided attempt to reopen the results of the 2008 F1 drivers’ championship.”
Representing the FIA, John Mehrzad said Massa’s claim “conspicuously overlooks a catalogue of his own errors.”
Massa’s lawyer Nick De Marco argued the case should go to a full trial with “a real prospect of succeeding on all of the grounds.”
The hearing before a single judge is due to end Friday. A ruling is likely at a later date.
Former F1 driver Felipe Massa brings $85m claim over 2008 title loss to London court
https://arab.news/ja7d4
Former F1 driver Felipe Massa brings $85m claim over 2008 title loss to London court
- Lawyers for the defendants applied Wednesday for the case to be thrown out.
- Massa, who never won a drivers’ title, believes he was the rightful winner in 2008
Desert Vipers hold nerve to edge Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in ILT20 thriller
- Key contributions from Shimron Hetmyer and Khuzaima Tanveer prove decisive as the Vipers weather tense finish to overhaul target of 171
- Knight Riders start well, reaching 87 in 10 overs, but momentum shifts in second half of their inning as the Vipers’ spinners struck back
SHARJAH: Desert Vipers made it two wins out of two in the DP World International League T20, as they held their nerve to secure a dramatic two-wicket victory over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Shimron Hetmyer’s counterattacking 48 off 25 balls, and a late-order cameo from Khuzaima Tanveer, who hit 31 off just 12 deliveries, proved decisive as the Vipers weathered a tense finish to overhaul a target of 171.
Sent in to bat, the Knight Riders made a confident start through Phil Salt and Alex Hales, with the latter anchoring the inning to top-score with 53 off 37 balls.
Despite reaching 87 in 10 overs, however, the momentum shifted in the second half of the inning as the Vipers’ spinners began to strike regularly. Qais Ahmad and Noor Ahmad led the middle-overs fightback, dismissing Hales and triggering a collapse as the Knight Riders lost five wickets.
Andre Russell’s unbeaten 36, and useful contributions from Alishan Sharafu and Unmukt Chand, at least helped Abu Dhabi reach a competitive total, but they were unable to fully capitalize on the side’s strong opening.
The Vipers began explosively in reply, smashing a tournament-record 19 runs from the first over. However, early wickets then left them wobbling on 44/3. Sam Curran and Dan Lawrence rebuilt the attack before the latter combined with Hetmyer for a crucial 68-run stand that swung the contest back in the their favor.
Late strikes from Ajay Kumar and Russell, the latter dismissing Hetmyer for his 500th T20 wicket, set up a tense finish, but Tanveer delivered under pressure. Needing eight runs off the final over, he sealed victory with a six and a boundary.
“It was, in many ways, a fortunate escape but an outstanding result for us,” said Curran, the Vipers’ stand-in captain.
“ADKR possess a very powerful batting lineup, and I believe our bowlers performed exceptionally well throughout the innings. The dismissals of Hetmyer and Dan introduced an unexpected twist but the team showed commendable composure in the crucial moments.”
Knight Riders’ stand-in skipper Sunil Narine felt his side had been lacking with the bat: “We were 15-20 runs short. We began well in the powerplay and that phase was crucial for us.
“The conditions eventually worked in their favor and the dew made it challenging for our spinners. But at the end of the day that’s part of the game.”
The result leaves the Vipers well placed at this early stage of the tournament, while the Knight Riders were left to reflect on missed opportunities after such a strong start.
