Massa files F1 suit

Former driver Felipe Massa said he’s filed a lawsuit in London against auto racing governing body the FIA, series owner Formula One Management and Bernie Ecclestone to try and claim the 2008 title. Massa added Monday he was also seeking a minimum of $82 million in damages, a document obtained by The Associated Press showed. That amount included prize money he lost and other potential deals he would have obtained as a F1 champion. Massa has claimed since last year he was the “rightful” 2008 champion due to the incident known as “Crashgate.” The 42-year-old Brazilian, who never won the drivers’ championship, was runner-up to Lewis Hamilton by one point. A former Ferrari and Williams driver, Massa said in a statement his case would be heard at the King’s Bench Division of the High Court. His decision came after months of preparatory steps that included his lawyers asking auto racing bodies to reply to his public allegations of a breach of contract. His allegations relate to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, where Nelson Piquet Jr. crashed deliberately to help then-Renault teammate Fernando Alonso win the race. The Renault team was eventually punished but the results stood in the 15th race of 18 that season. Massa never got closer to the title. Ecclestone, the former F1 boss, said in an interview last year with website F1 Insider that he learned through the course of 2008 that Piquet crashed deliberately. He added he chose not to investigate the incident until the season ended, when it was too late to change the standings. Piquet’s crash came when Massa was in front in Singapore. A safety car was brought in, which squandered his lead and gave Alonso a clear advantage as he was the only driver who had already made a pit stop to refuel. Massa went on to finish out of the points in 13th place after a calamitous pit stop, while Hamilton finished third in that race.