Conspiracy Theory: Could Felipe Massa Be Formula One’s Next World Champion?

If you are a casual fan of motor sport, it may have been a while since you have heard the name Felipe Massa.  The former Scuderia Ferrari driver, who over the course of his career partnered four World Champions in Jacques Villeneuve, Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso. But, in an era dominated by Red Bull and Max Verstappen, the Brazilian driver has launched what may be his best bid yet to become a Champion. 

Curiously however, this bid comes almost six years after Massa retired from the sport, and is being launched in the courtroom, not on the racetrack.  In August 2023, Massa and his legal team announced their intention to bring proceedings with the goal of recognising Massa as the true Champion of the 2008 Formula One World Driver’s Championship.[1]

This article provides an overview of the case to date:

• The background to the 2008 Championship
• The crash controversy
• The alleged cover-up conspiracy
• What Massa is seeking
• Limitation periods?
• What comes next?