Max Verstappen’s 2021 F1 title is at risk as Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is given new legal hope over Lewis Hamilton’s Abu Dhabi agony… after Felipe Massa opened legal proceedings over 2008 ‘Crashgate’ scandal
Toto Wolff has said there could still be grounds for Mercedes to challenge Max Verstappen’s controversial title victory over Lewis Hamilton in 2021.
That possibility has come to light after Felipe Massa launched legal proceedings over the 2008 world championship he claims was robbed by the so-called ‘Crashgate’ scandal at the first Singapore Grand Prix here 15 years ago.
London lawyers acting on Massa’s behalf believe the result should be annulled because Renault, as has long been known, ordered Nelsinho Piquet to crash to bring out the safety car, changing the course of the race so that teammate Fernando Alonso could win.
More specifically, they point to apparent new evidence that F1 bosses and the governing FIA were aware of the cheating and chose not to act until next year.
Wolff said: ‘It’s interesting to follow. It’s not something anyone saw coming as the rules are quite clear in F1.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff (pictured) has said there could be grounds for Mercedes to challenge Max Verstappen’s controversial 2021 title win
Mex Vertsappen (right) won the title on the last lap of the last race of the season, overtaking Lewis Hamilton (left)
The call came after Felipe Massa (right) started legal proceedings over the 2008 title
“But it will set a precedent – whatever it is – and we’ll be watching curiously from the sidelines.” If Massa gets his day in a London courtroom – a long shot – and wins, it would open a Pandora’s box for global sport, including the 2021 F1 final.
Race director Michael Masi imposed the safety car rules and Verstappen, favored by new tires, seized the opportunity to pass Hamilton on the final lap.
The FIA later admitted that human error was to blame, but it was too late to overturn the result.
On track yesterday, Carlos Sainz led the two Ferraris at the top. George Russell was third for Mercedes, Fernando Alonso fourth for Aston Martin and Hamilton fifth. “Ferrari is fast and we are much worse than we expected,” said Verstappen, who was seven tenths back.