Massa and FIA both proclaim victory in the 'crashgate' incident.

Massa and FIA both proclaim victory in the 'crashgate' incident.

      " The court recognized the validity of my case."

      Confusion and conflicting assertions of victory arose following the High Court in London’s decision regarding Felipe Massa’s lawsuit concerning the 2008 ’Crashgate’ incident. The former Ferrari driver hailed it as "a significant day for justice," stating that the court denied attempts by Formula One Management, Bernie Ecclestone, and the FIA to dismiss his case. "This is an incredible victory," Massa expressed in a statement written in all caps. "The court recognized the validity of my case. They tried everything to halt this case, but our battle is for fairness, and today we have prevailed." He further indicated that he feels "more determined and confident than ever" with a full trial scheduled for next year. However, the FIA released its own statement, asserting that it had achieved a victory. According to the governing body, the judge dismissed Massa’s claims of breach of contract, breach of duty, and his request for declarations that the 2008 title rightfully belonged to him. The court also expressed "serious doubts" regarding aspects of Massa’s argument and noted "numerous obstacles" related to causation. Nonetheless, the significant point—and the reason for Massa’s team to celebrate—is that the judge dismissed efforts to eliminate the central conspiracy allegation against FOM, Ecclestone, and the FIA. This claim has been allowed to proceed to a full trial, pending revised pleadings and additional expert evidence. Italian outlets, including Sky Italia, referred to it as "an important victory" for Massa, as the court opted not to dismiss the case. The full trial is anticipated to take place in 2026.

Massa and FIA both proclaim victory in the 'crashgate' incident.

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"People's interpretations are out of my control, and I'm not interested in wasting my time on them," he stated. "John reaches out to me after every Grand Prix, and we discussed various topics, including what he intended to convey. His aim was to be constructive and motivate the team to enhance performance." 

Leclerc emphasized that the comments were not directed specifically at him. "The criticism wasn’t about the incidents in Brazil. It was more broad," he explained. "John expresses his thoughts openly. He has always been transparent with me, regardless of the circumstances. We both share a deep passion for Ferrari. His objective is to help us all perform at our best. I align with him on that."

"John’s intentions were positive. He sought to energize everyone," Leclerc added. The 2025 season has seen him as Ferrari's standout performer, while speculation persists that Aston Martin, which is preparing a Newey-designed, Honda-powered vehicle, has reached out to his manager, Nicolas Todt, about future possibilities.

When asked if Elkann’s tone bothered him, Leclerc again minimized the situation. "The best course of action is for me to focus on the track and give it my all. I’ve always done that and will keep doing so." 

Lewis Hamilton, whose arrival at Ferrari has drawn increased scrutiny due to underperformance, reacted defensively to Elkann's comments. "I know what John is planning, which is why I didn’t focus on the remark," Hamilton said. "We communicate several times a week. It's about uniting the team."

However, he reacted strongly to the suggestion that he should "talk less." "I can't devote any more focus to my job than I already do," he responded. "I think about my work as I fall asleep and when I wake up—sometimes it's even in my dreams. Since joining Ferrari, I've spent more time at the factory than at any of my prior teams." Hamilton added, "I have a good relationship with John. We communicate regularly." Charles Leclerc has sought to alleviate concerns regarding his future with Ferrari, following team president John Elkann's recent comments urging the team to "talk less," which ignited considerable media speculation and rekindled rumors linking the Monegasque driver to Aston Martin for 2027. During a conversation in Las Vegas, Leclerc dismissed the surrounding drama, asserting that Elkann's remarks had been misinterpreted. "People's interpretations are out of my control, and I'm not interested in wasting my time on them," he stated. "John reaches out to me after every Grand Prix, and we discussed various topics, including what he intended to convey. His aim was to be constructive and motivate the team to enhance performance." Leclerc emphasized that the comments were not directed specifically at him. "The criticism wasn’t about the incidents in Brazil. It was more broad," he explained. "John expresses his thoughts openly. He has always been transparent with me, regardless of the circumstances. We both share a deep passion for Ferrari. His objective is to help us all perform at our best. I align with him on that." "John’s intentions were positive. He sought to energize everyone," Leclerc added. The 2025 season has seen him as Ferrari's standout performer, while speculation persists that Aston Martin, which is preparing a Newey-designed, Honda-powered vehicle, has reached out to his manager, Nicolas Todt, about future possibilities. When asked if Elkann’s tone bothered him, Leclerc again minimized the situation. "The best course of action is for me to focus on the track and give it my all. I’ve always done that and will keep doing so." Lewis Hamilton, whose arrival at Ferrari has drawn increased scrutiny due to underperformance, reacted defensively to Elkann's comments. "I know what John is planning, which is why I didn’t focus on the remark," Hamilton said. "We communicate several times a week. It's about uniting the team." However, he reacted strongly to the suggestion that he should "talk less." "I can't devote any more focus to my job than I already do," he responded. "I think about my work as I fall asleep and when I wake up—sometimes it's even in my dreams. Since joining Ferrari, I've spent more time at the factory than at any of my prior teams." Hamilton added, "I have a good relationship with John. We communicate regularly." Formula 1 | Max Verstappen has stated that he is open to the idea of changing his race number for 2026, now that the FIA has officially permitted mid-career alterations - but he acknowledges that his (…) F1 resolves legal disputes with Las Vegas businesses. F1 resolves legal disputes with Las Vegas businesses. Formula 1 | Various businesses in Las Vegas that had initiated lawsuits against Formula 1 due to losses incurred from the first two editions of the Grand Prix have now (…)

Massa and FIA both proclaim victory in the 'crashgate' incident.

Formula 1 | A state of confusion - along with conflicting assertions of victory - arose following the High Court in London’s decision regarding Felipe Massa's lawsuit concerning the 2008 'Crashgate' (…)