Felipe Massa makes tongue-in-cheek nod to 2008 title claim during Goodwood F2008 return

Former Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa couldn’t resist a tongue-in-cheek comment regarding the 2008 F1 world championship after driving the legendary Ferrari F2008 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. 

The Brazilian’s reunion with the scarlet car was a beautiful moment as he powered the machine up the hillclimb, once again driving the car that won the 2008 constructors’ championship for the Scuderia. 

Massa was beaming with pride following his run as he described his experience behind the wheel at the iconic event.

“It’s just an amazing feeling to drive the 2008 car after a long time,” Massa said. “This was definitely my best year. A car that we managed to win five times, you know. It was the last constructors’ championship of Ferrari – also mine, I would say,” he said with a smile. 

The comment drew laughs from the interviewer before the driver continued.

“But anyway, it’s just an amazing moment, you know, to be here in Goodwood, to see all of these amazing people. And it’s a great feeling to drive again this car after a long time.”

Massa has mounted a legal challenge against Formula 1, the FIA, and Bernie Ecclestone, seeking damages after he was beaten to the 2008 F1 drivers’ title by Lewis Hamilton. Focusing on the ‘Crashgate’ incident which saw Nelson Piquet Jr deliberately hit the barriers, allowing his Renault team-mate Fernando Alonso to win the Singapore Grand Prix, Massa wants the title result to be turned in his favour. 

Massa’s claim will be heard by the King’s Bench Division of the High Court, with the trial slated for October this year. 

Felipe Massa, Ferrari F2008, and Lewis Hamilton, McLaren MP4-23 Mercedes

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

“According to the statutes, we should have cancelled the race in Singapore under those conditions,” Ecclestone told F1-Insider in 2023.

“That means it would never have happened for the world championship standings. Then Felipe Massa would have become world champion and not Lewis Hamilton… today I would have arranged things differently.”

Aiming to not “harm the image” of F1, Mosley chose to not take action at the time, according to Ecclestone. 

“I hope the correct thing happens, for justice, for something that was not part of the sport that punished me big time,” Massa said on the trial in October of last year.

“This is what we are fighting for, which I believe is correct, especially after 16 years and on hearing things which you never thought it was really like that.”