F-1 asks Massa not to go to the Italian GP and removes support banner

the action that Felipe Massa moves in court against Formula 1 and the International Automobile Federation (FIA) brought its first direct consequence to the Brazilian driver this week. The F-1 management asked Massa, who is trying to regain the 2008 world title, not to attend the Italian GP this weekend.

The race at the traditional Monza Circuit is one of the most important of the season. And Massa usually has the presence because of his proximity to Ferrari, a team he defended between the years 2006 and 2013. In addition, as an “ambassador” of F-1, the Brazilian usually attends several stages throughout of the year.

For this year’s Italian GP, ​​it would be no different. The world runner-up in 2008, precisely for Ferrari, intended to see friends and the Italian crowd over the weekend, in Monza. However, he received a request from F1 not to visit the circuit. Massa did not get to board and remained in São Paulo.

The climate between the parties also soured due to F-1’s decision to remove a banner from the Italian crowd in support of Massa in the 2008 World Drivers’ Championship title dispute. It was installed on one of the fences on the Italian circuit, right in front of the Ferrari box, by members of the Ferrari Club Caprino Bergamasco. The banner displays the message “Felipe Massa, 2008 world champion”.

This Friday (1), before the start of the first free practice of the Italian GP, ​​F1 officials asked fans to remove the banner. The argument was that the item would be blocking the view of part of the crowd. But, in practice, it was attached to the lower part of the bleachers.

F-1’s request for Massa not to attend the GP refers to the action that the Brazilian moves in courtsince last month, against the category itself and against the FIA ​​in relation to the 2008 title. He seeks recognition of that achievement. That season, he took second place while Englishman Lewis Hamilton won the title by just one point in the championship table.

That season was marked by the scandal called “Singapuragate”. At the Singapore GP, Brazilian Nelsinho Piquet caused a crash on purpose, following the order of Renault boss Flávio Briatore, to benefit his teammate, Spaniard Fernando Alonso.

The crash messed up that race, directly harming Massa, who was the leader of the championship and was on his way to his first F-1 title. Years later, Nelsinho’s father went public to confirm the order received by his son.

The subject came up again this year, when Bernie Ecclestone, former boss of F1, admitted that he learned about Renault’s order in 2008, years before Nelson Piquet’s revelation. By category rules, championships cannot have the result changed after finalized. However, Ecclestone’s statement exposed the fact that that World Cup could have had its result changed before the end of the competition.

Massa then took F-1 and the FIA ​​to court. The lawsuit asks for compensation from the two entities due to an alleged “millionaire loss” that the Brazilian suffered for not having won that title. The leaders of the entities have already been informed about the opening of the process, a mandatory movement when the English justice is triggered.