Red Bull's Marko Backs Massa's Title Quest, But Mercedes Stays Neutral
Sep.20 - Felipe Massa will not have Mercedes' backing as he pushes ahead with potential legal action against the FIA and Formula 1.
Last weekend, although Ferrari is not backing former team driver Massa's push to be handed the 2008 title and compensation over the 'crashgate' scandal, Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko indicated he supports the Brazilian driver.
"If there are new facts," he said, "the matter can be opened up. And then the chances for Massa aren't so bad.
"I would like him to be awarded this title. And Mr Hamilton, for whom records aren't that important anyway, would have one less."
When Lewis Hamilton won his first title in 2008 by a single point over Massa, he drove for McLaren. Today, he races for the Wolff-run Mercedes team.
"If this is the direction Felipe wants to go in, then it is his decision," Hamilton now says.
"I prefer not to dwell on the past, whether it was 15 years ago, 2 years ago or 3 days ago. I'm only interested in the present and I'm focused on helping my team every week."
Then-F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone opposes Massa's push for retrospective justice, and Mercedes boss Wolff is taking a similar position.
"I don't think he has a case, to be honest," said the Austrian. "There are so many things that have an influence whether you win or lose that I don't see the case to be honest.
"We signed up to sporting regulations and they are very clear as you commit as a licence holder. If everybody were to open up situations (like this) then the sport would be in disarray."
Last weekend in Singapore, however, Wolff indicated that the Massa case could set a "precedent" in which other title outcomes - like the highly controversial one in 2021 - could be opened up.
"On the civil case side, I don't know, let's evaluate whether there's some damages that could be claimed," said Wolff.
✅ Check out more posts with related topics:
I do not support any of this retro BS, and I am certainly not a MB or Lewie fanboy, but it seems to me that they would have a better case over 2021 then Massa has over 2008. This needs to be put to bed...once it's over, it's over. Retro whining is bad for our sport.
I think you know when "21 will be over oh wise one
Retro whining is bad for the FIA that’s for sure, they will not want crashgate raked over, too many skeletons in the cupboard. Bung him a few million to keep him quiet. And ROR don’t go supporting LH on 21 you’l Have the orange army and the kkk after you🤯
Sorry Blo but the kkk would take Ror under their wing if he supported LH.
Donalf, you have to give Blo some slack. His tinfoil hat sometimes picks up interference. lol :)
Well my tinfoil hat protects me from all the crap 💩, everyone should have one. There’s an awful lot more crap floating around than people realise.🤑
"And ROR don’t go supporting LH on 21..."
I am doing no such thing. IMO, VER won that WDC fair and square. I simply said that an argument over 2021 is more valid than one over 2008. Waayyy too many variables following Flavgate to say that Massa would have won the WDC.
C'mon, there were so many time Michael Schumi purposely drove into people to fix the race and ultimately win the championship himself. It's happened so often over the years, Senna, Prost et al.
I don't think there's a case at all and if someone says there is then where does it stop?
It's like George W Bush all over again only getting made president in the courts despite not actually winning the vote.
"I prefer not to dwell on the past, whether it was 15 years ago, 2 years ago or 3 days ago. I'm only interested in the present".
Yeah right, has he shut up about 2021 yet?
You tell me , can you quote some instances?
sofar and i haven't done the girlie press yet and its 357 times, id bet she and her Dad could top 1000 mentions of it, i did start doing it the other way around ie lets all feel sorry for Her and i got 7 reports unfortunately all seven were rejected as fake, or as Lewis would put it manipulated
Mercedes darent risk upsetting Lulu