F1 News: FIA Requests Extension On Felipe Massa Legal Battle - "They'll Reach The Same Conclusion"

November 15 is the new deadline.

The FIA and the FOM have been granted an extension until 15 November by Felipe Massa's legal team so that they can finish their investigation of the 2008 Crashgate scandal and respond with their findings.

Massa alleges that he has been a victim of a conspiracy to cover up the scandal involving Renault's Nelson Piquet Jr, who crashed on purpose to let his team-mate Fernando Alonso win. 

The crash caused Massa to attract a penalty that led him to lose the championship title to then-McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton by just one point. Had the crash not taken place or, if the race result had been declared right after the crash, Massa would've earned the championship title. 

After former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone revealed this year that the governing body was aware of Piquet's deliberate crash, Massa got together a legal team to recover losses arising from the loss of the championship title, which he would've otherwise earned after a victory. 

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In addition, the losses also cover a loss of reputation. The legal team had set a deadline of 12 October for the FIA and FOM to respond to its queries or face a legal battle in the UK's high court. 

However, his legal team has now extended the deadline to November 15 in response to a request from the bodies for more time to conclude their investigations. Massa's lawyer Bernardo Viana told the press:

"FIA and FOM are completing an internal investigation and have requested one last extension to the deadline they initially asked for, from 12 October to 15 November.

"We have agreed to this final period because if the new administration is indeed looking into the matter in good faith, they will certainly reach the same conclusion we and so many people around the world have.

"We would like to know what Formula 1's new leadership's position is on the recently disclosed scandal and the injustice faced by Felipe Massa."

F1 News: Former Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone Pleads Guilty To Fraud

Speaking to motorsport.uol.com.br at last weekend's Stock Car Series round in Buenos Aires, Massa was still hopeful that the team he was racing for back then, would still lend its support in this matter- Ferrari. He added:

"To be honest, we spoke in the letters on the legal side, but I don't see the point why Ferrari would not be on my side.

"Because we lost the championship, they took away the championship from us, from me and from Ferrari. When you hear Toto Wolff speaking about 2021, Ferrari needs to do the same.

"Ferrari needs to fight for the best of the team and I don't see really Ferrari away from the manipulation which happened to me.

"For the moment, they didn't really say, 'Okay, we are together'. I think they are waiting to see what's going to happen."