As revealed by Autosport earlier this month, comments from former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone prompted Massa to take action, suggesting that the controversial “crash gate” at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix “The awareness of the moment was early enough to act in that season.

However, when Nelson Piquet Jr.’s deliberate crash helped Renault team-mate Fernando Alonso win the following year was formally investigated, it was too late to go back and revise the race result.

Speaking of F1-Insider, Ecclestone has said: “We obtained sufficient information in time to investigate the matter. According to the regulations, we should cancel the race in Singapore in these circumstances.

“That means it’s never going to happen in the Championship.”

Massa’s points loss to title rival Lewis Hamilton in that Singapore race proved crucial to the outcome of the title race, and the Brazilian is well aware that if the FIA ​​cancels the event, he will end up in this race. End of season top.

Massa said Ecclestone’s revelations about the events at the Singapore Grand Prix ahead of time to act on them were enough for him to consider whether he could choose to request a legal review.

In an interview with Autosport recently, he said: “There are rules and there are a lot of things, depending on the country, you can’t go back 15 years and fix things.

“But I’m going to study the situation; study the legal provisions and the rules. We have to know what can be done.”

Felipe Massa, Ferrari F2008

Photography: Sutton Images

Autosport understands Massa has now assembled a team of lawyers to assess the situation and determine whether there is any reason to take the matter further.

However, one of their first actions will be to ensure that from now on the situation will be dealt with quietly behind closed doors, meaning no further public statements from Massa about the latest measures.

As Massa continues to assess the situation, there does not appear to be any realistic option to challenge the 2008 champions.

The FIA’s own International Sports Code does not allow post-race protests, with any right to a review expiring 14 calendar days after the race – and four days before the FIA’s podium ceremony that year.

Furthermore, the FIA’s judicial system makes it clear that the highest authority for any ruling is the independent International Court of Appeal, and anyone involved in the Championship has agreed to abide by this. Therefore, Massa has no other alternative venues.

Article 1.3.1b of the ISC states that participants: “shall undertake to abide without reservation by the above provisions and by the decisions of the sporting authorities and the consequences arising therefrom.”

While Massa could theoretically seek an opinion from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), it has no jurisdiction over the FIA ​​on such matters.

The FIA ​​statute states that CAS can only participate in matters related to the FIA ​​Anti-Doping Disciplinary Committee.