Bernie Ecclestone is slated to observe his 95th birthday in London's High Court - joined by Felipe Massa.
Roughly a year ago, Massa, once a Ferrari driver, initiated a lawsuit valued at approximately $82 million against the FIA, Formula 1, and Ecclestone, the former F1 CEO.
The Brazilian contends that Ecclestone's remarks in 2023 revealed that both F1 and the FIA were aware—before the 2008 season concluded and prior to the public disclosure of the 'crashgate' affair—that Nelson Piquet deliberately crashed his Renault in Singapore.
Well-regarded specialist outlets now report that the High Court has scheduled the case's opening for October 28 this year, which happens to be Ecclestone's birthday.
Representatives from the FIA and Formula One Management (FOM) have also been called to attend.
"Attempts at an amicable resolution failed, leaving Mr Massa no option but legal action," Massa's legal team at Vieira Rezende Advogados stated. "He seeks justice for a historic wrong and compensation for his losses."
Now 43, Massa told Globo: "This fight is about fairness in sport. The courts will decide what the FIA and FOM refused to address."
Neither the FIA nor Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, has offered remarks on these recent updates.
However, veteran F1 journalist Roger Benoit, writing for Blick newspaper from Bahrain ahead of pre-season testing, noted: "The trial is no longer about the world championship title, but only about a possible multi-million compensation payment to Massa."
