Massa v Formula One Management Ltd & Ors [2025] EWHC 3064 (KB) (20 November 2025)

Massa v Formula One Management Ltd & Ors [2025] EWHC 3064 (KB) (20 November 2025)

The Court held that Mr Massa's claims, as pleaded, do not have a real prospect of success and should be struck out or dismissed on summary judgment. The FIA's regulatory framework and the Super Licence contract did not impose a contractual or tortious duty on the FIA to investigate allegations of serious wrongdoing at the suit of Mr Massa. The claims in conspiracy and inducing breach of contract are dependent on the existence of such a duty and therefore also fail. In any event, the claims are time-barred under both English and French law, as Mr Massa had sufficient knowledge by 2009 to bring a claim. Declaratory relief is not appropriate. The applications to strike out and for summary...

Citation
[2025] EWHC 3064 (KB)
Parties
Claimant: Felipe Massa; First Defendant: Formula One Management Limited; Second Defendant: Bernard Charles Ecclestone; Third Defendant: Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
20 November 2025
Procedural Posture
Civil (strike Out/reverse Summary Judgment Application) / High Court (king's Bench Division) Application to Strike Out And/or for Summary Judgment
Outcome
Claim struck out and/or dismissed on summary judgment in favour of all Defendants.
Legal Topics
Breach of Contract, Unlawful Means Conspiracy, Inducing Breach of Contract, Limitation Periods, Declaratory Relief, Jurisdiction, Interpretation of Sporting Regulations
Contract Law Tort Law Sports Law Private International Law Limitation Breach of Contract Unlawful Means Conspiracy Inducing Breach of Contract +4 more

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 4 Authorities cited 11 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 1
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Felipe Massa

Claimant

Formula One Management Limited

First Defendant

Bernard Charles Ecclestone

Second Defendant

Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile

Third Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil (strike Out/reverse Summary Judgment Application) / High Court (king's Bench Division) Application to Strike Out And/or for Summary Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the FIA owed a contractual or tortious duty to investigate allegations of serious wrongdoing to Mr Massa under French law and the FIA regulatory framework
  2. 2 Whether the Defendants conspired to conceal information and prevent investigation, amounting to unlawful means conspiracy or inducement of breach of contract
  3. 3 Whether the claims are time-barred under English and French law

Ratio Decidendi

The Court held that Mr Massa's claims, as pleaded, do not have a real prospect of success and should be struck out or dismissed on summary judgment. The FIA's regulatory framework and the Super Licence contract did not impose a contractual or tortious duty on the FIA to investigate allegations of serious wrongdoing at the suit of Mr Massa. The claims in conspiracy and inducing breach of contract are dependent on the existence of such a duty and therefore also fail. In any event, the claims are time-barred under both English and French law, as Mr Massa had sufficient knowledge by 2009 to bring a claim. Declaratory relief is not appropriate. The applications to strike out and for summary...

Court Disposition

Claim struck out and/or dismissed on summary judgment in favour of all Defendants.

Orders

  • The claim is struck out under CPR 3.4(2)(a) and/or dismissed by way of summary judgment under CPR 24.3.
  • No order for declaratory relief.