The FIA, Formula One, and Bernie Ecclestone have won permission to appeal to the Supreme Court after a High Court judge ordered them to pay £250,000 in costs to former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa. The payment relates to ongoing litigation stemming from the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix controversy.

Massa's legal action centers on the notorious 'Crashgate' scandal, where Renault ordered Nelson Piquet Jr to deliberately crash, bringing out the safety car and ruining Massa's race strategy. He finished 13th that day and lost the championship to Lewis Hamilton by just one point. Piquet revealed the following season that the crash was intentional.

Massa's lawyers allege Ecclestone knew the crash was deliberate and that both Ecclestone and the FIA failed to investigate properly. While a court ruled Massa can pursue damages, it rejected his claim that he should be declared the rightful 2008 champion instead of Hamilton.

The Supreme Court appeal will determine whether the case proceeds to trial on allegations of conspiracy to conceal the truth. This legal drama threatens to overshadow the current F1 season while reopening old wounds about one of the sport's most controversial moments.