Monza: Liberty Media asks Felipe Massa not to attend, removes fans banner. Liberty Media asks Felipe Massa not to attend.

A banner supporting Massa was removed with a pretext from the Monza GP stands: Liberty Media no longer welcomes the Brazilian.

Power plays. What happened during the Monza GP vividly illustrates the internal dynamics that still govern Formula 1 today. As you may recall, on Thursday, the Ferrari Club of Caprino Bergamasco hung a message. The banner displayed on the main straight read, “Felipe Massa 2008 World Champion.”

This was, of course, a reference to the Brazilian’s attempt to seek justice after Bernie Ecclestone, who was in charge of F1 at the time, admitted that he and Mosley had known from the beginning about the crashgate scandal in Singapore 2008, which was decisive for the outcome of that championship.

However, this initiative was not at all well-received by Liberty Media’s top brass. Consequently, its immediate removal was ordered. The reason given? It obstructed the view of the spectators, a pretext that is decidedly unconvincing.

Liberty Media Shuns Massa

But that’s not all. The same Massa is now under the scrutiny of the company that owns F1. According to the Brazilian edition of Motorsport.com, the former Ferrari driver was explicitly asked not to attend Monza. For Liberty Media, this was too much of an affront, considering Felipe’s demand for both moral and material compensation.

One might think he’s a double victim. But what about the executor? What happened to him?

Flavio Briatore, who was then in charge of the Renault team, was naturally present at the Italian GP, given his role as an F1 ambassador that Stefano Domenicali offered him.

The Italian manager paraded on the grid alongside ACI President Sticchi Damiani, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. All of this took place to Felipe’s dismay, as he was forced to watch this and likely future GPs from home.

Source: f1ingenerale