Mosley makes lurid new claims in desperate bid to stay in power
Max Mosley has written to the presidents of the FIA motor sport clubs around the world in a new attempt to press his case and avoid a motion of no confidence in him at the Emergency General Meeting on June 3rd. Grandprix.com claims to have seen the letter and has published a portion, describing the contents as “explosive”.
In it, Mosley argues he should not be voted out of office because Formula One Group (which controls the commercial side of the sport) is trying to take control of the sport’s regulations away from the FIA. He even suggests the News of the World received the tip-off about his involvement in sadomasochistic sex orgies from someone who wanted to get rid of him and influence the negotiations.
What are we to make of these bizarre new claims?
(Update: download the letter in full here)
What Mosley claims
His letter to the clubs has not been printed in full but the portions that have make fascinating reading. To summarise:
- Mosley claims to have received letters from members with a total of 75 votes in the FIA General Assembly (the FIA’s supreme body), 62 supporting him and 13 against*.
- Mosley says Formula One Group wishes to change two terms of its ownership of F1: one financial (presumably costing the FIA money), the other giving it greater control over F1′s regulations, which is currently the FIA’s prerogative.
- Mosley believes the News of the World were tipped off by someone who wanted to get rid of Mosley and disadvantage the FIA in those negotiations.
- Therefore, Mosley concludes, he should not be voted out of office, because the FIA needs him to combat this move by Formula One Group. He added he still intends to step down in 2009 anyway.
*There is a typographical error in this part of the original story but this seems likely to be the correct interpretation.
How much support is there for Max Mosley?
Assuming the letters Mosley claims to have received are both real and truthful, we should still not jump to the conclusion that he has majority support. He claims to have received indication of how 85 votes will be cast from a total of 222.
However those supporting him are more likely to write and pledge their backing because that way they might guarantee concessions for themselves in the future should he remain in office. But those who do not support him have little to gain by condemning him – they can just let their vote do the talking when the time comes.
Mosley wants the debate on his terms
As has been noted earlier here, Mosley is trying to make this debate about the parts of the argument he thinks he can win. His first line of attack was to deny the alleged Nazi connotations and the FIA has now appointed a lawyer (Anthony Scrivener QC) specifically to report on whether those aspects of the allegations are true.
Mosley does not want a debate about whether a man with a sexual appetite for injuring and humiliating people (regardless of any claimed ‘Nazi’ leanings) should hold an office of such responsibility. An office from which extremely strong verdicts have been handed down, not least in the recent past.
His earlier claim he would step down in 2009 is almost an attempt at a compromise: “Don’t throw me out now, I’ll throw myself out later.”
Mosley is a politician of great skill and he understands that, as Otto von Bismarck said, “politics is the art of the possible.”
He cannot convince the motor sport clubs that footage of him in a five-hour sadomasochistic orgy did not damage the FIA’s reputation – but he might be able to convince them the Nazi angle is fake.
He doubts he can convince them to let him stay indefinitely – but he fancies his chances of getting them to let him stay on until 2009 with, as he says, “almost all public representation of the FIA [left] to the two Deputy Presidents.” Of course, if he does get to stay on until 2009 then who’s to say he won’t have another change of heart as he did when he decided to resign in 2004, and stay on a little while longer?
Is his Formula One Group claim serious?
According to Mosley Formula One Group is trying to re-negotiate the terms of the commercial rights to the sport which the FIA sold to it for a period of 100 years.
He goes on to argue that if he were elected out of office these negotiations could be delayed or halted by the wait for a new FIA president to be appointed.
This surprising claim raises several questions, not least:
- How are Formula One Group able to demand changes to the contract? Had Mosley allowed them to re-negotiate their terms? And if so, when did he make that decision?
- Why would it matter if the talks were delayed? Is the FIA working to a time limit on these proposed changes? If so, why hadn’t that emerged sooner? (Under the FIA statues were Mosley to resign an election would have to be called within two to four months of his resignation).
- Who is demanding the changes to the terms? Is it Bernie Ecclestone, CVC Group, or both?
- The European Union told the FIA it was not allowed to be both the commercial rights holders and the regulators of F1. What makes Formula One Group think that if they were both the commercial rights holders and the regulators of the sport they would not also be investigated by the EU?
It seems to me that it’s very convenient of Mosley to suddenly come out with this new reason for why he should remain in power. Why has it only come out now? Might it be because the news of Mosley being snubbed by Prince Albert of Monaco broke today?
Also, given his closeness to Ecclestone, we cannot rule out the possibility it might be a stunt co-ordinated by the pair of them to keep Mosley in office a little while longer.
Are his conspiracy theory claims serious?
Mosley’s claim that someone trying to undermine the negotiations by tipping off the tabloid press about his fondness for whipping prostitutes is surely the most astonishing part of his letter.
As mentioned earlier the Czech Republic’s World Motor Sports Council representative Radovan Novak recently withdrew his suggestion that McLaren boss Ron Dennis might have played a role in the scandal coming to light.
But I am suspicious Mosley has not yet acknowledged another potential source for the expose, even to deny it. The link between the FIA’s lawsuit against the Sunday Times, the fact that the same people who own that newspaper own both the News of the World who ran the story in the first place, and The Times who’ve been pushing it hardest since it broke, has been covered several times on this site.
What happens next?
The EGM is two weeks on Tuesday and it’s likely we’ll hear more claims between now and then. Mosley may well have supporters lined up to leak more titbits about his interesting new version of events.
The News of the World originally claimed it would send the full video tape to the FIA members allowing them to make their own conclusions. It or one of its sister newspapers may well have saved some previously unpublished facts or photographs to release in the days leading up to the meeting.
Whatever happens, I don’t think the FIA will be able to focus on its real business until Max Mosley has left office, this sorry mess can be put behind us, and the work of rebuilding the reputation of F1 and the FIA can begin.
(Update: download the letter in full here)
michael counsell said on 18th May 2008, 12:12
Its interesting that an MI5 officer’s wife was one of the ‘prostitutes’.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67518
Green Flag said on 19th May 2008, 1:06
Keith and others: Firstly, your coverage about Max Mosley is never unbiased – the very title of this blog includes “lurid claims” and “desperate bid”, both terms loaded with derogatory and derisory implications. I understand that you’re playing to the gallery and preaching to the choir, but a modicum of fairness would make me, and I would like to think other viewers, happier. Second, there is much I can write to explain regarding my position re Max but we all know that whatever I write will fall on deaf ears or be met with the high minded scorn evidenced in earlier posts – see above. If anyone is interested in reading it, say so, and I’ll take the time to type it out.
Pink Peril said on 19th May 2008, 1:57
What is far more interesting Michael Counsell, is that the husband of one of the prossies has resigned – someone who was only remotely connected to this incident – yet Mad Max at the epicentre still lingers on…..
Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
Green Flag, I think a lot of your POV stems from the fact that you feel that this info should not have seen the light of day. Thats as may be, but it has now and we have to deal with it.
Oliver said on 19th May 2008, 8:09
I agree with your post totally Spodo,These are the excuses dictators use everytime. If the FIA is a credible organization, then there will be several individuals aware and in tune with all that is going on concerning the within it. Excepting of course, these activities are all done in secret or to the knowledge of only one individual.
Max you are not more important than the whole of the FIA. You are not handling negotiations that border on National Security, Moto racing is just Gas in the Air. There are others who can handle these “critical” negotiations. Please LEAVE.
And by the way Greenflag, Keith is not putting Max on trial, he is only voicing how Max’s position currently tarnishes the image of the FIA and Formula in general.
DG said on 19th May 2008, 8:49
I’m thinking of this from the other direction now. Has Bernie suddenly become opposed to Max, or has it always been like this, and the bonhomie which the pair used to present to the public was just business?
It is highly likely that Bernie and FOG (what a name for an administration!) do want to take over the FIA, lock stock and Monaco. By reading the blogs last week, it seems that Bernie (or Bernies companies) are gradually buying the more important circuits, and Bernie appears to be condemning those which won’t sell out or join his Group. So it makes sense that he would be after the FIA too. Perhaps he thinks he can convince the European Union that he isn’t the head of a monopoly, and a conflict of interest.
It is also interesting to note what the various companies owned by Jean Todt, Flavio Briatore and Mallya play in the running and organisation of F1 and motorsport in general – it has been mentioned that Ferrari businessmen are turning up quite a lot in the FIA, but then Renault have a lot of interests at the moment, and Mallya just seems to be in the right place at the right time. Don’t get me wrong, these are the ones that are the most obvious to me – I am sure others such as Red Bull, Mercedes and Honda have lots of other companies too (after all why did the FIA chose the McLaren SECU after all the spite of ‘Stepneygate’?). So let me know if you can see other connections out there.
But to get back to my main point – I think Mad Max’s indescretions are part of a bigger corporate battle which has been going on subtley for years, and has only broken to the surface now. Unfortunately it is going to be F1 and Motorsport which will suffer – most of the combatents are just going to make more money out of it.
And before you all start complaining, this isn’t an anti-Max or anti-Ferrari rant, I am more concerned with the future of the sport, and that we as fans (and even the drivers and other team members) are powerless to stop it – there was a piece last week on the sudden lack of teeth in the GPDA.
I know I’m being very holistic about this, but its the bigger picture which is more worrying than one man’s alleged indescretions!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 19th May 2008, 9:18
Green Flag, I assure you if you took the time to explain your position of course I will read it. I read every comment that goes on this blog (I wish I had the time to reply to them all but it’s just not possible).
I think Steven’s question here has nailed it:
Fireblade said on 19th May 2008, 10:36
Where are the latest news about the women involved in the Max Mosley scandal?
Prostitute in Max Mosley orgy scandal is wife of MI5 spy
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3958814.ece
The possibility of a conspiracy theory are increasing slowly….stay tuned for more news!
Fireblade said on 19th May 2008, 10:42
Where are latest news about the involvement about the wife of a MI-5 agent in the Mad Max scandal?
The stocks of the conspiracy theory are increasing….even if some people do not like to admit it!
Michael K said on 19th May 2008, 16:29
Oh come on, Green Flag! Don’t sulk in the corner!
To clarify my position, I don’t give a toss about him getting spanked or him spanking a few hookers, BUT the Nazi element cannot be tolerated.
Even without this element he has no choice but to stand down as no one will ever take him seriously again, unless they are into SM themselves that is of course.
Anyway, this subject has been discussed so many times, and admittedly I’m getting a little fed up with it, but this is exactly what he wants: Wait and see the problem disappear. But this can’t be an option for anyone involved, he just needs a little bit more pushing and he’ll be out so I urge everyone who can do that to get on with it and kick him out, even though he’s hanging on to this post for dear life for some odd reason…!!
Green Flag said on 20th May 2008, 0:32
Michael K – I had thought we’d put the Nazi aspect behind us, but since you bring it up, let’s clarify a few things: the NOTW, the fine, upstanding bastion of even-handed journalism that it is, affixed the Nazi idea onto Max’s S&M scene – not Max and not his harem of hookers – to further embarrass Max and to make the whole episode appear far more scandalous, and of course, people like you swallowed it, hook, line, sinker and fishing pole. Have you always believed everything the NOTW writes?
There was nothing Nazi about it, no military uniforms (black leather is de rigueur S&M garb, but you probably know that), no swastikas, no Hitler salutes or mustaches. Max did nothing illegal and only consenting adults took part. The job of FIA president is to devise, administer and enforce the rules and regulations of motor sport, not act as a role model and/or guardian for society’s morals and ethics.
I fully agree with Alain Prost, whose thoughts on F1 I consider more cogent and relevant than yours – and many others on this blog – and who has urged FIA members to judge Mosley based on his ability to do his job and not on the sex scandal, a scandal manufactured not by Max but by others out to harm him by unscrupulous and dirty means. I would respect you more, Michael K, were you to be outraged by those who went out of their way to harm the FIA president, than attack the man who is the victim, not perpetrator, of a very ugly deed.
Steven Roy said on 20th May 2008, 1:54
I assume Green Flag that unlike the rest of us you have seen the full five hour video. There is no point forming an opinion based on 90 seconds of a five hour tape.
I would love to hear why you think Max is the best person to lead the FIA.
I would love to read why he should re-negotiate a contract that is only a few years old. I would love to read why he is the only person to re-negotiate it when he disqualified himself from the original negotiations on the grounds of conflict of interest.
The scandal was not manufactured by others. Max was kind of central to it. And being involved in it affects his ability to do the job. He was banned from Bahrain. He has had to give away his official powers for Monaco and he refused to go to Spain to launch his racism campaign.
He is unable to function in the position of president of the FIA because of the scandal. Personally I would rather he had been removed for the lousy job he was doing or for the blatant bias he has been showing but I am happy to see him go as a result of his social activities.
For the past two months he has been campaigning to keep his job rather than getting on with the work of doing his job. Please tell me why he should stay.
theRoswellite said on 20th May 2008, 5:31
Excellent post Mr. Roy.
He can’t perform his job, and it is certainly questionable as to how well the FIA is able to perform their job.
I always thought that the British were somehow blessed with an inordinate sense of “good taste” and “fair play”, always following the rule that one’s own behavior should never negatively impact others.
Perhaps this is not true of all the Queen’s subjects?
theRoswellite said on 20th May 2008, 5:38
….addendum: Of course if Mr. Mosley no longer carries a British passport…………….?
DG said on 20th May 2008, 8:20
Is nobody paying attention out there?
OK, so Mad Max never was really up to the role of FIA President – and remember he only got there through a coup – he wasn’t voted in by anyone.
But look at the possibilities of his replacement – is it going to be Bad Bernie, soon to be ‘Master of the Universe’, with even more conflicts of interest, or is it going to be Jean Todt, who will be more pro-Ferrari than Max is (unless he is a closet Honda man) – will it be Flavio Briatore, and the world will turn Renault yellow – or even VJ Mallya, an outsider who has suddenly appeared and says nice things to people with his money – Or maybe someone you have never heard of?
Think hard fellow Fanatics, you may want Max to be replaced – and you may get exactly what you wish for!
Steven Roy said on 20th May 2008, 10:03
It is not going to be Bernie. The touring clubs would never vote him in. Same goes for Flavio and Mallya. Todt has been very closely associated with Max and would have succeeded him had Max not handled the aftermath of the NOTW story so badly. If Max had stood up and said he felt he had to resign for the sake of the sport but that Todt could step in and guarantee continuity then Todt almost certainly would be president. However Max has spent the last couple of months alienating people and I expect Todt to suffer as a result.
For me running motor sport is not the job of the president of the FIA. Sport should be run by FISA but Max closed it down to prevent someone using the FISA presidency to launch a bid for his job. FISA must be re-instated.
Max has been a disaster as president and I don’t see that there can be many worse people for the job. I saw a week ago that Ari Vatenen was quoted as being interested in it. Assuming Jackie Stewart is not simply being politically expedient when he says he doesn’t want it Ari would be my choice. He has everything you would want in a president. He is a 42 carat legend. A driver in the Colin McRae mould. He is an accomplished politician having been a member of the european parliament for a decade and in all the time I have been watching motor sport I have never heard anyone say anything negative about him other than he took to many risks behind the wheel like Colin, like Gilles.
I can’t help think Ari’s version of F1 will be better than Max’s tactical chess with push to pass and blatant bias. I can’t imagine Ari’s top priority will be Bernie’s bank balance but then I am sure Ari won’t benefit from Bernie’s bank balance in the way that Max has been rumoured to benefit.
Hands up everyone who believes Max moved to Monaco because of the european arrest warrant. Nobody. Not surprising as moving to Monaco would give him no immunity whatever. Another Max lie.