New Mosley threat over “dictator” claims puts FIA-FOTA deal in jeopardy

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Max Mosley is fuming over 'grossly insulting' claims he was a 'dictator'

Max Mosley has sent a stinging letter to Luca di Montezemolo, accusing the FOTA and Ferrari boss of describing him as a “dictator” and giving inaccurate information to the press following the deal reached yesterday.

Mosley has demanded FOTA “correct false statements” and issue and apology or else he will “consider my options open” regarding his future as FIA president. Here’s the letter in full:

Dear Luca,

We made a deal yesterday in Paris to end the recent difficulties in Formula One. A fundamental part of this was that we would both present a positive and truthful account to the media. I was therefore astonished to learn that FOTA had been briefing the press that Mr Boeri had taken charge of Formula One, something which you know is completely untrue; that I have been forced out of office, also false; and, apparently, that I would have no role in the FIA after October, something which is plain nonsense, if only because of the FIA statutes.

Furthermore, you have suggested to the media that I was a “dictator”, an accusation which is grossly insulting to the 26 members of the World Motor Sports Council who have discussed and voted all the rules and procedures of Formula One since the 1980s, not to mention the representatives of the FIA’s 122 countries who have democratically endorsed everything Iand my World Motor Sport Council colleagues have done during the last 18 years.

If you wish the agreement we made to have any chance of survival, you and FOTA must immediately rectify your actions. You must correct the false statements which have been made and make no further such statements. You yourself must issue a suitable correction and apology at your press conference this afternoon.

Formula One is run entirely by our 5-strong team without any help from me or any other outsider. There was no need for me to involve myself further in Formula One once we had a settlement. Equally, I had a long-standing plan not to seek re-election in October. It was therefore possible for me to confirm both points to you yesterday.

However, given your and FOTA’s deliberate attempt to mislead the media, I now onsider my options open. At least until October, I am president of the FIA with the full authority of that office. After that it is the FIA members clubs, not you or FOTA, who will decide on the future leadership of the FIA.

Yours sincerely,

Max Mosley

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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156 comments on “New Mosley threat over “dictator” claims puts FIA-FOTA deal in jeopardy”

  1. Just when we thought he had been disposed of…..

  2. Robert McKay
    25th June 2009, 21:54

    You can’t argue with him, you can’t reason with him. HE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL FORMULA 1 IS DEAD. As Kyle Reese may or may not have said.

  3. I am president of the FIA with the full authority of that offive.

    sounds like a dictator

      1. Can’t agree more, esp. after Luca and the other team bosses made a bunch of positive statements about him yesterday.

        1. When somebody starts to say who is him, is the perfect moment for replace him.

    1. Max just thinks if he acts enough like Hitler he’ll attract more Nazi hookers to spank him.

    2. let’s wait and see what Di Montezemolo’s response is

      1. Max Mosley is clinging to power like a bit of turd clings to the edge of a toilet

  4. He needs to be removed now!

    1. I say that FOTA should take off and nuke the FIA offices from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.

  5. “26 members of the World Motor Sports Council who have discussed and voted all the rules and procedures of Formula One since the 1980s.”

    “Formula One is run entirely by our 5-strong team without any help from me or any other outsider.”

    “I am president of the FIA with the full authority of that offive.” (sic)

    Amazing how the decision making of the FIA changes according to the point Max wishes to make.

      1. It would appear that Max doesn’t know enough about how the FIA works to be able to run it. Besides, what evidence does he have that it was FOTA who made the Boeri comments?

        The “forced out” was implied from the fact that this happened 24 hours after Max said he’d stand for re-election. Hardly a natural occurrence, nor something that any reasonable journalist could have chalked up to normal behaviour or “one of those things”. If Max wasn’t forced, then there is no logical explanation for his changing his mind so quickly. No briefing at all was needed for the press to figure that one out.

        The “no role after October” was implied when Max said he wouldn’t have a role in F1 between now and October. That part originated from Max’s own misleading statement.

        As for the “dictator” bit… …the changes done unilaterally to the F1 regulations on March 17 2009, against the Sporting Regulations, the will of the teams and without the aid of the WMSC, would tend to argue against that.

        As far as I’m concerned, today’s statement is sufficient proof on its own that Max is no longer capable of running the FIA. An apology and withdrawal of comments would be entirely inappropriate, given the validity of the ones known to be from FOTA. Rather, Max should apologise for his misleading comments to the media – including the ones in the statement in the original entry that Clive quoted.

        1. I may be going too far here, but is it possible that FOTA’s statement was a way of testing Max’s commitment to the “agreements” made? Maybe there will still be a breakaway series?

    1. How can you be so sure of that when all the news we have is via the media, even the specialist press cannot resist sensationalist headlines…

    2. Those statements aren’t necessarily incompatible, so I wouldn’t read too much into them on their own.

      To paraphrase slightly, Mosley could simply be saying “I continue to serve as FIA president until the end of my term and have not formally surrendered any of the powers associated with my office. Formal scrutiny, discussion and approval of F1 rules and procedures has rested and continues to rest with the WMSC. The day to day administration of F1 as a championship continues to be the responsibility of a 5 strong team of FIA officials.”

      The danger here for FOTA and the best interests of F1 in general is that Max is wounded but he isn’t dead. Mosley is effectively looking for a way to go with an iota of dignity, i.e. he wants a way to step down that doesn’t look as if he were forced from office, even if he really was. Consider it the last request of the condemned man, as it were.

      If that was part of the deal that FOTA agreed and they are failing to uphold, e.g. by briefing the press that Mosley is now a lame duck who has handed over responsibility for F1 to others, then Max may decide not to go quietly and the consequences of that could be disastrous.

      1. We’ve never heard anything about this 5-person team before and the WMSC has been circumvented quite a few times (but not as often as the TWG and SWG, which according to Appendix 5 of the Sporting Regulations are supposed to be the initial point of formal discussion for F1 regs).

        1. I wasn’t trying to confirm the veracity of Mosley’s statements, just suggest that they may not be contradictory.

          But it isn’t too huge a leap of faith to suggest that an FIA championship is administered and supported by a small group of FIA officials, is it?

  6. arrgghhh this is getting very tiresome very quickly.

  7. Julius Caesar was a dictator and said he wasn’t. Look what happened to him…

    1. Like father, like son.

  8. What did FOTA learn?….

    1. That Max Mosley is considerably less adept at applying his intelligence than FOTA may previously have thought.

      1. Which in turn makes FOTA looks far less intelligent than previously thought.

        Too much willy waving, and not enough actual doing anything.

        1. Depends… …seeing Max break his word so soon, the breakaway would be pretty easy to re-start. This move has basically destroyed Max’s credibility in F1 because he’s established that he will not keep his word, and has done so quickly enough for FOTA to be able to have some control over the consequences.

  9. Michael Roberts
    25th June 2009, 22:14

    At least Max will now go down in history for destorying F1. I’m sure the FOTA boys are getting sick and tired of this tiresome dribble and will breakaway….

  10. The man is insane. Just when we thought F1 could move on and get back to the racing, Max refuses to let go. Sure Luca was perhaps a little excited when he described Max as a dictator, but is that any worse than Max calling FOTA team principals loonies? I can just see the bankers over at CVC on the phone right now to Bernie telling him to finish the job properly and to tell his mate to get — and keep — his head in once and forever. Enough is enough.

  11. Lol, oh dear, he just won’t give up, will he.

    1. Of course, Max won’t give up so soon. As an addict to the sado/masoch scene, he just got a sweet public spanking by Bernie and Luca. Mmmmhhh that was soooo good. More pleaaasse ….

  12. But obviously, calling members of FOTA for ‘loonies’ is not insulting…

  13. And I was only just thinking a few moments ago that Keith must nominate a new enemy of F1 we’ll all take turns bashing, and Mosley shows he isn’t finished yet. :-)

    1. I had a feeling he wouldn’t bow out quietly. Ron Dennis must feel completely vindicated now.

  14. He is a “certified mad man”. That we all know. Can’t he just be removed from office quickly and quietly for all our sakes? It is just embarrassing now. Whoe said he was “the cleverest man in F1”? Just because someone said it doesn’t make it true. He is a liability and has been for some time.

  15. I knew he couldn’t be trusted! Ergh, FOTA really have made a deal with the devil.

  16. Hurry up FOTA… just start the breakaway series. That idiot Mosley isn’t going anywhere… and we all know it.

  17. Robert McKay
    25th June 2009, 22:40

    Did he even wait for the ink to dry on the contracts? Have FOTA signed anything?

    1. To my reading of the statement, Max has broken any contracts that were signed – and if they weren’t signed, there won’t be any legal consequences for ignoring it.

  18. Oh my God THAT MAN!! SO annoying!

  19. To us, three things were most important: that F1 stay F1 and not become F3; that there is no dictator, but that there was a choice of rules, agreed and not imposed; and that whoever had a team was consulted and had a voice.
    I uunderstand that Max could interperate this statement , but in my mind, (what little tere is left after this whole mess) what Luca said was that there IS no dictator,meaning Max was being reasonable as opposed to unyielding, and the rest is just misunderstaing of Mxax saying that he couls take the rest of the summer off. I think max is picking flysh-t out of the pepper.
    Barry

    1. From the FOTA meeting:

      The Chairman and FOTA also thanked the FIA President: “Mosley was very clear and honest. He said that he had thought about leaving already some time ago and that his staff knew about it. Therefore I have to say, in a moment when Mosley is leaving, that I have to thank him, beyond the points of controversy we had, because he has been working very well, especially as far as safety is concerned.”
      ———-
      I`m not sure how much overwhelming gratitude Max expects but that doesn`t sound like an insult to me.

  20. what the hell do we have to do to get rid of this SOB?

    Dress in green and demonstrate in the streets? Hell, I would be up for that if it would do any good… But I live in Austin, Texas and behavior like that would just confuse most people here….

  21. Egos in F1 are huge – so are the mouth in some team principals (Flavio and di Montezemolo, I’m looking at you). I just hope there are some reasonable people inside FIA who won’t let this get blown out of proportion… Can they punish him based on article 151c?

    1. Unfortunately Max has a tendency to enjoy punishment :(

      1. crass maybe, but I enjoyed it : )

    2. They cannot punish him under 151c, except by fining him. He doesn’t have a licence, so it cannot be revoked, nor does he have any race results to have modified or removed.

      What the FIA can do is have a vote of confidence. It would be reliant on convincing the smaller countries that their prize events would be safer without Max than with him – and maybe petitioning the relevant individuals would help.

  22. di Montezemolo could learn a thing or two from Flav about keeping his mouth shut .. but just could not resist one last dig.. now it is personal let see if they turn on him

    1. You really think that would have made any difference? Someone or something would probably have triggered this before October. He must have written the letter as soon as yesterday`s press conference was over. He had no intention of going quietly & with dignity.

      1. There was a piece on the itv f1 website claiming mosleybhs vowednto write explosive memoirs, I imagine it’s still there.

        1. Sorry, mosley has vowed to, rather than that mess in the middle

  23. The best way to describe Max is: “He’s son of a b****”

    1. MacademiaNut
      26th June 2009, 5:06

      That would be insulting the “B****”.

      1. You obviously don’t know much about Max’s mother… google the “Mitford sisters” :-)

  24. This is why a breakaway series is needed. Yesterday’s solution attempted to fix the symptoms, not the disease itself (the FIA, Max, and Bernie.)

    1. well said. I still hope it happens …for next year. Unfortionately, if it doesn’t FOTA is just putting off the inevitable.

  25. “At least until October, I am president of the FIA with the full authority of that office. ”

    In a letter trying to state how he isn’t a dictator? GG Max!

  26. Mother…

    Well, he also is a loonie and a halfwit. He needs a good spanking! LOL!

  27. He`ll push them too far. I haven`t heard that any contracts have been signed yet.

  28. I knew it. That man is a psychopath…what else?

  29. Let’s pray he’s gone very soon so we can get a fresh air in F1… get it modernised? let’s hope

  30. What a horrible and selfish man we have here.

  31. and just when I thought he was going to spend more time with his five closest friends…….

  32. He is like a child stamping his feet because he wants the playground all to himself.

    1. Dont insult the children! My 5-yr old has more maturity than Max ;-)

  33. He needs a very firm spanking, and then….er..never mind.

  34. Damn is George Bush back or what? At least he left quietly this guy won’t shut the F up!

    1. You think George was bad, wait till Obama has been in another year.

      1. Get real, Bush created a big mess that no one can get out of.

        1. Bush is/was incompetent.
          Obama thinks a little too highly of himself.
          Mosely is both.

        2. I am not a Bush supporter but he didnt create this mess but he didnt help stop it either. It was created during the prior administration.

  35. Rick DeNatale
    26th June 2009, 0:26

    This is why I added “I hope” to my “Ding Dong the witch is dead” reply to the earlier article.

    Don’t count your witches before they’re melted!

    1. …and even then there can be a mistake :(

  36. The truth hurts sometimes, doesn’t it Max?

  37. ComeBackMontoya
    26th June 2009, 0:43

    I read in the news just now that Michael Jackson has died, very sad news indeed I thought. Then I read that Max is considering staying on at the helm of the FIA, fell to my knees and sobbed inconsolably.

    I can’t believe that after just one day he’s picking fights already. He is a sad, bitter & twisted ‘loonie’ who doesn’t know when he’s outstayed his welcome.

    I sincerely hope Luca does NOT issue any apology to Max, certainly not until Max apologises for the insults he’s been throwing of late.

    And here was me thinking it was all going to be about the racing from here onwards :-(

  38. This guy is on another planet!He just doesn’t get it”none as blind as those that will not see”.

  39. is max mosley the most childish, immature 68 year old in the world?

    1. No I’m sure there is someone else out there that deserves that crown…

  40. Just as we thought we can concentrate on wheel to wheel battle on track MAX had just BLOWN it.

    “I am president of the FIA with the full authority of that office”.
    That does sound like a DICTATOR

  41. Prisoner Monkeys
    26th June 2009, 1:33

    Mosley’s taking an awful risk, here.

    His stepping down was a condition of the peace negotiations. No Mosley, no breakaway. He cannot expect the FIA to re-elect him after a) previously agreeing to step down in Ocotber, which leads to b) jeopardising everything the FIA and FOTA have worked for.

  42. Rick DeNatale
    26th June 2009, 1:37

    What a day.

    First I get the news that F1 has been saved.

    Then I get the news that Farrah Fawcett has died.

    Then I get the news that Michael Jackson has died.

    The I get the news that Max Mosley has arisen from the dead to once again try to kill F1!

  43. di Montezemolo was wrong and is untrustworthy in terms of the anti trust issues that threaten the sport’s and the independent teams viability. For many contributors here, if you want to play Max the man fine but many here too ignore the substance of the FIA vs FOTA issues every time. Ferrari have an exclusive position among the manufacturers that leverages the amount of money they can tip into F1 due to their brand positioning and the tifosi support, they will naturally be implaccably opposed to reduced spending or any equality in resources being brought to bear which in turn means that Ferrari want to be unchallengeable. Even Mercedes needs to temper their spending and consider their wider non sporting dependent brand just as they did way back in the 50’s when they pulled the silver cars out.

    In short if those Mosley haters here want the Schu years back just keep voting the way you are.

    1. In short if those Mosley haters here want the Schu years back just keep voting the way you are.

      All of this will become clear in time.;)

    2. “In short if those Mosley haters here want the Schu years back just keep voting the way you are.”

      If LDM and Max had any deal, that’s almost definitely gone now after his tantrum today. So why would I still want Max to stay?

    3. Ferrari has been in the sport forever, they have been in it thru good and bad seasons. I have seen ferraris be at the back of the grid and they still showed up for every race. They never made excuses and pulled the little temper tantrums the michelin teams did in Indy 2006. When it was Bad for ferrari they stuck it out.
      What a team spends to be competitive should be their business and no one elses.
      By the way Mercedes sales have skyrockets in the years since they came back into motorsports officially. Their cars look and perform better than ever. I never considered owning a Mercedes in the non racing years. Then I owned BMW’s.
      Luca may shouldnt have said what he did but Max abd Bernie have been rattling off insults since last year at some of the players. Some of these folks have thin skin you know.
      By the way, I am not a ferrari fan. I do respect them team though.

    4. Max’s proposals would have had everyone disqualified at the end of 2010. Better the Schumi years than the nobody-at-all years…

  44. Its just Max posturing. The irony is, for once, he doesnt want to look like the one getting spanked.

  45. I voted yesterday that the deal was bad for F1…and now I see I was right again. I think I was wrong 1 time before but that was a mistake also.
    Seriously, this guyis the epitome of a power monger. Somebody made a George Bush reference in here but this guy make Idi Amin look rational. If this doesnt make Fota say the heck with it and go it own their own, nothing will.
    If the teams were smart, which most have proved their not then they would shutdown the rest of the season ubtil Max is gone for good and Barred from ever having anything to do in Motorosports again.
    He just wont go away.
    As much as Ron Dennis dissapointed me, he was right about Max.

  46. This really should come as no surprise to anyone who has any experience with people with personality disorders.

    Sure, we all have our neuroses, but Max exhibits so many of the classic symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder coupled with Psychopathy. It’s really quite remarkable. Look it up and you’ll see a match to so many traits listed. We’re seeing the last throws of a man in serious psychological distress, his house of cards-his very constructed reality-crumbling around him. He is compelled to defend his belief in himself and his position, despite the growing proof that it does not match the reality of those around him. At the end of the day, I feel truly sorry for him. His childhood, his parents, the loss of his son, and now this.

    The best for all is that Mr. Mosley retreat in silence and seek treatment, and let F1 heal itself as well.

    1. I have shown before on this site, with examples that Mosley Is a SOCIOPATH, and he is not going to go away quietly.
      Has anyone heard of the urban myth about celebs dying in 3’s well if we’re lucky then Max will be today’s 3rd, and then F1 can get back to business.

      However that is just wishful thinking.

      We need to wait for a response from FOTA, and a sensible one which does not include an apology to Mosley.

      Yes we, mostly want a Breakaway, but i have serious doubts it was ever a reality.

      As long as max Mosley Has anything to do with FIA/F1 or motorsport in any way then we the fans will always lose.

      Let’s just wait and see what response is given and then move on from there.

      1. While all sociopaths are psychopaths, not all psychopaths are sociopaths. Many captains of industry and policemen, etc. are highly functioning psychopaths.

  47. Thanks…I missed the obituaries section.

    Even they are too good to go to the pearly gates with he who shall not be named.

    1. Who says “he who shall not be named” is going in the same direction as the others?

  48. With all the press coverage of the violence in Iran, due to a dictatorship not wanted nor loved by its people, one cannot deny the simularities with Max Mosley and the FIA inwhich he has led for nearly two decades.
    This is the same man ofcourse who declared that Ferrari were not that important to Formula One. The same man who described Sir Jackie Stewart as a ‘certified halfwit’. And the same man who takes great pleasure in certain
    deranged sexual practices in secluded London basements.
    And he wants an apology. Stroll on mate!

    1. can you say New World Order

  49. Sod off Max. Please. Please please please. Pretty please. With (ahem) whipped cream and a cherry on top.

    OK?

  50. theRoswellite
    26th June 2009, 5:08

    …I know….I’m trapped in a Fellini/Hitchcock version of The Wizard of Odd….

    Only one day….what took him so long?

    I’d say he needs to come to his senses, but that’s pretty much unexplored territory, at least, as of late.

    The Two-Headed Monster may still be with us. and I’m laughing so hard I could just die (or is it…I’m dying so hard, I should just laugh).

  51. MacademiaNut
    26th June 2009, 5:12

    Max started his racing career all due to the wrong reasons.

    According to the Wikipedia page, “Mosley was attracted by the sport, and when his career as a barrister was bringing in sufficient money, he started racing cars himself.”

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Mosley

    So, he wanted to race just for money! After two years of racing, he went into management.

    The greatness of any man is defined by his ability to time his exit! Max, you are the opposite of that, my man. If you have any dignity left and you want people to forget you (at least not remember you for the wrong reasons), you should shut your mouth and quit.

    1. My understanding is that Mosley chanced upon motor racing after attending the British GP, developed a taste for it and went racing himself as soon as he had enough cash to pay for it. I gather a big part of the attraction was that this surname wasn’t a big issue.

      There may have been drivers who were paid to race in F2 in the late 1960s for the money (the established F1 stars of the day, certainly) but I doubt Mosley was one of them. I seem to recall that Mosley’s last F2 race was the event in which Jim Clark was killed, an event which caused more than a few drivers to reassess their prospects.

      As for going into management, Mosley founded March – which was hardly a big moneyspinner. Just ask Chris Amon.

  52. Of course Max, you’re not at all a dictator… and Robert Mugabe isn’t either since he was so rightfully and honestly elected too

  53. Max needs a firm but polite “get lost” from the fans, “get bent” is probably a little too.. harsh.

  54. ciao Max.Go now before the men in white coats are called.

  55. Seems to me it’g going to be a personal fight, between Mosley and Montezemolo…I never read before a letter so explicit and threadful, and I suspect the two are not friends since ’70 years, when they where manager of Ferrari and McLaren.

    To be honest I’m really surprised of … everything, and couldn’t say how it will finish.

    1. Are you seriously suggesting that Mosley was a manager at McLaren? After everything he did to destroy them, where would you get that fantasy from?

      1. Mosley was never a manager at McLaren. But he and di Montezemolo would have presumably come into contact in the mid-1970s when Max was running March in F1.

  56. Why can’t this guy just go away. Sore looooser!

    1. noy sor loooser just plain loooooser

      1. sorry to early in morning finger not working.

        not sore looooser just plain loooser

  57. Have any posters actually contemplated for a split second that Mr M.R. Mosley may be right? What if Montezemolo and FOTA have indeed attempted “to mislead the media”?

    What is Mosley actually saying?

    We made a deal yesterday in Paris to end the recent difficulties in Formula 1. A fundamental part of this was that we would both present a positive and truthful account to the media.

    If Montezemolo and/or other members of FOTA have subsequently “been briefing the press that Mr Boeri has taken charge of Formula 1” and “suggested to the media that I [Mosley] was a ‘dictator'”, they are in breach of this deal, even if it’s only an oral agreement.

    FOTA may not have deliberately made false statements, but to quote James Allen on his blog: “In Italy in particular, Montezemolo is being painted as St George, who slayed the dragon.”

    I’m not trying to defend Mosley in any way, here, but I’m merely suggesting that we hear FOTA’s reply to Mosley’s claims before we condemn anybody… even Mr M.R. Mosley.

    1. If Montezemolo and/or other members of FOTA have subsequently “been briefing the press that Mr Boeri has taken charge of Formula 1″ and “suggested to the media that I [Mosley] was a ‘dictator’”, they are in breach of this deal, even if it’s only an oral agreement.

      Have FOTA said Boeri’s in charge? I’d seen it reported in a couple of places, but not in any direct quotes.

      1. Remember, briefing can be off the record and/or unattributable to the source. For example, “A senior member of FOTA hinted that Mosley will no longer be involved in the day to day running of F1” etc.

        Alternatively, all it needs is for someone even loosely connected to FOTA to gloat in the presence of a journalist…

        1. I’ve seen similar reports, but indeed no exact quotes. However, Tim has a point.

          1. I think Max just needs to take press reports with a pinch of salt you would of thought he would have lernt to do that by now.

    2. If a truthful account to the media was part of the deal, Max should have said so in the FIA statement yesterday instead of saying he’d leave unconditionally. He clearly hasn’t been truthful with us over that, he contradicted himself in places in the statement and there’s no evidence yet that FOTA did the things Max accuses them of doing (if anything, the FIA had more to do with it with statements not matching their intentions).

  58. Well i had a feeling this was coming.

    when deals like this are struck, what people say later is usually calculated and agreed upon.

    for Mosley to have a no winner no looser stance, and then Monti contradicting by saying FOTA won, you could bet that Mosley is not going to be happy. and here he goes threatening to run for office. and i bet if he does, regardless if F1 dies or not, he will be elected, because the people that do vote, and do matter he already has in his pocket.

    With all the respect i have for Fota, i think they should be a little bit more diplomatic at least until October, then they can pop the bubbly…

  59. Although Max is blatantly throwing the toys out of the pram here, you have to admit that FOTA could have been more diplomatic, what did they have to lose. I’ve never seen so much political spin from both sides of this, and we’ll never truly know what happened in that WMSC meeting. In detail I mean, obviously we know the outcome.

    I have lost faith in Max (and his wee sidekick) and I have no trust in John Howett, Flav & Monty. F1 is the loser here in the short term, lets hope the sport grows stronger in the long term. I’ve been watching from the early 80’s and I am wondering what I see in the sport anymore, the on track action is cack and the off track politics is now very tiresome.

  60. Wicked Man!!

  61. After the good news that there would be no split in F1 and that Mosley would not be seeking re-election, I feared that Mosley would not go quietly, but even I am surprised at how quickly he is issuing threats again.

    As he states in his letter he is still the president of the FIA until October and even if he decides to keep his word he will still have a place on the FIA senate after that. Also winning the vote of no-confidence last year showed that he has enough power and connections in the FIA, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he uses his influence so that his favoured candidate is elected when he steps down and Mosley decides to influence things from behind the scenes.

    Mosley seems like a vindictive man so he is probably plotting his revenge, and how to cause the maximum damage.

  62. Bigbadderboom
    26th June 2009, 10:16

    I bet Bernie is loving all this, more back pages for F1!!! Mad Max needs to look at the situation and try to gather up some dignity. As this sorry episode has played out through the media, it has become apparent that Max needs power, and he will wield whatever he can muster right up to his last breath (or people finally stop listening). As he keeps reminding us, his position at the FIA is unpaid. So why would he continue, even though he so obviousley has so little support. For me Max is becoming a figure of ridicule now, he is starting to remind me of “Father Jack” from the TV series Father Ted!! I can see him shouting from his chair “Fack, Drink, Girls!!!!”

  63. Man, how can so many people be against Mosley so blindly? What the other guys did is very unpolite. I’d go mad too. It’s like Mosley’s wife divorced him, married Montezemolo and then the italian dude said “Hey, he was a crazy little dude anyway, now his wife is all mine” even before the documents were really signed. It was just a VERY stupid thing to do, and though, as a F1 fan I’d like it to end ok, as a person who apreciates a minimum of respect and intelligence, I’d like Mosley to give those IDIOTS a lesson.

    1. Bigbadderboom
      26th June 2009, 11:31

      You may be a person who expects a minimum of respect and you may well deserve it. Was Max Mosley being respectful of his positio when he paid prostitutes to whip him, was he being respectful to the motor industry he represents. Was he being respectful to the businessmen he referred to the as loonies, when he laughed at their plans and wishes?????? My Dad always told me that you have to earn respect. Max Mosely reeps what he sows. What goes around, comes around.

      1. @ Bigbadderboom

        I dont think Max’s dungeonatic escapades have anything to do with the respect of his portfolio.

        Mosley has a dark side, he was exposed, and his ability to head the FIA (which supposedly he disrespected according to you) was supported by the people who elect him.

        now Monti by breaching the deal (if he truly did mention these things in the PC) has disrespected that office. not Mosley but the office. after all, he wasn’t forced out, that is a grave thing to say.

        Mosley has done a lot for F1, he might be a bit loony himself these days, but he doesn’t hold the whole blame, not to mention that all this hoopla is about the teams wanting more money that i bet Bernie conceded some percentages of to shut Fota up and put the show back on track…

        life is color not black and white, and surely a little less slurring on the posts would be nice (that goes to all the name calling here, it’s not like you’re loosing your paycheck over what is happening)

        1. Mosley is behind power and this says he has no respect for the sport. If FIA is non-profitable organization hired just to define the rules and govern the racing activities, the teams have all the rights to voice their concerns with the governing body (after all, it is the teams that do the racing and not the governing body).

          FIA should try to resolve it, if not FIA should volunteer itself out of its position saying the teams are not ready to accept its governance and FIA is not willing to govern them as they want. In my opinion, that is what FIA should do with all the respect to the sport. FIA, in none of the recent occasions have respected the teams and their views. FIA (Mosley) is not willing to hear what teams say (May be because they have FOM on their side), and they want to rip the teams away.

          Of course, FIA is not just for F1… and the teams have no rights to force him out of FIA. But, when the governing body doesn’t want to hear them and also not willing to leave them out of its control, the teams have to try whatever they can. Why should they race under a governing body, with which most (if not all) of them are not happy with?

          Mosley and teams are working together for many years, if there is something wrong with personal politics it should have happened long back. Teams were all happy with FIA till the end of last decade, it just went wrong when FIA failed to respect the teams’ views, so it is not the teams that started the problem. They kept their dignity till FIA showed its complete unwillingness to have teams view in any sort of governance activities.

  64. OK Max, we will stop calling you names from now on.

    Yours truly,

    The Loonies

  65. Is it not in the slightest bit possible that this story really has been misrepresented by FOTA, and that Max is justifiably angry about how the settlement has been portrayed?

    I know FOTA are the heroes and saviours of F1, having successfully enshrined the teams’ collective right to spend themselves into oblivion in pursuit of a few extra tenths of a second, but anyone who believes that this conflict is a plain and simple battle of “Good versus Evil” is clearly mistaken. There are rights and wrongs on both sides – I’m waiting for the facts before I decide whether Max is being unreasonable or not.

  66. According to Joe Saward, Mr M.R. Mosley’s letter is indeed a sign that the FIA President is clutching at straws:

    Mosley claimed in this letter that he has decided on this course of action because of what he called FOTA’s “deliberate attempt to mislead the media” after the deal was struck on Wednesday, regarding the role of Michel Boeri, the president of the FIA Senate, who was initially rumoured to be taking over all F1 negotiations for the FIA. That rumour lasted just a few hours and no-one is now seriously suggesting that anyone other than Mosley is at the helm.

    If this is indeed the case, then we may expect some steadfast reply from either Mr L. Cordero di Montezemolo personally, or from FOTA as a whole, insisting on Mosley sticking with the Paris agreement, or the whole breakaway saga starts again.

  67. ARGH SO ANGRY. MOSLEY. GO. AWAY. It’s like the guy just can’t take 1001 hints that noone actually wants him around. Does he just want to be able to say oh the break away is REALY FOTA’s fault they insulted me so now i’ve really got no choice.

  68. Yep. Knew keeping that bottle of bubbly on ice was the best plan. I’ll crack it open in October, when I see the back of that man with my own two eyes.

    C’mon Bernie, you know he is a loose cannon who is personally jeopardising your future income. Do us all a favour and put him out of his misery.

  69. I have been diligently searching, and nowhere can I find any publication that attributes any such quote to a particular member of FOTA. Where is this statement, that got Max so heated up ?

    All I can find is the reports of the comments at the FOTA press conference, where very nice things were said.

    Also, I did read the FIA official press release. Nowhere in that release was any mention made of presenting a positive attitude. It WAS mentioned, however, that Max Mosley would NOT continue past October as FIA President.

    Lordy, lordy, lordy…so if Max doesn’t exit, then we are back to a split ? And I thought this finally was over.

  70. He is not a man of his words, this is what Max would have done on WMSC meeting.

    WMSC: Sire Max, with all due respect, you’re growing too old and stupid… now everyone out there knows you’re out of your mind. You can’t ask us to elect you this time too, then everyone will know that we’re all nothing but your servants.

    Max: What non-sense are you talking, you don’t have the rights to speak in front of me… they call me a ‘dictator’, it is not an insult to me, but for us all here. I’m doing this for you. Tell me honestly, “am I a dictator?”

    WMSC: Actually sire, we don’t think so. We just think you’ve your own way of dealing things irrespective of our opinion.

    Max: Tell that to them, they think I’m a dictator.

    WMSC: — Oh god, when is he going to realize… that he is a dictator? —

    Max: But, I do think they’re (FOTA) are really serious about the breakaway series now. I tried all the political moves I know… nothing worked.

    WMSC: Sire, we think there is no other possibility than executing our plan B. You don’t stand for re-election, and make one of us president and we’ll do what you say.

    Max: — How can I believe these idiots, after becoming president if they fail to listen to me — OK guys, though that’ll a wise move, I think of “plan C” for your welfare and for the goodness of the sport (not of my own interest). I’ll announce that, I won’t stand for re-election. It will make them stop their plans for breakaway series, then after few months time, I’ll find (or make) a reason to stand for the re-election.

    WMSC: — with disappointment and frustration — Brilliant idea sire, long live our president!

    Poor Mosley, didn’t have enough sense, to realize that it is too early for “plan C” and FOTA can still breakaway.

    1. HounslowBusGarage
      26th June 2009, 13:37

      Certainly looks that way, Mani.

  71. Like I’ve said elsewhere, the fun is just beginning. I believe the Nazis staged a fake border incident to justify their invasion of Poland. Max has learned from the best! Now that the teams have signed on for 2010 he will begin his campaign of divide and conquer to maintain his position as the “savior” of F1. Luca and Flabio are in for severe spankings for the duration of Max’s presence in the sport unless they dig in their heels and insist on his sidelining.

    His assertion that it’s the WMSC that promotes policy is pure B.S. as well. They merely have endorsed all the programs Max has attempted to foist on the sport. Adolph had the rigged Reichstag in his corner and Max has his own rigged WMSC “supporting” him.

    Even if his assertions about FOTA misrepresenting the deal are correct, who can blame them for attempting to put the stake through Max’s back? End the sycophant’s involvement NOW, by any means available and preferably with extreme prejudice.

  72. My friend’s two year old child is more mature. What a pile of dogwaste. Power corrupts people’s minds I feel sorry for that crybaby. He just needs a hug that’s not from a hooker!

  73. Just when I thought it was safe to feel good about F1 again, Mad Max start his maniacal ravings again. Tell me, please, is there no end to this man? What will it take to finally bury him?

    1. how about a stake through the heart? or silver bullets lol

  74. He is thinking “zay need zome more off ze punishment” isn’t he…

  75. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76546

    check this out.

    the man is unbelievable.

    1. Pedro Andrade
      26th June 2009, 17:22

      “No doubt we face a difficult period. This may well result in short-term problems in Formula 1. It is possible that FOTA will set up an independent series.”

      Unbelievable indeed. FOTA have made no statment whatsoever regarding his new complaints, and he says that FOTA are going to start a breakaway series now.

      What the hell has he got to win from this? This man is not mentally healthy.

  76. He’s the equivalent of dried dog dung stuck to your shoe, and no matter how much you try it just won’t come off.

    As Tim pointed out elsewhere FOTA left a wounded animal on the plains of F1. Now it’s turning around and biting back. FOTA need to administer the coup de grace to this lech and bury him once and for all.

    He has demonstrated there can be no trust in anything he says or does, and a commitment is only valid until he has a chance to turn the situation his way. He never compromises, but has a knack for delaying and obscuring. If the members of FIA or the WMSC can’t see this then FOTA would be wise to get out of Dodge, and now.

  77. And this from a man who called various people Loonies?!!!!

    1. He is the one who defines the rules, he has rules for himself. He is allowed to insult people (not counted), and when they react he has all the rights to say “They’re insulting me, and not just me they’re insulting the FIA”. Come on Mosley, you can do better!!!

  78. Mr. Mosley,

    We, the fans, watch F1 for the teams and drivers and not for you. Please don’t ruin our favorite sport. If you want to keep your pride, ego and power, keep it, but let them go (and call it as ‘you’ve saved saved the sport’).

    Of course, your point is valid, by starting a breakaway series they will destroy the name F1 (but the sport will always live in another name, as long as we watch… we know where the F1 we know will be). But, by not letting them out, you’re killing both the sport (not just the name) and the teams – already it is a half success. We don’t want to see that.

    Please accept that you’re behind the power, if you’re not you could have solved it in much better way long ago. Please, for gods sake, let the sport live.

    with frustration,
    the real victims

    — someone please send it to him, I don’t have his address :)

    1. I was thinking, what would I write if I had to write a personal letter to Mr. Mosley in a good weekend mood… that was posted above.

      I also had thought about, what a I would write to him when I’m in a rotten office mood. But, I think I can’t post that here :)

  79. jockmcspredder
    26th June 2009, 19:42

    Let this unhinged man have his way, get on with setting up the new series and leave him to have his petty arguments with himself when there are no F1 teams “under” his dictatorship, sorry, don’t mention that word!

  80. hes like aids, you cant get rid of him!

  81. HounslowBusGarage
    26th June 2009, 20:25

    I wonder if the bit about a manufacturer lobbying him about banning the double diffuser is actually true? Which manufacturer might it have been?
    I wonder why Max and Luca fell out?
    As Mani posted earlier, this looks like Max’s intention of saying “FIA and Formula 1 are in such a state that it would be irresponsible of me to retire now!” And go for re-election.

    1. I wonder if the bit about a manufacturer lobbying him about banning the double diffuser is actually true? Which manufacturer might it have been?
      I wonder why Max and Luca fell out?

      Someone trying to use their ‘technical veto’ in an under-hand way d’ya think.LOL

  82. How can Max be such a hypocrite? Many of his statements regarding FOTA have been far more insulting than what he is accusing them of. The real issue here is that the media already had their pre-formed opinions about max before the WMSC meeting. You cant blame FOTA for voicing their perception and the media taking it to the extreme. If he doesnt want to be called a dictator, he SHOULDNT ACT LIKE ONE!

  83. Here is how I hope it plays out. After Max’s latest outburst FOTA withdraw from F1 2010 and re-announce their intention for a breakaway new series. Rejoining FIA F1 will be possible on one condition only: The FIA terminate Max’s tenure immediately and unconditionally.

    Game over, good bye Max!

    1. HounslowBusGarage
      26th June 2009, 22:50

      I don’t think it will come to that George, because there is one party who stands to lose a lot more than either Max or FOTA. Bernie.
      The diminutive Mr E has been paddling like mad under the water’s surface recently to bring a raproachement between the two battling parties. At the moment, Bernie thinks he’s survived and he will not allow anyone – even Max – to disturb that.
      I think FOTA have continued to arrange their own series, just in case, and will allow Bernie to understand how well advanced their plans are. At which point Bernie will persuade Max to shut up.
      Max seems to be in pursuit of his own personal Gotterdammerung, and I keep thinking of one of the first comments here wherein someone said that great men never plan their exits well. That’s just like saying politician’s careers always end in defeat. They never understand when it’s time to go gracefully.

    2. Here is how I hope it plays out. After Max’s latest outburst FOTA withdraw from F1 2010 and re-announce their intention for a breakaway new series.

      I hope that happens too! LOL

      Rejoining FIA F1 will be possible on one condition only:

      So they ‘have to join’ the FIA then ?

      The FIA terminate Max’s tenure immediately and unconditionally.

      Only the member groups of the FIA can do that,and only then in October.

  84. Hey Max is right he’s not a dictator. The dictionary Websters to be precise has a picture of Mr. Mad Max Mosely, I prefer the 4M’s.. much easier, right in the dictionary he was under dicktator. Silly old bag hasn’t realized he’s lost his head.

  85. Oh God, shut up Mosley! Seriously, can this get any more ridiculous?

  86. can’t they just throw Max out of the sport right now?

    1. can’t they just throw Max out of the sport right now?

      No.It’s a bit more complicated than that!

  87. I believe that FOTA need to make backup plans just in case, until officially Mosley is removed by force and humiliated to death. Because clearly Mosley is mentally disturbed and has lost all counts for reality and life and belongs in a mental institution.

    Ferrari or FOTA have nothing to apologize.

    The FIA governing body (as a body and not one person) should explain what is happening. I still do not see anyone else doing the talking except for Mosley. For example I would love to see what the FIA vice president has to say and the FIA council have so say, or any other members of the FIA. If the whole FIA organization feel the same as Mosley, in that they dont know what they are doing and can not come to terms with reality and are changing their opinion every day, then there is no point in playing these ridiculous games with FIA, and FOTA should continue with breakaway plans.

    If however the World Motor Sport council was a part player of the latest agreements issued on Wednesday, then anything Mosley does from now on will be worse for him, there is nothing Mosley can do. Instead, if this continues, the FIA could be voted out and lose their right to be a governing body rather then F1 being destroyed. what is beyond belief is that no other member of FIA are objecting to Mosley ridiculous actions – either they are not allowed to talk or they all think the same as Mosley.

    1. If however the World Motor Sport council was a part player of the latest agreements issued on Wednesday, then anything Mosley does from now on will be worse for him, there is nothing Mosley can do. Instead, if this continues, the FIA could be voted out and lose their right to be a governing body rather then F1 being destroyed. what is beyond belief is that no other member of FIA are objecting to Mosley ridiculous actions – either they are not allowed to talk or they all think the same as Mosley.

      The 26 members of the WMSC voted ‘for’ the 2010 FIA ‘budget cap’ regulations 24 to 2 (!)

      They had their say! So maybe they all think the same as Mosley ?

      The FIA cannot be “voted out”.

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