Oliver WhiteFollowing the penalty imposed on Lewis Hamilton at last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, the FIA have attempted to clear the air with the drivers and fans by clarifying a few things. Max Mosley is present in the Italian paddock this weekend, his first appearance at a grand prix since Monaco, and he himself had a few words to say about the supposed leniency towards Ferrari, and of course, the fans belief that the FIA are overly strict with McLaren.
During the Friday driver’s briefing at Monza, Race Director Charlie Whiting clarified with the pilots what they should do in the event that one of them skips a corner, just like how Hamilton did at Spa Francorchamps less than a week previous. Whiting stated that the drivers should return the position, if gained, to the other driver and wait at least one more corner before attacking again. This way, Whiting believes there can be no argument about possible advantages.
Mark Webber, a GPDA director, welcomed the clarification as he felt the rules were too vague previously. Speaking to Autosport, Webber had the following to say:
We are still trying to find a solution for the second chicane here, because we still think there is a way to roll through there. But generally, it is pretty clear for people to probably not attack immediately again, which wasn’t mega, mega clear in the past. Mark Webber.
Also speaking out today was the FIA’s president, Max Mosley. Max came to the defence of the FIA after certain members of the media (and some of the sport’s fans) have lashed out against the organisation, stating that the FIA are biased towards Ferrari and are trying to prevent McLaren from winning the titles. The feeling of contempt among the fans goes back quite a long way, and in the sport’s more recent past, certain decisions do appear to have helped the red cars. However, Mosley was adamant that the FIA are unbiased and do not get involved with the championship battles.
Any suggestion there is a bias for or against any team or driver is completely untrue, absolutely not. I think it’s a reflection, and I’m sorry to say this, of the stupidity of the people who say it because they haven’t really thought the thing through and put themselves in the position of the people who have to take these very difficult decisions. Max Mosley.
Max then praised Lewis Hamilton for his outstanding driving this year, and went on to say that he thinks Hamilton will make a very good world champion. The FIA president reiterated that the governing body will remain completely neutral and they will not help or hinder any party.
Interestingly, Max then went on to talk about his future as the president of the FIA. Of course, Mosley has been through a lot this year, and all of which was entirely his fault, despite the man’s pleas to the media. However, Max’s activities away from the office put immense pressure on the 68 year old to resign his presidency. Alas, Mosley did not and now a few months have past, it is clear he is once again feeling relaxed in front of the cameras.
But it was during this ‘saga’ that Mosley announced he would not stand again. While it wasn’t an official announcement, Mosley did mention that he had been thinking about standing again next year when his term is up, but ultimately decided not to. However…
I have to say there is an awful lot of pressure coming from different parts of the world saying ‘continue’, which is very nice of them, and is very widespread, I have to say that. But it’s very hard work and I am really quite ready to take a less active role … There comes a point with that sort of thing where you think maybe a slightly quieter life would be ideal, but we shall see.
You can’t rule anything out. No. You should never say never, as the old cliche goes. But at the moment my inclination is that I would like a quiet life. Max Mosley.
Max has changed his mind over running again more times than I care to remember, but I honestly thought (although I did say I wouldn’t be surprised if I was wrong) that Mosley would not stand again and quietly disappear into the background. Maybe Max is just playing some games with the press, maybe he is seriously considering his decision again… who knows? I don’t believe Mosley would run again, and I firmly believe it is time for someone else to preside over the FIA, but Mosley never ceases to amaze me, mostly for the wrong reasons.
You know it is great for Max to call those who question the FIA’s bias and to label them (me) as stupid. But, the fact is, this is the opinion of a man who gets his kicks engaging in five hour Nazi sex romps with prostitutes.
So, Max can say all he likes, but he has no character or integrity to back up his assertions, claims and stern corrections.
Besides, Max has publicly talked-up his personal relationships with Big Red’s executives and publicly criticized Ron Dennis. He has come out and said he does not like Ron and he loves a number of Ferrari big shots. So, what are we supposed to believe? That this guy has the integrity to be impartial in the way he runs the FIA? That’s funny.
Just to be clear (and legal) Max won a vote of confidence by the FIA members (regarding his position as FIA president) and won his case against the newspaper that printed the story. Only saying, you know, to be careful. 🙂
But that I do agree with! He’s a character alright, but perhaps not the best to be presiding over an international organisation that requires respect of authority, clarity and fundamental principles of correctness.
Gah, that’s the wrong wording, but I think you guys know what I mean.
This man has got to be out of his mind. Who wants him to stay????
The negative publicity that F1 has had over the last year is enough, if Mosley cared he would bow out and give it to someone to pick up the pieces. But as we all know he might not be president next year, but somehow he will stay involved. Mr. Mosley, the fans of F1 are really not the stupid ones, we did not get caught in a sex sting that embarrassed and hurt the reputation of the company and sport we work for, we also do not turn a deaf ear to some of the comments you say either, see we are not loyal to the FIA we are loyal fans of the sport F1 and the drivers.
Good comment Linda, well said.
Let me put some fun here 😉
Mike: I’ll be very interested in being explained with somebody having sex romps with prostitutes should have necessarily a wrong opinion or is necessarily a bad person??? Have you any interesting view on gays? un-married couples? What does sexuality has to do with common sense?
Linda: FIA president is ELECTED, he does not decide to be re-elected. If he gets re-elected who can challenge that? and for what reason?
Are you saying the democraty is not working poperly in the FIA?
That might well be… But then the blame should be put on the FIA and its structure not on the elected president. Because if this is the case, if the democraty is not working properly, what garantee do we have that the next president won’t be even worse? maybe one who likes KGB style prostitutes, or booze, or drugs or the whole lot?
Apart from that I agree with you, the guy must leave may be not because of his private life, but for a few other things more relevant to his conduct of the FIA, and the fans are loyal to the sport -love that !- but as you all probably noticed already we have no right of vote at the FIA general assembly 😉
… A good opportunity maybe… for those who complain to join their national ASA and ask to represent it at the FIA?
Food for thought… Have a good night 😉
Mosley is a liar. He has lied all the way through this sordid mess. When he said he would not stand again I said he was a liar and he would stand again.
It is no co-incidence that the organisations within the FIA who are against Max are those who put the most money in and those who support him are those that benefit. Unfortunately for us there are a lot more small countries than big ones.
Max can say he is impartial all he likes. His deputy is on the Ferrari board and he has spent the last four years touting another member of the Ferrari board as his chosen successor. Max saying there is no anti-McLaren bias is like Hitler saying the Nazis were not anti-semitic.
Apart from his associations with senior Ferrari figures the man is a liar. His words carry no weight.
Ok Ago, let me clairfy I have no problem with his sex romps, what ever floats your boat. I due have a problem when it tarnishes the sport that he is involved in and I hate to say this and Oliver will problem take this out, men think usually with one head and that normally means loss of common sense at some point(lol). As far as a president that would be worse, might happen but we might also strike it rich and get a good one. As always thanks for giving me a smile.
As a man who believes common sense is whole lot less common than I was brought up to believe in, your comment stands, Linda.
I agree with your optimism. Let’s get someone new. Someone fresh. Someone… different.
Ok Oliver I vote for you (lol) and you forgot someone in touch
Honestly, huh? Am I missing some innuendo here or something? 😉
Ago – your question is weak. Prostitution is demeaning to the men and women who take part in it. To objectify a human being and pay them for intimacy is twisted and destructive to all parties involved. And that does not even take into account the damage caused Mosley’s family. You can bait me all you like on the question of gays, etc. It is irrelevant.
A man placed in the position Max is in has to hold a high standard of behavior to protect the trust placed in him. If he needs to demean other human beings to get his trills, then yes, it does call into question his character and his ability to govern such a large and influential body as the FIA.
You see, what we do in private does matter to what we do in public because it is all part of who we are.
I am not going to respond to this line of argument after this post. I don’t think it is productive to the topic of F1.
😉
Olli – fair enough on wanting to be careful over slander. I do think that the FIA verdict had to do with his ability to keep his job, not wether he was caught doing what he did. But, regardless, I can understand not wanting to go too far down the road I started on and will keep is nice and easy!
So Max called me stupid. Oh well, it’s no worse than things I’ve called him in the past (although I’ve tried to be circumspect – like you, Ollie, I am aware of such things as slander and libel suits).
Come to think of it, I rather like the idea. After all, to be called stupid by such a detested man as Max is, sorta ends up being a compliment, doesn’t it? I mean, how would you feel if he said you were right, brilliant and the greatest writer on the net? That could lose you a lot of friends… 😀
If Max can’t see why punishing a driver for breaking a rule that many others have broken worse in the same race is wrong, then he is the stupid one. And he still hasn’t told me why such behaviour demonstrates competence…
Mike: Yep agree with you this sort of argument is not productive so why did you mention it in the first place 😉
a quick off-topic: there are in this world many cultures, many and diverse opinions on a given topic. In my culture (latin, french whatever) private matters are private, unveiled or not they must not be taken into account (unless there is a very good reason for it like being illegal for example), with the exception of a deliberate attempt by the person to make his/her behaviour public. To be honest with you I have much more questions about who took the video and why they did it… Obviously that does seems to interest many people in the UK 😉
end of off-topic.
I don’t give a damn about Mosley, nobody knows him outside the F1 circles, and all those who shout at him before he was confirmed in his position have not shut their mouth… like the ADAC (german member of FIA) who was supposed to give up, it seems that they still want to organise the German GP next year…lol
That was only 5 month ago:
http://ollief1.com/2008/04/04/so-much-for-support-adac-asks-for-mosley-to-reconsider/
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=42854
Money, money, money… (remember that old Abba’s song)
Ago – thanks for the gracious response.
Unfortunately, a lot of people now do know about Max Mosley out of F1 circles, and mostly because of the orgy (the other part being due to the dodgy resolution of the McLaren/Ferrari/Renault mess last year). As such, Max’s actions, and especially his poor handling of the consequences, has damaged the reputation of the FIA and the dignity of his office. In the UK, this concerns us, as do the facts that he’s done this orgy despite marriage (which is generally considered wrong in the UK), that the orgy was claimed to role-play Nazism (a hot-button subject) and that prostitution was only (partially) legalised in 2004. While private life is supposed to be private, certain codes of conduct are also expected within that private life (more for high-profile people than the hoi polloi, but some are expected of everyone). So while the likes of the News of the World are derided by many, attacks on anything other than their worst excesses don’t go down to well either.
Hi Alianora, forgive me if I am a bit blunt but F1 is a worldwide business where the UK’s 60 millions people are like a raindrop in the ocean.
Do not expect british behaviour or customs to be adopted in an international organisation such as the FIA this is never going to happen, However I can understand your criticism to Mosley’s attitude but even a UK judge found nothing wrong with it… and the “nazi” accusation was rejected so insisting on it is rather unfair.
Don’t get me wrong though I share your point of view on the moral point that you raised I simply consider it irrelevant to the point… and as a “free thinker” myself I believe that if something is not forbidden by law then there is nothing to moan about.
The point about him being married is his wife’s business and I could very easily understand that she will sue him, but that is a private matter, none of our business, none of the state business either.
The real question is: Why did Mosley won this “confidence vote” in the FIA general assembly. Is there “something rotten in the kingdom of FIA”? But interestingly enough noboby wants to talk about that… It is so much more comfortable to question the moral behaviour of an individual and simply to close one’s eyes on the behaviour of an entire organisation 😉
BTW Have you come to any conclusion about the meaning and validity of article 9 of the FIA statutes that clearly (for me!) indicates the WMSC, and the VP’s are elected and not choosen by the president as stated by Steven here…
Many thanks in advance, and all my best regards.
I think enough was spoken about that particular issue at the time. 🙂