Has Max been a verryyy naughty boy?

[Rob W]

Thanks, Rob W, good analysis. What do you think of Mr. Rubython description of the FIA-FOMA agreement? All the personal attacks on Mosley in the "second half" pale in comparison with the accusation of having given a gift of almost 2 billions to Mr. Ecclestone..

In reality we don't know how much it costs to stage F1 so the monies given by the FIA to Bernie's organising body may have been quite appropriate given other factors. Remember the FIA has F1 as it's cornerstone series - the one it can say is the undisputed best. The FIA however don't organise events, not least to the level of a F1 event, nor the practices and the travel arrangements, safety systems etc so the organisation who takes this on board has got a lot - a hell of a lot - to organise to perfection. These things cost insane amounts of money and planning no doubt so the person in charge of them is in a pretty good negotiating position. If the F1 put it out a tender to see who wants to run F1 it would be a complete circus and probably not make it through a year. The FIA themselves aren't set up to do it either.

Bernie essentially 'owns' F1 in many senses. They can't run it without him. But if he said he was starting his own series and showed the teams the money they would follow him in a second. And you are right in saying Ecclestone is the key person who needs to consider whether Max can continue to do his job.

Re: the article's comments about the secret arrangements.. We can't know for sure if the paltry payment the story claims is the only payment. Maybe it was $300 million plus 15% of future TV deals... or some other on-going performance-based deal. There is just too much missing in the equation stated to believe it's the only consideration given. The writer seems to know some major details but can't explain them in sensical terms so I'd be inclined to think either he got it wrong or he knows only part of the story. And we will likely never know either so no point in worrying about it. The FIA and FOM might just be laughing at the article thinking that they've just fined a team $100 million, or 1/3 of the supposed 100 year F1 rights deal! They'd make more money fining teams .

Anyway.. back to topic. Max = strange man doing a job anyone would be hated for doing eventually.

R

[doorboot]

Just read this article that equates Max with Robert Mugabe. As a South African I have to agree there are striking similarities.
http://www.wheels24.co.za/Wheels24/Colu ... 35,00.html

[ben_watkins]

The Dutch motorsport body KNAF is now saying outright they will vote against him staying at the EGA..

"Because of his high-profile position, this can't be accepted," KNAF president Arie Ruitenbeek told BBC Sport.

"I have not received my invitation yet (to the FIA meeting), but we will go and will vote for him to resign."

More coverage here..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsp ... 330324.stm

[Project Four]

I have always thought that once you are in a hole you should put the shovel down and stop digging so Mosley’s reply to the BMW/ Mercedes statement as in

“Given the history of BMW and Mercedes-Benz, particularly before and during the second world war, I fully understand why they would wish to strongly distance themselves from what they rightly describe as the disgraceful content of these publications”

I find this worrying and I would have thought that this could equally be applied to him and his family, if not more so.

Mosley as head of all motor sport and the motor organisation is in a very important position and therefore his actions privately or not will bring all of motorsport into disrepute and his actions are now overshadowing the sport. For someone who has taken the high moral ground in the recent spy-gate case and pursued McLaren relentlessly, to attempt to stay in power and not just say sorry and go is contemptible. McLaren were charged and fined $100M for bringing the sport into disrepute !!!, is Mosley going to be similarly punished ? No, I do not even believe he will be removed from office. Mosley will survive with protection from Bernie.

Lastly, have you notice that there has been no statement from Ferrari expressing their anger or disapproval, but I was expecting a statement saying Mosley is the wronged party.

[G-Rock]

I think this whole thing is ridiculous. What Mosley did was pretty tame to what others in his position get away with. How many of you have gone to Bangkok for some underage (you don't have to answer that on here) girls or boys or have done illegal drugs?
Even if it were true about the prostitutes and the nazi costume party, they are all of age and no one was hurt (except maybe his bottom from being spanked by all those "prison guards")

[donskar]

Ah, finally someone points the finger at Ferrari:

I was expecting a statement saying Mosley is the wronged party.

LMAO

And WHY would you expect such a statement?

Oh, I forgot, Ferrari is the cause of global warming, they are to blame for being the victim of industrial espionage, and Montzemolo killed the Easter Bunny.

Ferrari is lots of things, many not nice, but politically stupid they aint! [-X

[gcdugas]

Ferrari have at last commented on recent events......

[Belatti]

I think this whole thing is ridiculous. What Mosley did was pretty tame to what others in his position get away with. How many of you have gone to Bangkok for some underage (you don't have to answer that on here) girls or boys or have done illegal drugs?
Even if it were true about the prostitutes and the nazi costume party, they are all of age and no one was hurt (except maybe his bottom from being spanked by all those "prison guards")

I don´t know if its fair or not (I´m not a Judge, a law student, or God) but if you are a controverted public figure you are not allowed to make mistakes, because your head will be ripped off, then if you are nobody you can do what you want.

See what happened to the ex-Major of NYC: the guy just likes sex and maybe he can´t get in home, but he was a public figure that was against Cabarets, so your behaviour must be accord to that.

Mosley was just playing, but many can´t stand him because many other things he have done, so thats give them an opportunity to destroy him. To me, his Nazi-Orgy doesn´t change my opinion much: I thought 100% he should leave before and I think 100% he should leave now. Simple as that. "El no esta a la altura de las circunstancias".

Have you noticed there are people of 68 years old like Mad Max still sucking dry any organization they can? Don´t get me wrong, but at that age you should be retired, enjoying life, having fun (without Nazi costumes, please ), out of troubles.

I´m tired to see Presidents everywhere lasting more than 8 years, with indefinite reelections. It happens in the FIA, and its national dependant bodies, in the FIFA, other sports organizations, in many 3rd world countries, etc.
That´s not democracy, that´s a way to dodge it. You have your opportunity, if you have done a good job, maybe you (and the people above all) deserve another chance. Then, you should have to give place to a new generation.

[Project Four]

Ah, finally someone points the finger at Ferrari:

I was expecting a statement saying Mosley is the wronged party.

LMAO

And WHY would you expect such a statement?

Oh, I forgot, Ferrari is the cause of global warming, they are to blame for being the victim of industrial espionage, and Montzemolo killed the Easter Bunny.

Ferrari is lots of things, many not nice, but politically stupid they aint! [-X

Was not an accusation against Ferrari, merely a statement of fact, with a degree of sarcasm.

BMW, Mercedes, Toyota and Honda have all released statements, and in the past Ferrari have not held back using the press to express their opinions.

[Ray]

Was not an accusation against Ferrari, merely a statement of fact, with a degree of sarcasm.

BMW, Mercedes, Toyota and Honda have all released statements, and in the past Ferrari have not held back using the press to express their opinions.

Yes, but all of those that spoke out are much larger car manufacturers than Ferrari. And Max has spoken at length about getting rid of those manufacturers. So I can see why they are jumping at the chance to possibly get rid of him. And maybe Ferrari are just staying out of it. Could it be that they don't care? F430s are still going to sell if Max stays or not.

[SoftBatch]

How many of you have gone to Bangkok for some underage (you don't have to answer that on here) girls or boys...

Your sick.

[zac510]

Ferrari have at last commented on recent events......

Is that supposed to be funny?

(hint: it isn't)

[Carlos]

Come on SoftBatch! It was just the first outrageous example that occurred to G-Rock

Bellati expressed it best, as he often does - very frank and straightforward :

"I don´t know if its fair or not (I´m not a Judge, a law student, or God) but if you are a controverted public figure you are not allowed to make mistakes, because your head will be ripped off, then if you are nobody you can do what you want." Bellati

I liked the "...because your head will get ripped off ..." best

[donskar]

Have I missed something, or has Renault been silent throughout this seamy affair?

And BTW, I'm no stickler for the law, but just as a point of fact, I assume prostitution IS illegal in GB? And in the majority of cases (at least here in the US) it seems the law comes down hardest on the one buying the service than on the one providing it.

No humor or sarcasm meant here, just looking for clarification.

[P_O_L]

There are a few problems they should overcome to prosecute for paying someone to have sex.

Number one must be the payment must be captured on film, she must explicitly state what she gives in return for cash, then he has to say ok and give her the money.

The second is i dont know if a judge would allow that film to be submitted as evidence. There could be a few reasons to dissallow the evidence. It probably would also mean that whoever made that movie, has to come forward and identify himself. Somehow i dont see that last part happen.

The last problem is the London police have far greater priorities than bringin in people who visit prositutes. They sometimes send out special vice squads for an hour and bring in 10 or 20 of those guys. Mosley alone is prolly not that interesting.