Formula 1: Bernie Trying To Oust Longtime Acquaintance Max Mosely?
Apr 27, 2008
Bernie met with 10 of the 11 Formula One team principals at the Spanish Grand Prix to discuss technology upgrades for 2009.
But reports have emerged that the future of Mosley came up with Ecclestone willing to back Mosley’s removal if all teams signed a letter demanding his resignation.
Mosley and Ecclestone are longtime acquaintances who co-founded F1 team March in 1974. The duo have controlled both the business and regulatory sides of motor racing ever since.
Ecclestone had backed Mosley to remain as the head of governing body FIA after allegations that the 68-year-old president took part in Nazi-themed sex acts. Mosley admits meeting five prostitutes but denies there were any Nazi connotations.
“That’s a load of nonsense. It’s just the press trying to conjure up another story,” Ecclestone said from the paddock at the Circuit de Catalunya.
The meeting at the Circuit de Catalunya was hosted by Toyota and its intended focus was on the planned introduction of the KERS (kinetic energy recovery system) next year.
Mosley has been a champion of the new technology, which has been embraced particularly by Williams, but some teams are concerned about the costs of development.
“I didn’t get heated, I got passionate,” McLaren boss Ron Dennis said.
“It was a meeting about costs...it was to determine the future development of KERS and obviously not everyone agreed.
“What I find frustrating was that a lot of the people who were there were not the people who sign the cheques. So I was keen to make very clear the consequences of us not finding a constructive way forward.”
Seven-time champion Schumacher gave his personal opinion on Mosley, before firmly refusing to say any more.
“I know Max as a professional person and I really rate him very highly. I always thought about myself that I didn’t want people to comment about my private life, so there’s no reason to get into other people’s private life.”
