This is an update to:
Mosely’s First Appearance At Race After Sex Scandal
Bernie Ecclestone has warned Max Mosley, the disgraced president of the FIA, that if he wants a war over the future of Formula One, Ecclestone and his business partners will fight him. Ecclestone said that he hoped that a recent letter sent by Mosley to the presidents of all the FIA member clubs that was sharply critical of Ecclestone, even if it did not name him, was not intended as a declaration of hostilities.
“I sincerely hope that it isn’t a declaration of war because, if that’s what the message should be, then we’ll have to defend ourselves,” Ecclestone said. “That is what anyone would do. I don’t believe that’s what Max wanted the letter to say. I don’t want to have a war with Max. I hope he doesn’t want one with me.”
Ecclestone also refuted Mosley’s claims that the vote of confidence early next month is an attack on the FIA as a whole, stressing that the meeting has been called for one reason - and one reason alone.
“This whole business is really about what was printed in the News of the World and whether this in any way damaged the FIA clubs or the FIA - that’s all,” he underlined.
“It’s nothing to do with anything else, and I don’t quite know why he’s come out and said these things. I am sorry if the press have reported things which he doesn’t like, but we certainly don’t have any influence over the FIA.
“I think the General Assembly of the FIA was called for one reason only - to decide whether or not they think Max is the right person to be their president. The vote will be on that, not about the Concorde Agreement.”
Ecclestone dismissed each point. He said that the idea that Formula One is in crisis is ridiculous. “I don’t see any problems up until a couple of months ago,” he said in reference to the News of the World revelations.
Mosley is planning to visit the Formula One paddock in Monte Carlo this week, his first public appearance since the scandal broke. Ecclestone said that he had no problem with this and he believes that it is a big enough event not to be overshadowed by Mosley’s presence. “Monaco is Monaco and the race has been there an awful long time,” he said. “I don’t know what would distract anybody from that.”
UPDATE: May 21, 2008 11:24 pm
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) president stayed out of sight and away from Monaco’s harbour-side paddock, a spokesman said it had been ‘business as usual’ for the 68-year-old Briton.
He said Monaco resident Mosley had met Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali and Renault’s Flavio Briatore in his office at the race control tower to discuss cost-cutting measures. Former Ferrari designer Rory Byrne, now a consultant to the champions, and Renault’s engineering head Pat Symonds were also present.
Sunday’s race will be the first that Mosley, who faces a confidence vote in Paris on June 3 and has ignored calls for his resignation since the scandal broke in March, has attended this season.
Formula One’s German and Japanese manufacturers have questioned Mosley’s position and some team bosses have privately made clear they will not be seeking contact with him this weekend.
BMW Sauber’s Mario Theissen said, however, that the controversy would not be allowed to overshadow Sunday’s race.
“I don’t believe it will be the dominant issue this weekend,” he said. Asked whether he would deliberately shun Mosley, he replied: “I am not looking for him.”
Australian Mark Webber, one of the few drivers to have openly called for Mosley to go, said he was not losing any sleep over the FIA president’s likely appearance in the paddock.
“He’s big enough and old enough to make his own decisions for himself, and what will be will be this weekend,” said the Red Bull driver.
“We’ll see what happens. And we’ll see what happens on June the third as well.”
