To all FIA Club Presidents
16 May 2008
Dear President,
The negotiations
In addition to the obvious need to seek the views of those who elected me, I believe that unless invited to do so by the clear majority of FIA member clubs, it would be irresponsible, even a breach of duty, to walk away from a number of negotiations currently under way, all of which are of fundamental importance to the FIA.
We are in the middle of a renegotiation of the 100 year commercial agreement between the FIA and the Formula One Commercial Rights Holder. In effect, this agreement governs Formula One. The CRH originally asked us to accept changes to the agreement in order to reduce the CRH’s liability to tax. These we can probably concede. But the CRH has also now asked for control over the Formula One regulations and the right to sell the business to anyone - in effect to take over Formula One completely. I do not believe the FIA should agree to this.
However, it was always my intention to stop in 2009. Nowadays, the presidency is a very difficult job, requiring complete dedication on a full-time basis. At 68, I want to work less hard and would also like to be free to devote more time to general road safety and environmental questions. However, I think it essential that there should be a smooth transition. If we are to have a smooth transition we need to wait until 2009, when there will be a general election with new presidential candidates, each putting forward a list built on consensus for the approval of the FIA membership as a whole.
UPDATE: May 20, 2008 04:37 am
The embattled FIA president’s attempts to shore up his position ahead of a confidence vote in Paris on June 3 have been going from one stumbling block to the next.
Mosley will be in Monaco this weekend, where he lives, to make his first appearance at a race since the UK’s News of the World newspaper reported that he was in an orgy with five prostitutes that involved Nazi role-playing.
The newspaper’s original revelations were given added spice—something one would have thought nigh on impossible—at the weekend by British newspaper reports that an MI5 spy had been forced to resign after bosses discovered his wife was one of the prostitutes involved in the orgy.
Writing in a letter released at the weekend, he warns FIA members that it could lose its already loose grip on the sport if he is forced out.
In other parts of the letter—not widely reported—Mosley directly addressed the question of his resignation.
He also reiterated that “almost all” of his public duties would be fulfilled by his two deputy presidents, giving him the time to progress the current negotiations and safeguard the FIA’s fundamental interests.
| 
|