Mosley versus Ecclestone 23/05/2008 The farce continues. As Max Mosley dodges about in Monaco, trying not to be asked any questions, Bernie Ecclestone finds it necessary to write to the FIA members to refute Max's dubious claims against CVC, also delivered by letter. The war is on, it seems.Bernie and MaxIt is not a war that Max wanted, as can be seen from his attempt to gather support by his lurid description of negotiations with the Commercial Rights Holder (CRH) - only a fool would willingly stir up Bernie's resistance to his survival. Max needed to be seen as the FIA's last hope of retaining control of the regulations and the letter was never intended to become public, hinting at the CRH's dastardly intent, as it does. The fact that it leaked, ultimately to be released in full on the FIA website, is a disaster for Max and goes some way to explaining his unwillingness to meet the press at the moment.What can he do, after all? He says the CRH wants control of F1 regulations, Bernie says it does not; Max either admits to lying or has to call Bernie a liar. So Max has found yet another petard to be hoisted by and his squirming to avoid the consequences of his own actions is revealed once more as the desperate attempt to hang on to power at all costs that it is.The surprising thing in this ongoing saga is that it might be good for the future of F1. A battle between Mosley and Ecclestone might make it easier for an incoming president to investigate the shady dealings of the past between the two most powerful men in the sport. A good place to start would be that 100-year agreement that both sides are now so keen to "tidy up".It is tempting to declare a pox on both their houses. Far from guiding F1 through the minefield to happier times, as is so often claimed, the pair have turned it into a monster greedy for cash and on sale to the highest bidder. While Max ignores his tacit acceptance of the demise of so many traditional races already and claims to be their last remaining hope for the future, Bernie continues the process unhindered, suggesting that there will be no British GP in 2010.The CRH might do well to look closely at their man's squandering of chances to maximise their investment indeed. The recent agreement with Codemasters for the production of an official F1 video game comes after years of fruitless negotiations caused by Bernie's blinkered approach to commercial contracts. Those years represent money that CVC could have made use of in their quest to pay back their loans.Add to that Bernie's continuing inability to grasp the relevance of the internet in promoting the sport and it has to be said that he is doing a pretty poor job for his employers. As long as he continues to rip video race highlights from the net while failing to offer anything as replacement, he loses money that is desperately needed. If proof were needed that Bernie is yesterday's man, this alone is sufficient.Whether all this will be understood by the FIA members is a moot point, of course. They have not distinguished themselves with any ability to look beyond their own petty concerns to date, preferring to rubber stamp whatever the glorious Max has decreed. But their chance to excel is fast approaching; let us hope that they seize this chance to get things right and send Max away with a flea in his ear.And next it will be Bernie's head upon the block...
Clive
josh j great post clive, it's great to hear someone condemn mosely's lack of action already on the traditional races, and even better to hear someone clinically look at ecclestone's achievements. frankly I'd go one step further and actually say that F1 could have been in a far stronger position without those two at the head cocking things up all the time. The issues with the regulations and format have been ridiculous, and Bernie's lack of any sort of brand marketing has been a disgrace - he should be ashamed. CVC should lock his office and kick him out - he's useless, get rid of him. Date Added: 23/05/2008
Clive I have felt for a long time that the unholy alliance would come to an end when Bernie and Max started fighting, Josh, and it looks as though that is about to happen. As we become more informed about what has been going on at the top, it becomes increasingly obvious that the sooner these two go, the better for the sport. A new broom sweeps cleaner, they say! Date Added: 23/05/2008
Alianora La Canta I can see F1 suffering quite a bit as the elephants called Mosley and Ecclestone fight (with the FIA and CVC as their herds, ready to stomp in if need be), but in the long run this was caused by the pair's power-grabbing, and F1 will benefit from such tendencies being reduced among the powers that be.It is worth noting that the EU acted in 2001 to split the regulatory and financial powers. Even if Bernie thought the FIA were nothing but incompetent fools and a creche full of three-year-olds could do a better job, he could not get the regulatory powers over F1 without getting fined. Only Max's dismissiveness of any power which could claim to be higher than himself allowed him to forget that. If the FIA falls for Max's tricks (which it probably will), then it will be a serious indictment of their ability to judge the plausibility of what comes before them. Which would explain a lot of decisions they've made in the past - poor capacity for judgement will generally lead to poor decisions. Date Added: 23/05/2008
Clive Agreed, Alianora. The meeting on June 3rd will be the crunch time for F1 in a big way - its future hangs in the balance. one can only hope that the clubs rise above their previous performances and vote for a new and cleaner FIA. Date Added: 24/05/2008
Number 38 I love reading your work Clive, these lines make me smile, " Bernie is yesterday's man," "Bernie's head upon the block...""Bernie's continuing inability to grasp the relevance of the internet", sadly true and worse yet comes word that MadMax may "survive" the June 3rd 'vote of (NO) confidence'.F1 stumbles on, how much longer must we endure ............. Date Added: 24/05/2008
Clive We can do no more than hope that the FIA make the right decision on June 3, Number 38.I must apologize for the scarcity of posts this week - I have not been feeling well and the work has suffered as a result. Hopefully things will return to normal next week. Date Added: 24/05/2008
Green Flag For the good of F1 Max should stay for at least the next two years, and should sanity prevail and he will stay on after June 3. I strongly suggest you read Gerhard Berger's views - which happen to accurately reflect mine - (see http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_3600322,00.html) - for an intelligent take on subject. Alain Prost has said much the same thing, and quite frankly, Berger and Prost possess far greater knowledge and understanding regarding F1 and its needs than the prejudiced and muddled thinking in evidence on this blog. Date Added: 24/05/2008
Clive I have read both Berger's and Prost's views on the subject, Green Flag and find them to be the usual attempt to point at Max's achievements as excuse for his failings. The fact that many are not particularly impressed with his achievements, especially when considering the state of F1 at present, does not mean that their thinking is prejudiced or muddled - they have come to different conclusions from yours, that's all.In fact, Max's achievements are irrelevant in this case anyway. The question is: does the FIA want to continue with a president whose morals have been proved to be less than desirable and to suffer the decrease in its own authority and standing that must result? Date Added: 24/05/2008
Green Flag Sexual morality plays no part whatsoever in the governance of motor racing. Max's out-of-the-mainstream sexual morals (other than that his morals are just fine - no fraud, theft, rape, murder or extortion rumors or allegations have come to light) are just an excuse for those who don't understand the role of the FIA and the job of its president, who could never do the job themselves but easily criticize policies and decisions they don't come close to comprehending. Those who over-loudly and extravagantly denounce the sexual activities Max enjoys in all probability indulge in similar or even greater fantasies - I shudder to think of the secret sex lives of many of Max's detractors. Date Added: 24/05/2008
Clive And I think it has everything to do with doing the job, Green Flag. Our particular views on Max's morality are unimportant - what is important is how the people who fund, promote, supply, and participate in motor sport feel about the revealed morality of the FIA's president. Clearly, many of them are not happy and this is what makes it impossible for Max to continue. I find it unnecessary to speculate on the private lives of Max's opponents - they are not in powerful positions in the FIA and do not affect it as a result. But the fact is Max's tastes have been revealed, rightly or wrongly, and most people find them to be unsuitable for a man in his position.It's real life and the plain fact is that people react according to their beliefs and feelings - and most are disgusted by Max's predilections. Be they hypocrites or not, that is the truth and they will vote accordingly. Date Added: 24/05/2008
Green Flag Contrary to what you believe and doubtless hope the obligatory public shunning of Max will come to an end - and we're talking weeks, not months - and he'll be back in the old saddle, so to speak. He will survive the June 3 vote. F1 will not lose a single sponsor or investor. Not a one. In six months it will be old news and other nonsense will have taken its place. In all probability the whole Max saga will add to the glamour/infamy aura of F1 and increase its following and viewership. Date Added: 24/05/2008
Clive We shall see, Green Flag, we shall see... Date Added: 24/05/2008
Steven Roy This is the second site I have found Green Flag slagging off anyone who dare criticise Max but I have yet to see GF explain what exactly it is Max does that is so good.Max has said he will not seek re-election in 2009 so why is he so keen to hang on now when quite clearly is unable to perform the functions of his position now because almost no-one wants to be seen with him.Personally I think he should go for his incompetence. He sold Bernie the 100 year rights to F1 for the amount Bernie earns on them in 6 months. Max tells us now he is the only person who can re-negotiate the agreement despite there being absolutely no reason to re-negotiate anything and despite disqualifying himself from the original negotiations due to a conflict of interest.So GF if you are so vastly more intelligent and knowledgeable than the rest of us why don't you put a cogent arguement together as to why Max should stay rather than just chuck abuse around? The reason you won't is because there is not a case to be made. Look at the letter Max wrote to justify his existence. Mostly lies and contradiction. Date Added: 24/05/2008
chunter I agree with Green Flag only in that I think the sex scandal is the final straw needed to target Max, the real shame being that being fired for that instead of his job performance.The question being brought up is, did Max bring FIA into disrepute by being caught in that escapade? I think it's a sign of my generation that my answer to that question would seem to be "no"; I think we know in truth that Max brought FIA into disrepute with the engine freeze.Green Flag plays the Devil's Advocate by trying to remind us that there are skeletons in all of our closets if we dare to look for them. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and at this level of competition, everyone that can cheat, does.Otherwise, I hope FIA's board see this as the opportunity that it is. Stranger things have happened, really. Date Added: 25/05/2008
Number 38 Hey chunter, there's no skeletons in my closet and I have no power so I can't be corrupt !!!!! On the issue of Green Flag, you're spot on he can't see good in ANYTHING, seems to drift about some sites just making a fool of himself and you're right to challenge him to show evidence MadMax has NOT disparaged F1. Most everything MadMax does seems to draw F1 down, ban this, ban that, go 'green', change this and that for little or no reason. I have often said he strikes me as a lawyer trying to do an engineering job and has proven inept at both trades. And I agree with you, it's a shame it took something OUTSIDE F1 to topple him, he should have been removed long ago. Now, get ready, there are rumors he will "survive" the June 3rd vote of (NO) confidence. Date Added: 25/05/2008
Alianora La Canta Sexual morality may play little role in and of itself in the governance of motor sport (in fact its only role is that some people feel strongly enough about the subject to object). It is the dealing with the consequences where Max has failed most severely. Instead of doing a mea culpa on the part that he did and keeping a low profile while letting others take the limelight for a while, he blamed everyone except himself (as Bernie has rightly pointed out), made as much noise as those around him would allow and insisted on acting as if he wasn't involved in a controversial issue. He should have taken Bill Clinton's example (who had to resolve infidelity controversies affecting his ability to govern twice during the 1990s and succeeded), then he could have dealt with the matter while retaining his position of power.The mishandling of this case indicates that Max would go on to mishandle any future controversial or sensitive issue (whether he was at its centre or merely in a position to intervene), which is one of two main reasons why this incident demonstrates that he should no longer be in power. The other is that the act and the mishandling of its consequences have caused him to lose so much trust among those he needs to be trusted by to be effective. A President, even a power-chasing one, needs a significant amount of support from a lot of people to hold position. Max probably will survive the vote (and the Statutes are such that no action could be taken against him, even if everyone voted against him) but his loss of power is already such that he will never be taken seriously by the majority of those he must be trusted by again. F1 may not lose any investors, but that's because the contracts are long-term things and by the time the full impact of Max's folly is revealed, it is likely that Max will be gone anyway (one way or the other).And I'm celibate and intend to stay that way for the foreseeable future, so the accusation Green Flag fired at me and those who agree with me won't work. In fact, if I told anyone I knew off-line that someone on the internet thought I was having sex with five prostitutes, they'd probably fall off their chairs laughing... Date Added: 25/05/2008
Pink Peril Getting back to topic......I'd like nothing more than to see this episode (for want of a better word) remove Bernie as well.It's clear to all and sundry that Bernie is the brains behind the operation, and installed Mad Max as his stooge in the FIA for no other reason than to feather his own personal nest. All Bernie has done for F1 has had his own wallet at the forefront, and if his actions benefited F1 that was only incidental.Of course Bernie was not smart enough to select a better stooge than Mad Max who of recent years anyway, has turned into a bit of a loose cannon. Clearly Mad Max knows where a few of Bernie's bodies are buried, and is trying to take him down with himself. He is biting the hand that fed him in his desperate attempt to retain power - which more than anything else proves he is not fit to hold office.I think Bernie is a little too smart for that to happen, and he should have a vested interest in keeping Mad Max in power, should a new FIA president with cojones come in and start looking into matters. The fact that he is not any longer, speaks volumes. Date Added: 26/05/2008
Clive I agree - the fact that Bernie is now openly against Max (I think he has been, secretly, since Indy 2005) means a lot. Seems to me we're watching the end of an era. Date Added: 26/05/2008
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