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 Max
It 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...