Mosley keeps his job after FIA gives him vote of confidence despite sex scandal

13 April 2012

Max Mosley escaped the sack yesterday, but he did not even venture on to the pavement at the Place de la Concorde to face the world.


He slipped in and out of the meeting room by an internal door, as furtively as he sidled down that Chelsea street and into the basement flat where he handed over £2,500 for an afternoon's sado-masochistic pleasure.

Where was Mosley the showman? Where was his triumphal speech? Why did he not prove he can discharge his public role by venturing on to the street in his moment of glory?

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Off the hook: Minders guide Mosley away after he wins the day

Off the hook: Minders guide Mosley away after he wins the day

The official answer is that, with court cases awaiting in both France and Britain, his lawyers have, as it were, bound him to silence.

But really it hinted at how yesterday's 103-55 vote of confidence by FIA delegates was a hollow victory in the face of near-universal calls on him from around the world to resign.

Mosley clung on as the head of world motor sport in Paris yesterday - but plunged himself, Formula One and his own governing body deeper into civil war.

The fact that Mosley, 68, secured his mandate to continue in his unpaid post against the overwhelming wishes of the moral majority, F1's big-hitters and so many FIA delegates, means the remaining 17 months of his term will be bedevilled by controversy.

It will take more than votes from places like Iran - hardly synonymous with the internal combustion engine - to validate his continuing reign as FIA president, in charge of millions of road drivers and every motor sport from Formula One down.

His detractors were ready to weigh in within minutes of the decision.

F1 impresario Bernie Ecclestone noted that his erstwhile ally was suddenly 'less powerful', while Sir Jackie Stewart felt emboldened enough to question whether the vote was even truly democratic.

The three-times world champion, whom Mosley once famously derided as a 'certified halfwit', said: "I put $100 (about £50) on the result. I've won that. It's not unexpected because I felt that the number of privileges extended to voting members suggested he would win.

"More may come on that. Unfortunately, it doesn't make the FIA look good, considering what is accepted practice throughout the world."

The theme of the FIA being in Mosley's pocket was taken up by the Dutch motoring organisation, which - along with the American Automobile Association - is considering following the Germans' lead by quitting the FIA.

Three defections would be a serious dent to the FIA's credibility.

It must be said that there is no proof of wrongdoing and even the anti-Mosley faction were happy with the conduct of yesterday's events.

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Life in the fast lane: Max Mosley with pit lane girls in Barcelona

Life in the fast lane: Max Mosley with pit lane girls in Barcelona

Mosley's arguments centred on two key themes: the first over whether there was any Nazi theme to the orgy as reported by the News of the World.

Anthony Scrivener, QC revealed his findings yesterday after being asked by the FIA to investigate.

And in the words of one insider, he 'totally destroyed' the notion.

The second argument was that the exposure of Mosley's private life was an attempt not only to destroy him but the FIA itself. It apparently galvanised the majority of voters.

Not everyone, however, was impressed by Mosley's performance, mixing silver-tongued erudition with low cunning.

Holland's Guido van Woerkom said: "Mosley always likes to attack and we saw what we have seen in the past from him. Some sensitivity might have been better.

"In a world perspective, people think differently about what is good governance. My view is if you make a failure such as he did you have to step down. It is private, but if it becomes public you have to act."

Nobody can be sure what effect the result might have on F1. Will Ecclestone take Mosley on? Will the teams or the manufacturers speak out?

Most likely they will wait to see whether Mosley wants to pick a fight with them.

Otherwise, they will merely seek to marginalise him from decision-making.

As for the man at the centre of it all, Mosley has promised to retreat to the shadows, his legal battles notwithstanding.

He will hand over public duties to his deputies, Marco Piccinini and Franco Lucchesi and he is not expected at this Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix, waiting instead for the German or Hungarian races in July and August respectively to stage a high-profile press conference.

By then his privacy case against the News of the World, due to start at the High Court on July 7, will have been concluded.

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