Max consults his lawyers

Max Mosley is said to be planning to consult his lawyers over a front page story in today's News of the World which makes an amazing series of allegations against the FIA president who is likely to face calls for his resignation.

That's about as far as I'm going just now...

Comments

Ed,

It is true that everything has been recorded?

[Graeme]

If the story about Max is true I can't see how he can keep his job.

[Stevo, Madrid.]

Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! its about time that the truth is out! Now we know why Mad Max was so keen on the "severe punishment" of McClaren last season! Can you imagine Ron Dennis bumping into Mosley now? I'm sure that he'll try and turn it around to associating it with a McClaren punishment though! Ron has conducted himself with the utmost dignity during the last year - his recent comments about bulding up Heiki shows that he is a fair and just manager, only if the employee is willing to meet him halfway. Heiki is, Nando wasn't - end of discussion. So, while Ron retains his integrity, Mosley is outed to be the sadistic little pervert we all knew him to be. Mosley to resign.

[Stevo, Madrid.]

... and well done to Ed for having the Cajones to run this story!

[D]

^

Here it is:

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/3003_nazi_orgy.shtml

Clearly this must be some terrible mistake: we all know that the noble Max Mosley is a man of the utmost decency and propriety.

(Did I hear a Scottish knight chuckling over his porridge in Switzerland this morning?)

[A Parker]

I was just about to write to you Ed, to say you must write about this. There are the usual comments on the F1 forums excusing him and saying he should be able to do what he likes in his private life. But I think that someone in his position, with his father being a famous Nazi, running an international organisation that gave the McLaren team (with the only black driver in the field) a ridiculous penalty last year that many said was totally unjustified, and who seems to have a beef with McLaren (did I mention, with the only black driver), should be a tad more careful when expressing his personal pleasures.

I would say it was time for him to go. I think it's distasteful enough to have fantasies about Nazis, but to include girls dressed up as concentration camp victims too, and to have a mock checking of lice similar to what happened in concentration camps, is surely BEYOND THE PALE. All this assuming it's true, which going from past NOTW stories, always is. They would never print something like this if it wasn't true. They must have heard rumours first, and then sent in their investigation team. They may be pretty awful as a newspaper, but whenever they sniff sleaze and immorality in famous people, they are there to print it - just ask Sophie Anderton.

[andrew myers]

haha poor old Max, he really shouldn't get caught doing that! whilst it is funny, it is never the less embarassing for motorsport, he should resign!

[A Parker]

On a lighter note, isn't it hilarious that he had a cup of tea at the end?. It seems so incongruous. Can you imagine him reaching out to shake people's hands - you'd hesitate wouldn't you as you wouldn't know where his hands had been. How can he be taken seriously now, with his sanctimonious manner?

[Stevo, Madrid.]

It is amazing - after all his 'holier than thou' posturing last year! Max: "its my job to drive the seediness out of formula 1..., now excuse me while I dress up as a Nazi and whip some beeatches!" It is very true in life, that what goes around comes around - I can imagine Sir Jackie Stewart with his feet up reading the News of the World today - who's the clown now Mosley?

[D]

^

What was it that Maxie said about Ron Dennis and McLaren at Spa Last year?

Ah, yes, that was it; he accused them of "polluting" the FIA's Championship with their behaviour.

Can't wait to see the reaction he gets next time he turns up at a Grand Prix.

Have to say the article was lovingly written. Can you imagine the treat of sitting down to put that one into words for the front page?

Somehow I don't think tomorrow belongs to Max.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMVql9RLP34

[Felipe]

This is incredibly hilarious!!!! it seems like out of movie. You wouldn't believe it if you saw it in a movie. I think it's time for him to go. I thin Jean Todt will be salivating.

Though I don't see how this affects Ron Dennis, and how it expugnates from cheating or any other misgivings.

[A Parker]

Love the reference at the end D. Clever!

[joan]

This is all seriously disappointing. My girlfriend hates F1 because of its arguably negative environmental impact and because of the type of characters in its management that seem to be taken from a David Lynch's movie.

Having said that, News of the World is the Sunday newspaper saying that aliens are among us, is it not? According to this branch of journalism, perhaps FA is Connor MacLeod, born in 1518 in Glenfinnan, Scotland near the shores of Loch Shiel, where the weeds that feed Andy-Ali G grow so green.

[IDR]

“Can you imagine him reaching out to shake people's hands…?”

I’m pretty sure, that what Max likes to shake are not the hands…

[Richard Williams]

Now then. What sort of person in a hugely important job would go to hookers and accidentally get filmed? Could one describe them as a 'certified half-wit'? Oh my goodness this is just so good!

Odd isn't it that the regular F1 sites (Autosport etc) aren't carrying it - they are so frightened.

[ALLMAN]

First a very famous person disguised as a nazi, now this. British society is really, really sad. The funny thing is that despite all this, British nationalists, with their born to rule mentality, pretend to give lessons to other countries.

[A Parker]

Although I'm British, I have to agree with you Allman. The amount of people on other forums who are making excuses for him is frankly quite sad and disappointing. Mind you the upper classes were renowned for being Nazi sympathisers in the Second World War so it's no surprise to see this carried through to today. Didn't the Royal Family have to change their surname to Windsor in order to disguise their German roots?

[john o'doe]

He should be fined about £100 Million.

[Anon (original)]

Um, this can't possibly be true, right? This is just a newspaper (with a bad reputation) having field day with some made-up videos or videos of someone who looks like Mosley, right? And Mosley's gathering his lawyers to prosecute the newspaper, because the story is false, right? I can't believe he'd be caught in a sex scandal like that. If its true he resigns, I imagine that Sir Jackie and Todt are vying for the position, whether Max resigns because of this now, or later for some other reason. I wonder if McClaren would prefer to have Max or Todt as the person above them. I would say Todt should get the seat above everyone else because there are no important French drivers in F1, and also because he has the experience as a team manager. Sir Jackie will probably be too biased towards Lewis, and I think its fair to say that when the two most imprtant people in a sport are of ne contry and hat there s a superstar from that country playing the sport, it tends to rouse speculation about unfairness. But I digress.

This story can't be true. I want it to be true- nothing better than a sex scandal to spice up a sport- but it sems too far-fetched. If it is true, anoter person is grinning, other than Ron. Fernando probably hates Mosley after what happened in Hungary (even though Max probaly wasn't directly responsible for the penalty).

But hey, if this is false, what a better to bring up Max's Nazi parents as a subject on the table. Gossip, gossip, gossip. Embarrasing times for Naz Max.

[Clive]

The paper might publish stories about alien, but they must be pretty certain that it's Max himself in the video, to be able publish something like this, because if it's not him, he can probably sue the paper into bankruptcy.

[Felipe]

Hard to exclude the xenophobia from F1... if it's not the bloggers, it's the F1 supremo.

I'm surprised Max is a Hamilton fan!!! Doesn't quite fit into the whole arian superiority.

[Txus G.R.]

Let me be a little bit opportunistic and unffair this time...As some British people around here are always (Not all of you Brits.Please,don't get me wrong.)

If we apply the same sense of justice and reasoning that lot of people and sensationalist journalists in the UK has done and condemned a whole country for one photo...

If all Spanish are racist,acording to the photo of the four clowns with their faces paint in black at Barcelona (Joan's "country" BTW and by his point of view NOT PART OF SPAIN)...

If we had a poll here on "The Times" asking: "Should the Spanish Grands Prix be cancelled?"...

What should we think know,acording to "Max's nazi wild festival" video and always under your rules,of the British people?

If we or our media start saying that you are a nation of perverts and fascists,acording always to your rules and sense of justice, shouldn't it be fine and polite?

Or if our newspapers sugest a new poll:"Should the British Grand Prix be cancelled?" I asume that also should be ok and all of you should see it as something apropiate,and normal,and acept it...Don't you?

And when all of you start to complain about that poll and to defend yourselves,and your country,of those acusations in the Spanish blogs...If we call you then moaners or spam,and if we have a laugh on you because of your poor skills in writing Spanish,I have to believe that all of you would acept it too...don't you?

I have to presume now that a new campaign "Against the new wave of B.P.F. (British perverts & fascists)" is already running torwards the next British G.P. of course.

WHAT A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES DEMAGOGS "GENTLEMEN" YOU ARE!

Regards & Excuse me for my English.

[Mr Berblinger]

Bernie: Not enough sex scandals in F1 anymore.

Max has taken Bernie's advice, it seems. If true, what a muppet. Fancy getting caught...

[Jonah]

Where consulting his lawyers means "I'm not going to admit anything, let's try to portray this as a hoax".

I think if he were innocent he'd be saying precisely that, rather than consulting his colleagues!

[mcleod1]

and now it looks like that ferrari
and jean todt have older films.
maybe thats the reason for ferrari
god level the last years.
i want see ron now.
greetings from austria

[A Parker]

Felipe, where did you get the idea that Max is a Hamilton fan? Last year when he was interviewed on the BBC Hard Talk programme, he said that Lewis could be bad for F1 if he kept winning like Schumacher and said "he is an unknown quantity to me as I've never met him". He since met him at the WDC awards ceremony in Monaco - that's hardly "friends"!!!!!

Txus G.R., another incomprehensible post, duh!

[Derek Smith]

With all due respect to thos posers who think Max Mosley is your typical eastender, his father was an MP who ran his own party both pre-war and post-war. He, and Max's mother Diana, daughter of an earl, lord or other such, were interned during the war as undesirables. Post war they moved to France and Ireland, at one time touring Spain for a chinwag with Franco. Max was schooled in France, Germany and Britain. So I am safe in saying that Max is by no means your typical British specimen.

[María]

And this man, politically correct in his public life, but a Naci in his private life, is the one who is leading a campaing against rascims in sport, in Barcelona?

What an irony!

Oh british, I can´t stop laughing.

[warren stockd]

I hope it's true

I hope he gets sacked

I hope he suffers all the bad PR he can

I hope he looses his money

I hope he looses any power in F1

Whoever replaces him will be better for the SPORT of F1, as opposed to the BUISNESS of F1, he has presided over

Hope McLaren (And Ron) enjoyed reading it as much as I did

And Mx, if you're rading this. It's called karma!

[Johnny P-)]

Txus G.R.

Very good point, although some british could find it so shocking they won't even understand your easy reasoning. I hope it makes some moderate bloggers here rethink their position about themselves towards Spanish bloggers.

Moreover, as we have witnessed in the past, there may be a lot of obscure points within this (so serious) story, even likelihood to be false. I won't say a word on it, but in hypothetical terms, but only whenever I may find something to form an opinion.

Even I may dislike MM, I hope there won't be excess bullshit sprayed all around until a kind of truth is known about his so-pretended vices.

[teamwork-toronto-ON]

as i really dislike max, i can't believe this is true!! . . it's just disgusting!! . .

what else next in F1!!? . . **eyes-rolling-up**

[laura_pinkstone]

Mr Mosley should devote his attention to bright red Ferraris, rather than bright red bottoms.

[gary]

people talk about forums protecting mad max is true im a member of itvs f1 forum and today you cant even mention his name without your post getting blocked. i hope he loses everything he deserves eveything he gets including a sore backside.

[Andy G]

Thank God. It's been a long time coming.

There was always something very wrong about max. His apparent desire to inflict pain, his lack of truth, it having been replaced by expediency cloaked in moral superiority.

"Something of the night" about him? No just plain evil to these eyes.

Let's get rid of mad max finally before he further damages the sport.

As as for Allman and TXUS etc, go away. Can't you people understand anything at all? Go and get yourself someplace else to shoot off incoherently.

[Jack Grogan]

The video is on Youtube and www.notw.co.uk. We can joke about it, I would like to know from which secret spring a man of 67 drinks from so he can keep five hookers entertained for five hours.

He was set up. The apartment where he indulged his fantasies had hidden cameras. The video was not shot from a cell phone, look at the camera angles.

Max had taken out a libel writ against The Sunday Times over comments made by Martin Brundle, fair comment, I thought. He had dropped the case, but The News Of The World, a sister paper, was on the case.

TNOTW will have done its research and will have paid the brothel-owner. They may have leant on the owner because keeping a brothel against the law in the UK. My guess is that the hookers had been with Max before, they came fully kitted. A whip is basic gear, a concentration camp uniform is not.

Responsible motor racing websites have not carried the story because it is not yet motor racing news. If Mosley resigns, it will become motor racing news.

He has to resign, of course. He cannot launch his anti-racism campaign at the Spanish GP with this hanging over him. It is on video and accessible.

Max has not denied it, he has reached for laawyers on the issue of privacy. would be cheesed off if I paid £2,500 for personal services only to find myself on the front page of a red-top tabloid.

The nature of the sex-play combined with Mosley's parentage makes this a serious issue. Bernie would like to laugh it off, but it cannot be dismissed as some prank gone wrong.

If motor racing people in a brothel was news there would be little space for anything else. It is the Nazi gear and the Mosley name which makes this different.

Motor racing has given Mosley a career he could not otherwise have had because of his background. He must now do the decent thing by the sport.

As for myself, I feel betrayed. I have known Max a long time and he had me fooled into thinking he was not like his parents. He is so bloody charming and plausible.

I don't mind the hookers, I wish I could keep one entertained for an hour let alone five for five hours. It is the Nazi thing that nails him.

[Mo Restrepo]

What a silly idiot!

[mitch]

In the US, you get caught being naughty and you just go get treatment for sex addiction. Play the victim in the tabs. But why did the hookers help nail Max? Slow pay?

[Anon (original)]

Well said Txus G.r., perfeclty agreed! Great point, wish I hought of it myself!

Regards

[Rose Lewis]

This dirty Old man, politically correct in his public life, but a Nazi whip-me boy in his private life, is the one who is leading a campaing against rascims in sport in Barcelona?

What an irony! I wouldn't be able to stop laughing if he wasn't so filthy and the subject matter so sensitive (as sensitive as his buttocks right now do you think?).

I hope he gets sacked and suffers all the bad PR he can. I hope no-one ever shakes his hand again (you don't know where it's been do you?) I hope he loses all his money and any power he has left in F1.

Creepy Old Max, if you're reading this - It's called karma!

[J Albertina]

British GP = British Grand Pervert.
Let's leave "Whiplash Max" alone; after all, he probably went to a boarding school!

[James of Silverstone]

Well they were cheap hookers about 100 per hour each thats not the sort a guy on Max's pension should be paying to turn a blind eye. What a tight B deserves everything coming to him. Bernie said H is fun when hes had a few drinks Max just give him a cup of tea dear its a scream.

[adam]

Txus G.R, It's clear the FIA anti-racism campaign has been successful in Spain.Marca used to be full of literally thousands of racist posts in the users comments section but since the campaign started those posting such bilge have either been shamed into silence or realized the FIA was serious about cancelling the Spanish GP if it continued.
In the Autosport forum engineers actually working in the team garages at Barcelona reported several hundred people shouting racist abuse.The incident was not just about four people dressing up at carnival.
Sep Blatter head of FIFA gave an interview a couple of months backs hinting that some Spanish clubs could be thrown out of European competition unless they took greater steps to control overt racism at matches.Max deserves credit for cleaning up the situation in F1 regardless of his private life.

[MM disliker]

MM is my least favourite person in F1 but there wouldn't be much of a story without the Nazi angle. Therefore, I'd expect the NOTW to have set up the role-play situation to get the front page story. MM has obviously used the establishment or girls before but that doesn't mean that he regularly enacts this scenario. He was set up like the regular "fake Sheik" stories that got Eriksson et al. However, despite the fact that he does appear to be enthusiastically joining in, I'm going to cut him some slack over this. Wish he'd resign over the Ferrari bias of F1 instead.

[peter]

Well " what goes round comes round".
Sanctimonious and preening in public and little less so in private.

They will be many motorsport participants with a comfortable feeling of Schadenfruede this morning.

[Fuchsia]

James of Silverstone, I was thinking that too. £2,500 for 5 hookers for 5 hours - not a good rate of pay for all the spanking involved, and they had to supply their own canes, uniforms, etc, although maybe these are tax-deductible. No wonder someone decided to make a bit extra on the side by flogging(!) the video to the news of the screws.

[Derek Smith]

Sir Arthur Eddington said something not quite identical to:

Someone we don't want to know is doing something we don't want to know about.

If the reports are true that his lawyers are considering invasion of privacy then this is as good as an application for a P45.

[Greg]

Looks like Max's Karma ran over his Dogma!

It really couldn't happen to a nicer bloke.

£2500? I'd pay that per minute to be in this mornings management meeting at McLaren! I just hope Jackie Stewart doesn't choke on his cornflakes...

[graham fudger]

Now perhaps somebody is going to start asking some proper questions about the actions of one Richard Woods and his postings on the Wikipedia

[Tim J 23]

Txus G.R.

I assume you are a proud Spaniard. Good for you.

The differences between what the fancy dress idiots at the Circuit de Cataluyna did and what the President of the FIA does for kicks are marked.

Max knew that his behaviour was so abhorrent and transgressive that he had to pay women to do it behind closed doors.

The idiots in Barcelona did in full view of the general public and the world's press. And the circuit let them! They had no idea how mindlessly offensive and unsophisticated their behaviour was.

There may remain a veneer of covert racist behaviour in British society but at least we have got to the point where most people understand it's completely unacceptable. I get the feeling this is not the case in Spain. Just ask Samuel Eto or any black player unfortunate enough to ply his trade in the Primera Liga.

It's such a shame to see the subjects of a country behave in such a way that owes a huge part of its cultural and artistic legacy to North Africa.

[Tim J 23]

Txus G.R.

Your comment about Di Canio is typically moronic. I think he 'learnt' that behaviour as a Lazio Ultra standing on the terraces as a kid. If he had done that playing in the Premier League he would have been run out of town. End of.

A nation of perverts? guilty as charged. A nation of racists? Don't think so. We're not perfect but we have made enormous positive steps in the right direction. I just wonder if Spain can say the same.

[Sheila McGillivray]

Glass houses and stones come to mind - fool

[B Cave]

Tim J 23, you are quite right, but I think it's fruitless to try and make this Txus GR character see moral and humane sense. He/she/it will just post some incoherent tosh about Spain in reply.

[Txus G.R.]

To "TIM J":

I assume you are a proud Briton.Good for you too.

Yes,I'm an Spaniard but also a citizen of the world with a global perspective and I'm very proud of our cultural and artistic legacy from North Africa.And as we all live in the same planet,also very proud of other cultural,artistic,social,scientific,medical,cooking or whatever influence we may have from elsewhere if it means progress or something we could benefit,regardless where it comes from.

I think you've missed my point.Probably it's my fault due to my crap skills on writing English and the problems that I have to express myself in an other languages doesn't help me,I'm sorry and thank you for making the effort in understand what I write.

Mi point was about how easy is to demonize a whole society just for the acts of some of their individuals.My point was about the unffair treatment and the lac of respect we,the Spaniards,suffer sistematicaly from some of your fellow countrymen in this blog and in most of yours newspapers.My point was about,and against,the sensationalist journalism.My point was about,and against,demagogs by practicing some demagogy.

As I've said on this blog before,I agree with the campaign against racism in the next G.P. at Barcelona,wich is about to prevent any racist behaviour over this sport worlwide,not only in Spain.But really pissed me off when I see a poll,in this pages,asking if we should lose our Grands Prix and other unffair comments about our "issues" regarding racism by more racist people than the supossed racist.

That was my purpose by making a comparison between Max's "party" and the racism "issues".But in any case,I think it was more close to reality,and a more fair comparison,than to compare Tiger with Lewis...:)

Regards & excuse me for my English.

[E W]

If this means that "Mad Max" doesn't completely ruin the WRC it really is a blessing.
Strange that no other sites are running the story, perhaps it's not as water tight as it could be.....

[D]

^
Good points, well made, Jack Grogan.

[Robert Henry]

IT CERTAINLY BRINGS NEW MEANING TO THE TERM 'POLE POSITION'!

[the Dane]

Only a sick person participates in a role play like this, how private the context may have been. And btw, the brothel and the hookers are not excused here.

To turn such a tragical part of history into a lustful event is outrageous and unforgivable, especially if you're a top CEO and thereby a role model.

For every minute that goes before MM apologises and resigns, he loses further respect in my book.

Shame on him.

[Tus G.R.]

To "B CAVE":

You are the perfect example the kind of people and behaviour that I was regarding in my previous post.Thanks.

Ilarious! Reading your comments about "moral" and "human sense" is like listening to Max (In case he is the man in the video) talking about "moral" or "against racism campaigns"...Please don't make laugh.

You should review what you've been posting all along before you try to discipline me about "moral" or "human sense".

To "TIM J":

You are right.I know my comments on Di Canio are "tipically moronic".That's exactly what I pretended...Do you catch the "irony"?...Do you see my point?

I never sugested that both countries Spain & England were perfect or the oposite.I agree with you when you say:"we have made enormous positive steps in the right direction",and I have to say that my country too as well,regardless what some peolple around here think without even ever been to my country or lived long enough to form theirselves a proper opinion.

Of course someone could arge that they had bad experiences in both countries,but that doesn't mean that you can condem a whole nation sistematicaly for the acts of some individuals or the bad experiences of a few others.

Regards & excuse me for my English.

[Nivan Moodley]

What goes around, comes around. Ron Dennis must be absolutely thrilled at the fact that Mad Man Max has lierally stepped in it. Goes to show what an ass Max is, and when you thought it couldnt get any worse, he has to go and out do himself. Well done Max, u r a real jerk who has no morals or ethics, and you judge others who do. Get out of F1, you are not wanted....

[Jp]

I know Schumi was involved in deciding where the $100 mil Mclaren fine was destined to be spent...
Honestly Michael....How kitsch

Swerving onto another tangent...

It's not even Thursday yet....
I was sure F1 bombshells were reserved for the Thursday before a race.

You know...ITV streaming Friday practice...(Announced Thursday before OZ)

The BEEB gets F1 from 2009 (Thursday before Bahrain)

Now this....Spoils the continuity
Unless Thursday hold an even bigger KABLOOIE....?

Jp

[Robert Henry]

Whatever the outcome, Formula One, will never be quite the same. Can't help but wonder if they were 'smokin' in 'business' premises. If so, what and where? Speaking of which - is it true the million quid cheque was never returned nor encashed by the donors? Stay tuned for the next exciting installment this coming Sunday!

[Michael Birbeck]

Goodness me, to read some of the comments on this blog, one might think that Max Mosley was unpopular :-).

If this salacious story and video are authenticated, there is enough material there for a Phd in psychology or history. If so, as Mr Grogan so correctly points out, it will be the history that undoes Max one way or the other.

[Jan]

Ron Dennis must be thinking that there is a god after all!!
Absolutely brilliant, the sanctimonious sh.te.
As for Jackie Stewart. I'm sure he would rather be in his clothes as a 1930's music hall man( to quote MM) than to be filmed bollock naked with his backside hanging over a table.
I'm sure the whole F1 fraternity will have even greater respect for him now.... NOT !!

[Chris]

The man is a bully, also a little like the one legged gold digger, he finds it impossible to conceive that people see straight through him. Motor Racing will be much better off without him.

[Ron Dennis]

http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=gXAsosrNec0

it's my revenge

[George]

RESIGN!

[Tom White]

Man, assuming this is all true, you just could not even begin to make this up. Ron Dennis must be laughing his ass off right now!

[John]

Is there any possibility that Ron Dennis and Mclaren might have paid for this setup. Who knows??

[cduz]

Remember what happened last year? Max condemned Ron and Co more for denial of involvement rather than for espionage itself.

And if he is now to pursue invasion of privacy and not slander following the same principle, I can take my hat off for this consistency.

[D]

^
Forget the “Fernando to Ferrari!” fable: it’s “Audi goes Asturian - Austrians Out - Awesome for Alonso!”, writes our Special Correspondent, April First.

VW has finally decided to take the plunge into Formula One and has bought out Dietrich Mateschitz. The deal was confirmed yesterday by his son-in law, Lödof Bull.

Seems that when VW finally made its way through the cobwebs in its underground WW2 bomb-shelter if found a solid gold Beetle cabrio, circa 1941, built by Dr. Ferdinand himself. He was sick of seeing Adolf Hitler riding around Nüremburg in a Mercedes-Benz and commissioned it as a gift for the Führer to celebrate the capture of Moscow. The presentation of it had to be postponed, however, because of unforeseen circumstances and it had been sitting there ever since, under a dust sheet with a swastika on it.

The find posed VW with a difficult problem over what to do. Mateschitz would have liked it but was worried that it could harm his Red Bull sales in Israel. They thought of hocking it to Bernie Ecclestone for his private collection but he’s sold that; the Beckhams thought it was too small to carry Victoria’s shopping and Paris Hilton isn’t allowed to drive. So, on Easter Sunday they melted it down in the foundry and last weekend they secretly shipped it to a bank in Zurich. And now VW’s in Formula One!

The name “Rot Küh” was touted for the main team but it somehow lacked a certain charisma. Mario Theissen has got forged steel handcuffs on Nick Heidfeld and Seb Vettel but Fernando Alonso is getting restless and is looking around for a decent set of wheels. And Audi has been picking up a lot of sales in Spain since the locals started chucking bricks through the windows of Mercedes-Benz showrooms last year.

So they've decided to play the Spanish angle.

Sponsorship wasn’t easy. Banco Santander looked troublesome, what with nobody being able to get their money out of Abbey National banks, and BAA was poison, after the baggage fiasco at Heathrow.

Thinking out of the box, they rang round a few Spanish booze barons, did a few sums on the back of an envelope and came up trumps: “Tojo Torres - SEAT F1” - with San Miguel picking up the drivers’ bill and sponsoring Fernando personally. Rioja and beers all round!

They’ve got a mean engine for it , too. Going through the fine print of the FIA regulations they found a loophole in them left by Maxie on a Friday afternoon when his mind was on other things. The worked out that they can get away with using a 3.2 litre W12 engine scaled down from a Veyron and use quattro four-wheel-drive.

Fernando gets the number one car, with full complement of toys to throw when things are problematical, and Pedro de la Rosa will drive the second car and flatter his ego when necessary. Carlos Sainz will be team manager.

They’re keeping Toro Rosso, as well, but that gets a Lamborghini-badged version of the engine and, of course, the famous bull logo with which to taunt Ferrari. As previously revealed here, Jean Todt gets to run that team with old mate Gerhard Berger, while Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa get to do the driving.

Should be a powerful combination.

Renault’s not bothered. Ghosn said long ago that he wasn’t interested in pouring money into something that ran sixth and they’re lucky to finish ninth at the moment. As for Flavio, sources uncomfortably close to Mrs. Ecclestone’s haidresser tell us that he’s decided to retire, settle down and marry Petra E. She’s a bit old for his taste but he’s getting on in years and Bernie’s already sold exclusive rights for the wedding to “Hola!”

The “Sunday Sport” has got the whole story on that one and will be running it next weekend as a spoiler to “The News of the World” follow-up story on the Mad Max exposé: “F1 Billionaire Bernie in Kinky Fetish Rituals - Pays to sit on Gold Versace Throne surrounded by Six-Foot Naked Women showering him with $1,000 notes while Leather-Clad Dominatrix reads out his Wife’s and Daughters’ Credit Card Bills Aloud! We have the pictures.”

This one will run and run.

Newspapers; aren't they great!

Where would we be without Rupert and "Private Eye" ?

[Verbal]

If this is true then its apolling however the whole thing stinks of McLaren and the British Drivers Associations PR machine gone into over drive. This is all about the $50 million fine isn't it

[Ruari McC]

Verbal said: "This is all about the $50 million fine isn't it"

No, Verbal, it's about behaving in private somewhat differently from the impression you'd like to give in public.

Any relationship to the £50 million fine is merely happy coincidence.

[Tom]

I have read some of his previous statements since learning of his filthy fetish and fathers close ties to the Nazi Party and more that a few of his statements involving Lewis Hamilton could well be considered to have underlying message or more to it

[D]

^
I would be very surprised indeed if the problem with which Max Rufus Mosley now has to deal does not arise entirely from waging a campaign of personal and swingeing vilification last year which included describing Ron Dennis and McLaren of "polluting" the FIA Championships.

In fact I am fairly sure I can guess exactly who, employed by whom, delivered Mosley on a plate to The News of the World.

The irony being, of course, that it was the need to defend themselves against attack from Mosley that obliged the latter to seek the assistance of the former.

What I'd love to know is who is keeping the Wikipedia entry on Mosley so assiduously and devotedly up to date.

But that, I'd guess, would be a case of "I am Spartacus!"

[Bob Bidurski]

Hey Max, who's the half-wit now?

[JACOB]

It´s hard for me to believe he has done so... From my point of view It´s not a big deal if he likes to play a nazy role or a superman role or a pig role in his sex life. The problem from my point of view is to pay for sex. People who pay for sex are helping to make more women slaves form such kind of organitation.

However, besides, of paying for sex.
(many of the people who is writting in here against him probably have done so) he can do whatever he wans in his private life, what I believe is very disguinting is that someone had recored it and put it in you tube. The people who do such kind of things are the real nazis, the ones who has a unique way of thinking. They punish any one who thinks in a different way and they believe they are right to record someone in his privacy and put it at internet...
of course I agree with D: It seems Ron Dennis got his revenge.

From my point of view, Ron Dennis is a rat. Again he has saw his real face.

[IDR]

"Alan Donnelly, currently in Australia negotiating the future of the Grand Prix in Melbourne, has been advised that "senior politicians" in the country are unwilling to meet with Mosley."

The entire F1 world doesn't want you, Max!

TIME FOR LEAVING!

[Chrismouse]

I just read that Jean -Paul Balestre ,MMs predecessor , passed away on the 28th March 2008 aged 86.His obituary (Grauniad Im afraid Ed!) makes interesting reading ...must check others too... describes MM as BEs cohort (Roman Legion uniform?)and his right-hand legal man ... we tend to forget that. Im bemused by the fact he is 'unpaid' by FIA . Nice perks tho hmmm?It'll all come out in the wash (or dry-cleaning as the case may be ..)_ Whilst hunting is banned in the UK I think the tabloids smell blood,especially now Dianas inquest done and dusted. Next...

[Edward Donner]

5 prostitutes at his age?

[DOUG STOKES]

SAD AND SORID AT THE SAME TIME ... IF IT WERE NOT SO AWFUL IT WOULD BE A MIS-FIRING PYTHON SKETCH.

TIME TO GO MAX

DOUG STOKES - USA

PS: ARE WE SURE THAT THIS WASN'T WHAT KILLED BALESTRE?

[Jeff Smith]

I would be glad to see the two faced hypocrite go.

[gw]

Mosley should resign, its his only option.

[g]

Max Mosley should resign, its his only
option. he is sick man.

[ANDREW S]

How can we see these so-called 'many claims of support' that the FIA has received. I note from the FIA's website that there is no obvious e-mail address to send anything to. Anyone know what e-mail address to use so that we can send messages of non-support?

[graham fudger]

So Max - what about this website that your son set up a couple of years ago ( you know - the one that was taken off line just a few weeks back ) ?

[Paul]

Some people say he should not go because it’s his private and personal life, not affecting of job - and yes that’s true - But it’s not a question of whether he can do his job – it’s a question of his standing and being seen to do the right thing.

At the end of the day, the sport, the sponsors, and the viewers would much prefer he moved on. That’s the issues here – going forward he will always be bad for the sport attracting frankly slime. He should therefore do the right thing.

But this is a distant hope from Max Mosley as it will take high valves and morality. So he arrogantly hangs on and the sport we all love will be pulled down, no question.

So my view is he should be forced out – if not it will be a very sad day.

[Gordon Cook]

I wish to quash at once any rumours that the FIA are considering changing the post title of President to Fuhrer. This is a totally distasteful idea and completely unacceptable! (I did hear that Commandant was a possible alternative, though).

[Michael C]

It would appear that what Max Mosley objects to is that his privacy has been breached. In this I am totally with him, he should be given the privacy which has been given to others.

The Jews were given privacy by the Nazis, they were even given special camps to keep them away from the eyes of the populace. They were even allowed the privacy of spending their time there with only a couple of hundred other people sharing the same room.

How much privacy were they given in the gas chambers where they were crammed in as tightly as possible?

Then when the concentration camps were finally liberated how much privacy did my father, one of the first into one of them, have from the Jews who continued to die around him? Despite all the army could do the Jews kept on dying because their digestive systems would no longer accept food.

And how much privacy did I have? My father returned from the war when I was seven years old. He would keep on waking me up during the night with his screams from his nightmares.

Yes, Max should be given the privacy of those whom he mocks for his sexual gratification. Exactly that, and not an inch more.

MCC

[graham fudger]

Is this really a private matter, or is it in the public interest ?
Max Mosley's own actions call his judgement into question, and he is a senior figure in an International Sporting Federation.
How would his actions be seen in future ?
Imagine the next time the FIA has to deal out a significant 'punishment' - the press conference would be like a scene from a Monty Python film. There are dozens of people who could do his job. Surely, the sensible thing for him to do is step aside and let another person take charge...

[A Parker]

Michael C, you've said it all. Anyone who disagrees with you, I hang my head in shame for. My heart goes out to you and your father.

AP

[George F]

Hypocrites all: just a couple of weeks ago New York Governor Elliot Spitzer wrecks his political career through uncontrollable hubris and an expensive call-girl habit, and now Mad Max brings the FIA house down with more of the same.

What were they thinking? ... Idiots.

Take it like a man Max, step down now and stop bringing the world of motor sports into disrepute through your continued association with the FIA.

[Jeff Bellamy]

Bernie claims on Max's behalf that his friend was set up. This implies that Max was tricked into taking part in a situation or event that was not of his own making or wish. Anyone who has seen even stills from the video can see there is no one holding a gun at his head and forcing him to take part. He wasn't set up at all - he was there at the brothel taking part in activities that most sane people would find repellent - of his own free will. He wasn't set up - he was "stitched up" by people who sold him out, for money, to other people who were prepared to be as ruthless as Max in order to get rid of him.
Max doesn't claim to be innocent or that it was first first time. Instead, he is outraged at the invasion of privacy and campaign by persons unknown to make his life a misery, and intends to front it out. Absolute madness!
Those of us with long memories remember that when Max was putting himself forward for Jean-Marie Balestre's job the vote catcher was that Max would bring a degree of rationality to the sport, that he wouldn't make bizarre and arrogant decisions, that he wouldn't pursue personal campaigns against people and that he wouldn't favour Ferrari. So what happened?
His behaviour in recent years has been appaling and even if the present scandal hadn't errupted over the weekend, the feeling that it was time for him to go was already there.
Perhaps his lawyers can talk some sense into him.
Perhaps Bernie will see which way the wind is blowing and dump him.
BMW and Mercedes have made their feelings known and Max's response in which he refers to their war record will have done him no favours.
Max - you are the weakest link. Goodbye.

[D]

^
To catch a rat, you use a rat-trap. It's a simple as that.

If I may switch metaphors, however, the thing for which "The News of the World" is most to be congratulated is for working out precisely how to sink the battleship Mosley with one, single, perfectly-aimed torpedo.

Garside at the Telegraph may have "taken (his) hat off" to the patrician Admiral Flogger at the helm of the seemingly impregnable FIA flagship (and been roasted for doing so) but I doff my cap to the masterly captain of the submarine who despatched it so unerringly.