Sebastien Loeb is projecting a poor image says the FIA(!!!!)

This story by The Times's correspondents in Paris is worth a read. There's not much to add...

I notice also that Charles Bremner, our chief Paris correspondent, has done a nice piece on the old Citreon Deux Chevaux on his blog which some of you might enjoy.

Stop press: apparently this picture of Loeb at the end of the Mexico rally was the one which offended the FIA...

Comments

[Gary M]

We should all be very thankful to the FIA and it's most eminent leader Mr Mosley for upholding the integrity of motorsport worldwide by ensuring that no driver worthy of the sport shall ever be seen in public without a good shave.

After all this is probably the most pressing issue within our sport that needs dealing with and I for one am glad that the FIA is dealing with it swiftly.

I have honestly had enough of hearing about how this sport has been turned into a boring spectacle of engine power and money and how it needs to be changed asap. I am also bored of silly talk with regard to Max Mosley and the prancing horse that (allegedly) fills his dreams every night (of course these are the nights he does not spend in bum spanking, german and perverted heaven).

I am so glad that Mr Mosley and the FIA are tackling the real issues that are giving our sport such a band reputation and that is the nerve of a young racing driver daring to grow his hair!

I can understand Mr Mosley not bothering to turn up to Barcelona to help launch the anti-racism campaign, after all that is not that important. But I am glad he has taken the time to get behind a campaign to rid our sport of designer stubble. This kind of thinking may well keep his job for him!

At last a leader who understands exactly what the fans want from this sport. Well done FIA.

[javiervivaespania]

Sport is an activity where some fit people do stuff and some fat and often disgusting guys make their living out of driving the business.

Last year the FIA Spanish official said that Rosberg and Heidfeld could not have used frozen fuel (meaning just cold) because he then would not understand how they piped it into the tank, solid as it was. That is the kind of knowledge of the sport that they have.

[Graham Fudger]

I keep trying to think of something intelligent to say ... but I can't stop laughing... sorry

[Tom Sherrill]

So, Ed, you are not the only one who is required to keep up the Times' campaign to oust Mosley in the news.

I have to admit I don't really follow WRC so when Bremner mentions Morrie Chandler, acting President of the WRC, I had to Google the name since Bremner makes no mention of who Chandler is. I thought identifying the persons in your article was something that you guys learned in Journalism 101. (See the previous sentence to see how it's done.)

While it is a silly stance for Chandler and Thatthi to take on the matter of Loeb's appearance, to characterize the exchange of e-mails between these two inidividuals as being the official opinion of the entire FIA is even sillier.

I am confused about why it is so wrong for Chandler to act upon the request of a President of a member club of the FIA. Isn't requests from member clubs one of the main reasons you say Mosley should step down? Which is it? Are officials in the FIA supposed to listen to the member clubs or not?

There is one clear distinction that you at the Times have failed to grasp. Loeb is essentially at work when he is driving at a rally. It is actually in the FIA's purview to consider how a participant conducts himself. Just because I can walk around in my home without any pants on doesn't mean I can go into work the same way. Oh, that's right...I forgot you at the Times don't understand the concept of privacy.

[phand]

on ya FIA!

If anyone has been to a rally weekend there is hardly enough time to sleep let alone shave!

what a joke the fia is turning into, if one can get spanked in view of the entire world does not bring the sport into disripute, yet fogetting to shave does?

[Johnny P-)]

This is s**t over s**t, just when Ed was realigning back on track...

Please send me a postcard when you get back with F1 news or comments!

[sean]

hmmmmm.

i think i have an idea. ed, any chance you can suggest to the f1 drivers that they renounce shaving until herr mosley is gone for good?

it may be of course, that i've joined graham fudger in struggling to think of something intelligent to say.

or as my kids would say, pmsl!

[Katoom in Hong Kong]

Pure comedy!

I haven't seen anything like this since Iraqi Information Minister, Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf.

These guy's are really not making this up are they?

[Weasel]

Herr Sebastien,

Getten Sie ein grip man - you vill get ze shave, get ze inspection for ze head lice, get ze short back and sides. Do not ever be seen again in public vizout ze neo military uniform Dummkopf or you vill be flogged by five strict mistresses - you are a disgrace to ze sport and bringen it into disrepute. You haff been a bad boy and must be punished!

Signed
Obergruppenfuehrer Max

P.S. Vot you vear in private iss nobody's business, wink, wink.

[Anon]

Sebastian Loeb will stop showing his beard hair once Mosley stops showing his butt hair.

[colin grayson]

don't go writing something intelligent graham , might shock us

anyone else heard the rumour that seb is going to placate the FIA by arranging a session in london with 3 young ladies , news of the world to be invited?

[David Hodge]

What next? Examine all drivers for head lice also?

[Graham Fudger]

Thanks to Colin for that little pause for claws...

But tell me ... does this latest 'incident' ( shocking and serious as it may be to some ) say anything about the FIA's ability to function as an instrument of governance in the face of public opinion.

One small comment = one great deluge of ridicule

Does anybody think that situation is going to get better ?

[Graham Fudger]

Each member of the World Council who will be voting on June 3rd should remember:

The issue is not about Max Mosley's credibility ... that die has already been cast.

It is about the credibility of each and every member present - in the form of everything they ever say, every action they ever take, every dispute they ever mediate, every judgement they ever give...

...from now and for ever

[JaviG]

Dear Anon,

Max´s butt was shaved and had a nice haircut, so he does not break any FIA rule.

btw, here is a link for a new SM session of Maxie. He seems to have got sponsorship from one of the teams (see the colours of his tools)
http://www.snotr.com/video/1046

Ze needs more of ze punishment

[Alex]

As well as all Ze Inspections for head lice, I seem to recall Mad Max is quite keen on people being properly shaved.

What Loeb needs is a hairdresser who realises the 1970's are over.

[Flip]

This is so ridiculous it's not even funny. Ludicrous. Sounds like something T. S. Elliot ould come up with.

[Jamie]

Not connected to this thread but never the less really odd. Has anyone seen the video of Lewis being dangled on two bits of wire in some sort of PR stunt?? I saw it on BBC news . They have got the poor guy dressed in his racing kit being flown in to the middle of a Sparten conflict to bring peace !!

I have got to say he looked very uncomfortable with it and I can`t imagine why his team are letting him do that sort of thing so close to a race.

"Flying racing drivers bringing peace". What a strange world F1 is today.

[Demian]

Hippie!
(He, he, he) :-)

[john o'doe]

I'm sure I'm not alone in being sickened by the whole politically correct, fear-ridden fascist ambiance in F1 imposed by the FIA. I'm tired of seeing post-race interviews with tame questions getting conventional answers from drivers half-hidden beneath mandatory sponsors' baseball caps and wearing their mandatory sponsored wristwatches.
Thankfully this blog tries to get away from the gagging.

[gfehr]

Mr. Loeb does indeed look like a young person having a good time -- reason enough for any geezer to get steamed.

And that is a decidedly extravagant and expensive sombrero he is holding, BTW. It's party gear, to be exact, the sort worn by Mariachi bands and Los Caballeros Grandes on fiesta days.

I have this persistent vision of it on the head of Master Max -- astride a shetland pony, dangling a horse whip, and naked.

Might add a little joy and spice to an otherwise dismal lifestyle.

[ALLMAN]

At leat they don't make offensive jokes about a part of a driver's body, unlike R. Dennis:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x59e27_werwe-rtr-uynj_auto

[Bojan]

Ed, could you please check out ASAP with Nick Heidfeld, David Coulthard and Jenson Button whether they have got any specific instructions from the FIA about their looks. It would be very interesting to know. :-)
Thanks, Bojan.

[AndyG]

@Max (I mean Tom Sherill, sorry!)

Give it up. It's over. Gone. Finished.

If Max Mosley does end up staying then we know he has "Blattered" the FIA governance into subversion.

Time to get our sport of racing out of this odius organisation.

[Anon]

Say, Andy G, are you the same one who posted last year? If I remember accurately your name was "Andy G", not "AndyG".

Regards