Mosley vows to quit in 2009

Max Mosley told a British newspaper on Sunday that he intends to “stay and fight” despite widespread calls for him to resign as FIA president.

The 68-year-old Englishman said he decided to give his first media interview since the News of the World sex scandal broke because of the “enormous publicity” generated by revelations of his allegedly Nazi-themed orgy with five prostitutes.

Mosley said he will not quit yet because at least “more than seven” motoring club presidents want him to stay.

“For every letter I`ve had from a club president saying `I think you should step down` or `I think you should consider your position`, I`ve had seven, slightly more than seven, who said `you`ve absolutely got to stay, don`t give an inch`, and `this is the most outrageous invasion`, and suggesting that there`s more to this than meets the eye, which of course there may be,” he said.

Mosley suggests many of the people who have criticised him are mostly the ones that do not agree that “eccentric sexual activity” is acceptable.

“(But) most people say if somebody likes doing that, if it`s not harming anybody, if it`s in private and it`s completely secret and personal, it`s nothing to do with me,” he said.

The FIA senate, comprising 222 members, will vote on June 3 as to whether Mosley can remain president of the global motoring body.

“It`s a matter for them,” he told the Sunday Telegraph.

“It`s not a matter for old drivers and things of that kind.”

Whether he is axed or not, Mosley insists that it was always his intention not to contest the next election, scheduled for late next year.

“I was never going to go beyond 2009,” he said, explaining that working effectively at the age of 73 would be “very marginal”.

“I kept quiet about that because the lesson with Tony Blair is, the day you say you`re going to stop, you lose your influence,” Mosley added.

He also countered reports that he has lost the support of his long-time friend, ally and fellow F1 powerbroker, Bernie Ecclestone.

“Certainly he`s supportive and he thinks it`s disgusting, but he`s got to get on and run his business,” he said.

“I feel that with me nothing`s changed. I see it as an awful intrusion into my private life which is not justifiable by any means, and which I hope will now be punished.”

Source: GMM

20.4.2008   ▪ Formula One    ▪ Mosley    ▪ en.f1-live.com