Mosley finally calls it quits
Peace looks likely to reign in Formula 1 once more after Max Mosley confirmed he would not be standing for re-election as FIA president, much to the delight of the teams up and down the grid.
But Mosley's announcement has been met by complete silence from the teams - a case of once bitten, twice shy. The last time they celebrated a similar Mosley announcement, the 69-year-old then changed his mind. This time it seems Mosley means what he says.
However, he could well live on in a different guise. His parting shot as president is to push forward former Ferrari team boss Jean Todt as his successor, which was similarly met by stony silence by the teams.
Todt is a similar character to Mosley and would manage the sport in the same authoritarian way which has left them all so riled in recent months. It is that fact and not any possible Ferrari bias that is making them nervous.
As it stands, Todt faces a straight head-to-head for the presidency with former rally star Ari Vatanen although others may yet come out of the woodwork, quite possibly with the backing of the Formula One Teams' Association. That could lead to more sniping and politicial infighting.
Are you pleased to see the back of Mosley or do you think F1 will miss him? And who's the best bet to take his place or has the FIA become unnecessary? Post your comments below...
Nelson Piquet jnr is once again making unpleasant comments about his former boss. He isn't doing himself any favours with his comments.
I am not a fan of Flavio Briatore, but if he is as dumb as young Piquet claims, how is it he has managed to lead the team to world championships with Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso.
Perhaps the lad needs to accept he isn't the driver his father had been and he should reconsider his position as a formula 1 driver. If as rumoured his father buys the BMW team and he gets a drive with the team. How long will it be before his father gives him his marching orders, because he is not delivering the goods.
Posted by: Colm O' Driscoll | 14 August 2009 at 23:02
What a shame that Max cannot even leave quietly.Instead of all the good work he has done in the past he will only be remembered for the last eigteen months.It seems that unfotunately he has learnt nothing from the mistakes he has made recently and is therefore a fool.
Posted by: richard | 18 July 2009 at 20:53
Put John Todt in his seat, and you may as well hand ferrari the championships before they start. Does anyone believe in impartiality, Max and Bernie never, and Todt is ferrari born and bred. Surely Vatinen will get it.
I very much doubt it.
But i'll desert F1 if todt gets his geg in.....
Posted by: Nigel M | 18 July 2009 at 20:50
I saw Ari Vatanen being interviewed on the BBC.He talked a lot of sense and seemed to have a fair and impartial attitude,saying listening was more important than talking AT people.Plus he has no links to any team and he has been a competitive driver in the past.To my mind that makes him the ideal candidate.I have a feeling Jean Todt would be Mosley's puppet.
Posted by: Dina | 18 July 2009 at 10:41
Apart from Ecclestone, is there anyone that actually likes Mosley? He seems to be universally hated and a little scary too if you ask me.
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Posted by: guodan | 17 July 2009 at 07:36
God almighty I'm bored of this. Now he's stepped down can we actually talk about racing?
Posted by: Penny | 17 July 2009 at 06:06
Jean Todt as his replacement. McLaren and the like might now be pals with Ferrari but not that close. Likewise, I'm not sure Ferrari would be all that pleased if Ron Dennis was suddenly put forward for the job. Or maybe they just don't car and that anyone is better than Maximilian.
Posted by: Jez | 16 July 2009 at 17:49
Is Mosley as much of a villain as people make out? He must have done something right over the years to have stayed in power for 20 years or whatever it is. And let's be honest, F1 is an awesome spectacle and is perhaps one of the biggest sporting championships in the world. I don't know enough about it all to understand what he's done to get everyone's backs up but he's bowed out so let's just lay off the old guy.
Posted by: Pat Harris | 16 July 2009 at 15:40
Take the poisoned dwarf with you and it'll be job done.
Posted by: Max | 16 July 2009 at 14:50
Peace? I don't think so. That's not Mosley's way. He's got a few tricks left up his sleeves and will cause a fair few more chaotic scenes yet.
Posted by: Sam, Maidstone | 16 July 2009 at 11:36
Good riddance to Max. He might have done a lot of good for F1 in the past but the old guy's well and truly past his sell-by date. It's slightly undignified how he's opted to go by saying he'll leave, then won't and finally that he will. Now we just need to get rid of Bernie and all will be well.
Posted by: Brian | 16 July 2009 at 10:01