13/10/2005
NEWS STORY
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It seems (almost) appropriate that as the Formula One 'circus' heads to China, FIA President, Max Mosley, should 'meet the people'.
In The Guardian newspaper - it just had to be the Guardian didn't it - Chairman Max answers a number of questions sent in by race fans.
Asked if he will miss Paul Stoddart, who has sold his Minardi team to Red Bull, Mosley responds: "Dear old Paul. F1 just won't be the same place without him. Our loss is almost certainly someone else's gain."
Stoddart is one of many people who has been proposed as a possible replacement for F1 'ringmaster', Bernie Ecclestone, who does Max think could (should) take over, when Bernie decides enough is enough?
"Bernie is probably irreplaceable," he admits. "I can think of a few people who could do some of the things he does but I can't think of any one person who could do everything he does.
"He will probably be succeeded by a management team. He may well have other plans, but if he has, he isn't saying."
Asked if he was pleased to see Fernando Alonso - indeed anyone - win the title, rather than Michael Schumacher, Mosley replied: It's great to see world-class sporting talent develop and Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen have come into their own this year. Their success has certainly helped make this one of the best championships for years.
"The last race, in Suzuka, was simply sensational," he continued, "particularly the Alonso/Schumacher and Raikkonen/Fisichella moves. But don't write Michael off."
"Why is it not possible to make F1 more enjoyable by reducing downforce and increasing mechanical grip?" asked one reader, adding: "And can you get rid of James Allen?"
"Simulations have shown that the reduction in downforce would have to be so great that the cars would be slower than GP2 or Formula 3," admitted Mosley. "But we think we now have the answer to this problem - downforce that is, not getting rid of James Allen!
"We will reveal some of our thinking in Shanghai this weekend," he added.
While many within the sport have grown rich, Mosley, a former racer and team owner, opted to take a political role. Does he feel envious when he sees the sort of money that Frank Williams and Ron Dennis have made?
"Ron, Frank and I have known each other for more than 35 years," he replies. "Money is a nice by-product of success but I don't believe that money drives Ron or Frank - they are racers pure and simple.
"Although the position of FIA president is demanding, it is probably the most fascinating and rewarding job one could have."
But the FIA, and Mosley's role, is not all about F1, or indeed racing. A reader asks: "In your position as the head of global motoring, what justification is there for manufacturers developing road cars that can go upwards of 150mph? Why aren't you pushing for satellite-controlled, variable speed limiters that prevent drivers exceeding the speed limit?"
"That's exactly what the FIA has been doing," Mosley replies. "In the 90s we successfully lobbied in Brussels to introduce new, tougher crash-test legislation and then went on to found Euro NCAP, Europe's only independent programme for occupant and pedestrian protection which has advanced car safety in Europe by five years according to the European Commission.
"In my view the argument for variable speed limits is overwhelming, because it would allow speed limits which were appropriate for the conditions, location and time of day."