10/10/2007
NEWS STORY
Three-time World Champion, former BRDC President, and Grand Prix winning team owner Jackie Stewart, has admitted that is considering taking legal action against FIA President Max Mosley for derogatory comments he made about the Scot to journalists recently.
"That option is still very open," Stewart is quotes as saying by The Guardian. "My lawyers advised me that I have every right to do so and that's an option I am able to take up. My lawyers are in communication with Mr Mosley."
Mosley described Stewart as a "certified half-wit" who is seen by many within the paddock as a figure of fun and someone that very few take seriously. Mosley's comments followed Stewart's criticism of the way certain aspects of the spy saga were handled, the Scot suggesting that there was a hidden agenda, alluding to the long-time, and much publicised, bad blood between Mosley and McLaren boss Ron Dennis.
Jackie Stewart may take legal action against Max Mosley after the FIA president recently labelled the three-times formula one world champion a "certified half-wit". Mosley's comments came after Stewart criticised the FIA's handling of the McLaren spying scandal.
Mosley remains defiant, saying that he has no need to apologise, indeed he would be Happy to repeat his comments.
"I have no apology to make for having said as much publicly and I am more than happy to repeat this view about him now and in the future," The Guardian quotes him as saying.
"Some members of the British motor sport establishment consider Jackie Stewart to be a national treasure. I have known Jackie for almost 40 years, and understand their view, but they must forgive me if I do not share it. The comments Jackie repeatedly made to a global audience before and after the recent hearings into the McLaren affair were ill informed and entirely misrepresented the world council's position.
"Jackie claimed the World Council were 'witch hunting' against McLaren. A witch hunt is the irrational and unjustified persecution of the innocent. To make this and other unfounded and partisan accusations without viewing any of the evidence was not only inept but thoroughly irresponsible. Such comments could do nothing but damage to the sport."