25/06/2009
NEWS STORY
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Max Mosley has signalled that his deal to stand down as FIA president has as good as been torn up. In a letter written to Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, Mosley has accused FOTA of lying to the media about its agreement with the FIA.
"We made a deal yesterday in Paris to end the recent difficulties in Formula 1," writes the Englishman. "A fundamental part of this was that we would both present a positive and truthful account to the media. I was therefore astonished to learn that FOTA has been briefing the press that Mr. Boeri has taken charge of Formula 1, something which you know is completely untrue; that I had been forced out of office, also false; and, apparently, that I would have no role in the FIA after October, something which is plain nonsense, if only because of the FIA statutes."
Mosley also says that di Montezemolo's alleged suggestion that he was a 'dictator' is "an accusation which is grossly insulting to the 26 members of the World Motor Sport Council who have discussed and voted all the rules and procedures of Formula 1 since the 1980s, not to mention the representatives of the FIA's 122 countries who have democratically endorsed everything I and my World Motor Sport Council colleagues have done during the last 18 years."
Throwing down the gauntlet, Mosley demands that FOTA immediately rectifies its actions. "You must correct the false statements which have been made and make no further such statements. You yourself must issue a suitable correction and apology at your press conference this afternoon." Well, this afternoon came and went and no apology was issued so we can only assume that Mosley considers the deal with FOTA to be torn up.
Testimony to this, Mosley concludes the letter by saying "I now consider my options open. At least until October, I am president of the FIA with the full authority of that office. After that it is the FIA member clubs, not you or FOTA, who will decide on the future leadership of the FIA."
It doesn't look like Mosley will be clearing his desk anytime soon. In fact, Pitpass can imagine him already preparing his case for re-election.
For those of you who thought that the FOTA-FIA row was resolved, please be advised that the fat lady isn't even gargling yet.