TRIBUTES PAID TO FORMER FIA PRESIDENT MAX MOSLEY
A colossal yet contentious motorsport figure, who headed major safety advances on the track and road, is remembered
Tributes have been paid to former FIA president Max Mosley, a towering and controversial figure over several decades in motorsport, whose death aged 81 after suffering from cancer was announced last week as Motorsport News went to press.
Mosley served as FIA president from 1993 to 2009 and was closely associated with safety advances in motorsport – particularly following Roland Ratzenberger’s and
Ayrton Senna’s deaths at Imola in 1994 – and in road cars. He also oversaw F1 costsaving measures but also was embroiled in controversies, such as the notorious six-car 2005 United States Grand Prix, 2007’s McLaren ‘spy-gate’scandal, and a threatened breakaway championship among major F1 teams and manufacturers in 2009.
Mosley was born in 1940, the son of
Sir Oswald Mosley, leader of the British Union of Fascists, and Lady Diana Mosley, one of the famous Mitford sisters.
Max had success as a barrister, then reached Formula 2 as a racing driver before in 1969 becoming co-founder of March Engineering. He later was a close ally and legal advisor to Bernie Ecclestone and his increasingly influential Formula One Constructors’ Association (FOCA), including during its notorious ‘war’with FISA– then the
FIA’s sporting arm – over control of F1.
Mosley also helped frame F1’s original Concorde Agreement.
After a spell working for the Conservative Party, Mosley in 1986 was elected president of FISA’s manufacturers’ commission, then in 1991 was elected FISA president, defeating incumbent Jean-Marie Balestre. Mosley was elected FIA president two years later amid a governing body restructure.
In 2008 he was the subject of a newspaper expose about his sex life, and won £60,000 in damages from the News of the World that had alleged incorrectly that his activities were Nazi themed. Mosley subsequently became a prominent campaigner for greater press regulation and a supporter of Fleet Street phone-hacking victims.
Tributes to Max Mosley
“It’s like losing family, like losing a brother, Max and I. He did a lot of good things not just for motorsport, but also the [car] industry. He was very good in making sure people built cars that were safe.” Bernie Ecclestone
“He was a major figure in F1 and motorsport. As FIA president for 16 years, he strongly contributed to reinforcing safety on track and on the roads. The entire FIA community pays tribute to him.” Jean Todt, FIA president
“I don’t think people realise just how much he did for motorsport and safety when FIA president. He was very good to my family and I when Roland [Ratzenberger] passed away.” David Brabham, Le Mans winner and F1 driver
“Max was an incredibly strong character with the sharpest mind I have ever met. As drivers we owe him a debt of thanks for all he did in our sport especially his behind-thescenes work on safety.” Allan McNish, three-time Le Mans winner