HeilSvenska
05-22-2008, 02:03 AM
Is this Mosley's Final Solution?
Ecclestone: I hope Mosley isn't looking for a war.
Wed 21 May, 12:41 PM
Under-fire FIA President appears to be digging his own grave as Ecclestone readies himself to fight back...
Having held his silence for weeks over the sex scandal engulfing Max Mosley, Bernie Ecclestone has responded to his former key ally's inflammatory letter suggesting the Formula 1 supremo is attempting to seize control of the sport's regulations from the FIA by insisting: 'I don't want to have a war with Max.'
In the letter - sent out to FIA club presidents at the end of last week and made public over the weekend [see separate story - click here] - the embattled FIA President warned delegates that voting him out of office during the Extraordinary General Assembly of the FIA Senate in Paris on 3 June would leave the governing body's responsibility for sporting regulations in the top flight open to a potential takeover bid by Ecclestone's Formula One Management Group and commercial rights-holders CVC Capital Partners.
The 68-year-old - disgraced by the News of the World's front page exposé about his private life at the end of March - revealed that CVC, represented by Ecclestone, is trying to re-negotiate its 100 year agreement so that it has 'control over the Formula One regulations and the right to sell the business to anyone - in effect to take over Formula One completely'. He added that in his view 'it would be irresponsible, even a breach of duty, to walk away from a number of negotiations currently under way'.
Understandably angered by the contents of the letter [which can be read in full by clicking here], Ecclestone has now questioned whether Mosley's words were tantamount to a 'declaration of war', as the relationship between the two erstwhile long-time friends and business associates threatens to degenerate to a new low.
"I sincerely hope that it isn't a declaration of war," the 77-year-old admitted in an interview with The Times, "because, if that's what the message should be, then we'll have to defend ourselves.
"That is what anyone would do. I don't believe that's what Max wanted the letter to say. I don't want to have a war with Max. I hope he doesn't want one with me."
Ecclestone also refuted Mosley's claims that the vote of confidence early next month is an attack on the FIA as a whole, stressing that the meeting has been called for one reason - and one reason alone.
"This whole business is really about what was printed in the News of the World and whether this in any way damaged the FIA clubs or the FIA - that's all," he underlined.
"It's nothing to do with anything else, and I don't quite know why he's come out and said these things. I am sorry if the press have reported things which he doesn't like, but we certainly don't have any influence over the FIA.
"I think the General Assembly of the FIA was called for one reason only - to decide whether or not they think Max is the right person to be their president. The vote will be on that, not about the Concorde Agreement."
Mosley had moreover hinted at 'complex negotiations' about the future of the sport and suggested that F1 is on the verge of a 'major financial crisis' and the loss of more teams in the future, both claims to which Ecclestone gave similarly short shrift. The sport's ringmaster also revealed that a CVC board meeting had borne a tone of 'irritation and anger' at what has been seen as the president's efforts to deflect attention from the real issue - his fitness to continue in his power-broking role.
"I don't see any problems up until a couple of months ago," Ecclestone added, referring to the News of the World's shocking revelations, before adding: "We (CVC) have decided we are going to contact all the clubs who Max wrote to, with a reply to the matters raised in his letter."
Eurosport
Ecclestone: I hope Mosley isn't looking for a war.
Wed 21 May, 12:41 PM
Under-fire FIA President appears to be digging his own grave as Ecclestone readies himself to fight back...
Having held his silence for weeks over the sex scandal engulfing Max Mosley, Bernie Ecclestone has responded to his former key ally's inflammatory letter suggesting the Formula 1 supremo is attempting to seize control of the sport's regulations from the FIA by insisting: 'I don't want to have a war with Max.'
In the letter - sent out to FIA club presidents at the end of last week and made public over the weekend [see separate story - click here] - the embattled FIA President warned delegates that voting him out of office during the Extraordinary General Assembly of the FIA Senate in Paris on 3 June would leave the governing body's responsibility for sporting regulations in the top flight open to a potential takeover bid by Ecclestone's Formula One Management Group and commercial rights-holders CVC Capital Partners.
The 68-year-old - disgraced by the News of the World's front page exposé about his private life at the end of March - revealed that CVC, represented by Ecclestone, is trying to re-negotiate its 100 year agreement so that it has 'control over the Formula One regulations and the right to sell the business to anyone - in effect to take over Formula One completely'. He added that in his view 'it would be irresponsible, even a breach of duty, to walk away from a number of negotiations currently under way'.
Understandably angered by the contents of the letter [which can be read in full by clicking here], Ecclestone has now questioned whether Mosley's words were tantamount to a 'declaration of war', as the relationship between the two erstwhile long-time friends and business associates threatens to degenerate to a new low.
"I sincerely hope that it isn't a declaration of war," the 77-year-old admitted in an interview with The Times, "because, if that's what the message should be, then we'll have to defend ourselves.
"That is what anyone would do. I don't believe that's what Max wanted the letter to say. I don't want to have a war with Max. I hope he doesn't want one with me."
Ecclestone also refuted Mosley's claims that the vote of confidence early next month is an attack on the FIA as a whole, stressing that the meeting has been called for one reason - and one reason alone.
"This whole business is really about what was printed in the News of the World and whether this in any way damaged the FIA clubs or the FIA - that's all," he underlined.
"It's nothing to do with anything else, and I don't quite know why he's come out and said these things. I am sorry if the press have reported things which he doesn't like, but we certainly don't have any influence over the FIA.
"I think the General Assembly of the FIA was called for one reason only - to decide whether or not they think Max is the right person to be their president. The vote will be on that, not about the Concorde Agreement."
Mosley had moreover hinted at 'complex negotiations' about the future of the sport and suggested that F1 is on the verge of a 'major financial crisis' and the loss of more teams in the future, both claims to which Ecclestone gave similarly short shrift. The sport's ringmaster also revealed that a CVC board meeting had borne a tone of 'irritation and anger' at what has been seen as the president's efforts to deflect attention from the real issue - his fitness to continue in his power-broking role.
"I don't see any problems up until a couple of months ago," Ecclestone added, referring to the News of the World's shocking revelations, before adding: "We (CVC) have decided we are going to contact all the clubs who Max wrote to, with a reply to the matters raised in his letter."
Eurosport