Formula One news

FIA requires stern leader, insists Mosley

FIA president Max Mosley has followed up from his forceful comments on Friday by claiming that any future head of the FIA must demonstrate the necessary skills to ensure that the federation always holds a firm grasp of Formula One, to avoid outside influences taking control of the sport.

With Mosley angered this week by the reactions of FOTA (Formula One Teams Association) after finding a short-lived compromise with the FIA on Wednesday, the 69-year-old was furious to discover that FOTA claimed to have successfully 'ousted' himself from the role.

Included in Mosley's letter of warning to the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) on Friday - which cautioned those included in the FIA group to brace for 'short-term problems' in the sport - were a number of feelings with regards to the future conduct of the governing body:

'The question of FIA president is a matter exclusively for you, the members clubs of the FIA, and most definitely not for the vehicle manufacturers who make up FOTA. To have an FIA president under the influence of vehicle manufacturers would put at jeopardy all the excellent work our organisation and your clubs do in promoting better safety and environmental outcomes in the vehicle fleet.

If nothing else, this attempt to tell FIA members who they should or should not elect demonstrates precisely why the FIA needs a strong President who is experienced and knowledgeable about motor sport, in particular Formula One, as well as general motoring matters.

We must continue to defend the independence of the FIA, even if this leads to difficulties in the sport.

Some have sought to interpret this outcome as a back-down by the FIA and a coup by teams wishing to remove me from my post. There have even been claims that I have ceased to fulfil my role as president effective immediately. These claims are completely false.

I will continue to fulfil my role as FIA president up until and including our General Assembly in October. For me to do otherwise would be to betray the support I received last year when my role as president was confirmed by FIA Clubs at the Extraordinary General Assembly.'

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