Max Mosley
, former president of the International Motor Federation (FIA) between 1993 and 2009, has died at the age of 81, as confirmed by his friend
Bernie Ecclestone
, former owner of Formula 1. Since his beginnings as the founder of the March team, the Briton was climbing the steps until he became one of the most powerful men in
motorsport.
Liberty Media, which owns F1, defined Mosley as an "essential in the transition" of motorsport, while Ecclestone expressed his regret for having "lost a brother."
"He did great things not only for the sport, but also for the industry," added the 90-year-old Briton.
Mosley's most outstanding work at the head of the FIA, where he had succeeded
Jean-Marie Balestre
, was the improvement of security measures in F1, questioned for decades and in a critical situation after the death of
Ayrton Senna
and
Roland Ratzenberger
during the 1994 San Marino GP.
Battle against 'News of the World'
His career ended abruptly in 2009, shortly after the tabloid
News of the World
published a report where he appeared in a sadomasochistic orgy.
Mosley sued the aforementioned tabloid, but a few weeks later decided not to appear for re-election, where
Jean Todt would
triumph
.
After an arduous legal battle, a French court ordered in 2011 to compensate Mosley with more than 65,000 euros for the aforementioned photographs along with five prostitutes.
The newspaper edited by News Corp had included in the headline "sick Nazi orgy", while Mosley denied that it was a Nazi-themed party.
Another controversy that peppered his career at the head of the FIA was the spying case at McLaren in 2007, where he took a very hard line against the team led by
Ron Dennis
.
Two years earlier it had also been splattered by what happened during the United States GP, which was contested with only six cars due to the withdrawal of the others fitted with Michelin tires.
Hockenheim 1968
Son of the fascist leader
Sir Oswald Mosley
and the aristocrat
Diana Mitford
, an illustrious friend of
Adolf Hitler
, Mosley's link with the motor world intensified in the 1960s. In 1968 he would debut in Formula 2 in Hockenheim, the same day of
Jim Clark's
tragic death
.
Only a year later, in collaboration with
Alan Rees
,
Graham Coaker
and
Robin Herd, he
started the March team, which between 1970 and 1976 had three F1 victories and a world runner-up with
Ronnie Peterson
at the wheel (1971).
During that period he also collaborated as legal advisor to the F1 Builders Association (FOCA) and was one of those responsible for the Concordia Agreements, which prevailed for decades.
His crusade for safety was based, among other measures, on
crash tests
for single-seaters
, the ban on refueling and the introduction of HANS in helmets.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
Know more
sports
Formula 1
Formula 170 years of F1 in Barcelona: Fangio's bet for a dinner, Ecclestone's call and an 'enabler' against the PSOE
Formula 1 Montmeló surrenders to Hamilton's hundredth pole: Sainz will start sixth and Alonso tenth
Formula 1Alonso sneaks into the battle and Red Bull suffers in Montmeló
See links of interest
2021 business calendar
Home THE WORLD TODAY
Granada CF - Getafe
MoraBanc Andorra - Acunsa Gipuzkoa Basket
Unicaja - Real Madrid
Baxi Manresa - TD Systems Baskonia
Coosur Real Betis - Herbalife Gran Canaria