Max Mosley admitted to feeling "vindicated" as he returned to Formula One for the first time since winning a legal battle following allegations over his private life.
In March, FIA president Mosley was the subject of an article in the News of the World who claimed he participated in an alleged Nazi-themed orgy with five prostitutes in a basement flat in Chelsea.
However, Mosley went on to win a vote of confidence after an extraordinary hearing of the FIA's general assembly in early June which allowed him to remain in office.
The 68-year-old then emerged victorious from a High Court battle against the News of the World towards the end of July, receiving a record Ј60,000 in compensation as he successfully sued for breach of privacy.
Despite such successes, the damage to his family was considerable, yet Mosley at least believes he has been absolved to some degree.
Mosley said: "The thing that annoyed me was that there was some sort of Nazi roleplay. That has been totally demolished in court.
"In that sense I am vindicated, although obviously I am irritated, to put it mildly, that my private life, and aspects of my private life, have been made public which shouldn't have been.
"That's particularly bad for my family.
"But as far as Formula One is concerned, everything has gone on (as normal).
"The only thing that happened in Formula One is the two German and Japanese teams put out rather ill-considered press releases.
"At the time, I put out a rather ill-considered response to the German one.
"But they should have picked the phone up and asked me what the truth of the matter was. They didn't bother to do that.
"They are probably a little ashamed at that now - they should be.
"Apart from that very minor thing, everything has flowed along, the discussions backwards and forwards about the regulations have been completely normal."
Following the FIA hearing, Mosley confirmed he would stand down as president at the end of his current mandate in October 2009.
However, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone suggested that might not be the case, and it appears his words may yet come true.
Although stating it is his intention to walk away, the goal posts are starting to shift slightly.
"There is an awful lot of pressure coming from different parts of the world, and which is very widespread, saying 'continue'," added Mosley.
"That is very nice of them, but it's very hard work and I am really quite ready to take a less active role.
"Nine (am) until six (pm) every day, non stop, people outside don't understand how much there is to do.
"You are never on top of the job. You always feel you are trying to play catch-up, and that's why I don't go to grands prix.
"If I am out of the office for a few days it's a disaster, so there comes a point where you think maybe a slightly quieter life would be ideal, but we shall see."
Mosley's problem, after spending the last 15 years at the helm, is that his role is now deeply ingrained within him, and he feels he has unfinished business to attend to.
When asked whether he could not rule out staying on, he replied: "You can't rule anything out. You should never say never, as the old cliche goes.
"At the moment my inclination is that I would like a quiet life, but it (his job) is fascinating.
"You can see the problem and it needs to be solved, and that's interesting.
"I really do think something needs to be done about Formula One, otherwise it's going to be a big problem, and I would like to do that."
The issues primarily surround cutting costs, making the sport more efficient, and that is a legacy he would like to make his own.
"We will have measures in place well before October 2009 which will determine the future," insisted Mosley.
"If we haven't done that then we haven't solved the problem, and if we don't get it done quickly it's going to get serious.
"We've got to get the costs down. Formula One can't go on as if nothing had happened when the whole world is in some degree or other of economic difficulty."
No comments:
Post a Comment