By AFP
September 1st 2008 @ 9:23am
Related coverage
Ecclestone calls for sport to back Mosley
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone today called on the sport to forget the controversy surrounding International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley.
Ecclestone had previously called for his long-time friend Mosley to resign after newspaper stories about his private life.
But after winning his privacy case against a British newspaper which alleged he took part in a Nazi-themed sadomasochistic orgy with prostitutes, Ecclestone believes that Mosley is still a credible president.
“I thought and was told it would (cost the sport) but people have come to the conclusion that whatever happened with Max was Max and it has nothing to do with anything else,” Ecclestone told BBC Five Live’s Sportsweek.
“I don’t think they care any more, people forget all these things. At the time it was a shock, if it had happened to other people it probably wouldn’t have been a shock.
“For a short period I said he should resign because I had so much pressure from people to say he should resign. In a lot of ways, at the time I wished he had done. Now I don’t see why he should.
“Max works and does the best he can for the sport, 100 per cent.”
Ecclestone insists he will treat Mosley as normal when they meet at the Italian Grand Prix on September 14.
“I’ll see him in Monza,” he said. “I’ll welcome him back. He should come back and carry on like he normally carries on.”
Mosley has said he will not stand for re-election when his term runs out next year, but Ecclestone added: “He said he would stand down before and he hasn’t. If we look at it selfishly and look at the sport, it’s difficult to see who would replace him and do the things he does. That is what the difficulty is.”
Meanwhile, Ecclestone voiced concerns over how London will match the Beijing Olympics, and he has ruled out helping the 2012 planners.
“I can’t see how London, or anyone, will follow that. We have to do something completely different or we are going to look idiots.
“I wouldn’t want to be involved, there is only one way down, for anyone who is involved. If it goes well you’re not given the credit and if it goes badly you’re going to get the blame.”
Ecclestone also stated that the British Grand Prix would be under threat if Donington fails to deliver, as returning to Silverstone is not an option.
“We’ve been playing around for six or seven years,” he said. “If Silverstone couldn’t do it before then why could they do it now?
“We scaled back so much for them and agreed things we shouldn’t have, to keep things at Silverstone. If there is no Donington there is no British GP.”
Like this content? Buzz it up!
Free Email updates:
Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport or that author. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it. We value privacy. More...
© 2008 AFP
