- 31 Aug 08, 17:28#62340
Ayrton Senna: WDC 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
McLaren: WCC 1974, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2007
McLaren: WDC 1974, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2008
From Planet F1:
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has urged the sport to forget about the controversy surrounding Max Mosley and welcome him back.
FIA president Mosley won his privacy case against the News of the World in July and was awarded £60,000 in compensation after allegations of him taking part in a "Nazi orgy" with five prostitutes.
The presiding judge in the case, Mr Justice Eady, said there was no evidence that "the gathering...was intended to be an enactment of Nazi behaviour or adoption of any of its attitudes".
Ecclestone feels Mosley is still a credible president, and he told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek: "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.
"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 confirmed 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 has voiced concerns over how London will match the Beijing Olympics, and he has ruled out helping the 2012 planners.
He said: "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."
It seems as though Ecclestone is dropping a hint that Mosley might be staying after all. As for the his remark that there is nobody else good enough to replace him, what a load of trash. Alain Prost has already put his name forward.
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has urged the sport to forget about the controversy surrounding Max Mosley and welcome him back.
FIA president Mosley won his privacy case against the News of the World in July and was awarded £60,000 in compensation after allegations of him taking part in a "Nazi orgy" with five prostitutes.
The presiding judge in the case, Mr Justice Eady, said there was no evidence that "the gathering...was intended to be an enactment of Nazi behaviour or adoption of any of its attitudes".
Ecclestone feels Mosley is still a credible president, and he told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek: "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.
"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 confirmed 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 has voiced concerns over how London will match the Beijing Olympics, and he has ruled out helping the 2012 planners.
He said: "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."
It seems as though Ecclestone is dropping a hint that Mosley might be staying after all. As for the his remark that there is nobody else good enough to replace him, what a load of trash. Alain Prost has already put his name forward.
Ayrton Senna: WDC 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
McLaren: WCC 1974, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2007
McLaren: WDC 1974, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2008
