From GMM
The President of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, Max Mosley, met with journalists at a media lunch at the Poissonnerie de l'Avenue restaurant in Chelsea, Great Britain.
Mosley first said that recent reports and speculation linking Sir Fred Goodwin, the controversial former chief executive of the struggling Royal Bank of Scotland with the FIA presidency was "nonsense".
Mosley is quoted by the Daily Telegraph saying "Last week, Sir Fred called me to say it was all nonsense. He was obviously rather embarrassed."
Although he did not specifically name the former triple world champion Sir Jackie Stewart, Mosley hinted strongly that he suspects the origin of the Goodwin speculation.
"It has to be someone with some kind of connection to F1. He's got to have some connection with Scotland. He's got to have no understanding of how F1 or the FIA work, and he has to be unusually stupid. There's at least one person who ticks all those boxes," Mosley said.
The President then said he feels tempted to stand for a fifth consecutive term as FIA president. He confirmed that he would make up his mind by June.
Figures including former Ferrari boss Jean Todt, and 56-year-old Ari Vatanen, the 1981 world rally champion-turned European parliamentarian, have been named as possible alternatives to Mosley.
He then spoke about the F1 calendar, indicating that the governing body has only limited power to safeguard historic destinations on the annual calendar.
With traditional host nation France missing from the 2009 calendar, it is now feared that the forthcoming switch of the British grand prix rights from Silverstone to Donington could result in another established nation dropping out of F1.
Mosley insisted that while the FIA does have a say, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone is not bound to preserve historic venues.
About the issue over the licences, Mosley admitted little sympathy for formula one drivers refusing to pay for this year's more expensive Superlicences. After the large price increase at the beginning of 2008, the FIA is for this year charging an additional 400 euros per license, and 100 euros per point.
But Mosley dismissed their position as "silly", warning that having an up-to-date Superlicense is compulsory for participation at grands prix.
"They told me it was causing hardship, but that's a complete nonsense. To earn tens of millions, live in a tax haven and complain about having to pay 2 per cent of your income (for the license), it's just so silly," Mosley added.
photo:WRI2
The President of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, Max Mosley, met with journalists at a media lunch at the Poissonnerie de l'Avenue restaurant in Chelsea, Great Britain.
Mosley first said that recent reports and speculation linking Sir Fred Goodwin, the controversial former chief executive of the struggling Royal Bank of Scotland with the FIA presidency was "nonsense".
Mosley is quoted by the Daily Telegraph saying "Last week, Sir Fred called me to say it was all nonsense. He was obviously rather embarrassed."
Although he did not specifically name the former triple world champion Sir Jackie Stewart, Mosley hinted strongly that he suspects the origin of the Goodwin speculation.
"It has to be someone with some kind of connection to F1. He's got to have some connection with Scotland. He's got to have no understanding of how F1 or the FIA work, and he has to be unusually stupid. There's at least one person who ticks all those boxes," Mosley said.
The President then said he feels tempted to stand for a fifth consecutive term as FIA president. He confirmed that he would make up his mind by June.
Figures including former Ferrari boss Jean Todt, and 56-year-old Ari Vatanen, the 1981 world rally champion-turned European parliamentarian, have been named as possible alternatives to Mosley.
He then spoke about the F1 calendar, indicating that the governing body has only limited power to safeguard historic destinations on the annual calendar.
With traditional host nation France missing from the 2009 calendar, it is now feared that the forthcoming switch of the British grand prix rights from Silverstone to Donington could result in another established nation dropping out of F1.
Mosley insisted that while the FIA does have a say, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone is not bound to preserve historic venues.
About the issue over the licences, Mosley admitted little sympathy for formula one drivers refusing to pay for this year's more expensive Superlicences. After the large price increase at the beginning of 2008, the FIA is for this year charging an additional 400 euros per license, and 100 euros per point.
But Mosley dismissed their position as "silly", warning that having an up-to-date Superlicense is compulsory for participation at grands prix.
"They told me it was causing hardship, but that's a complete nonsense. To earn tens of millions, live in a tax haven and complain about having to pay 2 per cent of your income (for the license), it's just so silly," Mosley added.
photo:WRI2