posted May 22, 2008

Hindsight is wonderful. At the time I think most people felt that it was a fair and even generous price as F1 was not then a premium sports brand. The deal was also part of a package that healed a major rift that was threatening to destroy the sport.

Time has moved on and there seems to be both a case and an opportunity to renegotiate this - although it is now a much more complex package with a need to balance a mares nest of vested interests and understand the real impact of the various trade-offs being proposed.

For all his faults I still feel Max has demonstrated many times his ability to manage complex negotiations of this type in a way that deliver the optimum results for all concerned (even if some don't recognise that at the time).

Bernie's behaviour certainly suggests that these are real opportunities. Hopefully by the end of this year we will see:

A new concorde agreement with a better distribution of income across all competing teams;

A revised commercial rights deal bringing more of the TV/media income back into the sport - and maybe allowing circuits to recover more of their operating bcosts;

A firm strategy for longer term technical development regulation in F1 giving teams a more stable planning environment;

An agreed and effective budget cap to stabilise the economics of F1;

An agreed mechanism to enable start up teams to enter F1 with realistic prospects of developing into a viable long-term operation (linked to the Concorde Agreement).

Now is that too much to ask - well possibly, it is certainly a big ask but I feel Max is the guy with the track record to deliver. So I have at the very least mixed feelings about his being jettisoned at this complex and critical time.

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posted May 22, 2008

Am I morally ouraged? Don't we all face difficult choices? Don't the choices we make have consequences?

Why should Max be immune from the constraints that other mere mortals live by?

I'm no angel, and led a pretty sheltered existence, but when faced with the opportunity of some extra curricular horizontal dancing for two do you do it, or do you not do it?

I am a bit shocked that I could lose a colleague that I viewed a friend because of their conduct in the work place. Part of the issue is the realisation that I thought I knew this person. Another part of it, rather like with Max is 'What they thinking?'



Has Max made serial misjudgements?

Haven't his backbiting remarks shown a lack of restraint, professionalism and a view of perspective other than his own?

I am not sure Max's preferred method of negotiating individually with the teams is good practice?

It may be a good tactic, divide and conquer etc., but it's all the way bullies have been known to operate.

There's the democracy, transparency and good governance in conducting negotiations with the teams individually?

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posted May 23, 2008

Have we found out why the NofW published this story?
Have we found out who gave the information?
None of us are whiter than white but of course we expect the best ....... sweet dreams !

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posted May 23, 2008

Whatever the rights or wrongs of his behaviour, surely MM can see that he is a liability. Whilst he remains in F1 the discussions will be about him not the sport is this what he wants?

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posted May 23, 2008

Schism’s a comin', methinks.

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posted May 24, 2008

"comment by oldBoy (U1666976)
posted Yesterday

It is interesting - and a pretty long way from the original point (if any) of this thread but I can agree with both sides in this latest bit. Yes many pc dignitaries are avoiding Max but probably for purely political reasons rather than any sense of personal moral outrage (none have openly declared any to my knowledge?). There is a high level of moral outrage here - and most of it has nothing to do with the rights or wrongs of Max recent behaviour and much more to previous (often highly partisan) attitudes towards him. Watching is entertaining without being edifying, and the debate is now generating significant heat and precious little light.

The starting point here was Bernie's response to Max's letter - which suggests any cosy partnership is long gone. It also suggests to me that Max's claims about the power struggles in the sport are very likely real. You don't give a big formal response to a daft claim - you laugh it off!

What seems increasingly clear is that if Max was set up to destabilise the current FIA leadership then it is working beyond expectation.

Fasten your seat belts F1 fans as the ride could get a bit bumpy. Could be worth looking at the brace position in your in-flight safety sheets - it may be needed before this flight lands!!! "

---

Excellent post OldBoy!!

All this "Morale" High ground nonscence makes me sick.

I'm not saying that we should all go out and perform the same sordid acts as Max but the biggest issue I have is that his privacy was invaded in a country that seems to embace "Big brother" tactics as if they were a virtue! (The most videoed society on earth??)

The irony is that Max was exercising a "freedom of choice" with his actions in total contradiction to his perceived "Fascist" past!

We fought 2 world wars so that people could enjoy these freedoms in whatever form they appear! Have people forgotten that??

How many people in positions of Power have hobby's/ persuasions that you find morally offensive (but do not know about them!!) ???

I don't pretend to go about life with Rose tinted spectacles on, but Max could have been doing these antics for 20 years before he got caught or 20 years into the future without anyone ever knowing!
Did that ever effect his performance in being the President of FIA - I think not!

Prostitution is supposedly the oldest profession known to man.
regardless of whether you like it or not - it has always been there and always will be.

The same for peoples freedoms (sexual or otherwise) We hope!

As for bernie..

Quote Bernie:
"If he wants me to be the enemy he should be very careful because if he makes me an enemy I could make sure he never whips anybody again. "

Well Bernie I think that if Max want's to start a little war with you then you had better be carefull also - IMO.

I think that if Max goes down he is going to take you with him with whatever ammunition he has against you!

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posted May 25, 2008

Isn't there a certain irony that Gerhard Berger, an Austrian (who seem to have a certain fondness of cellars recently) has come out in support of MM. However, what strikes me most is that so many commentators forget that Max's father was Sir Oswald Mosley, head of the British fascist Nazi party, supporter of Hitler (also Austrian), and that Max was a very active member of the party for many years. Just check out his Wikipedia entry for all the details. This is what makes the MM story so objectionable.

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posted May 29, 2008

Doesnt it make you want to find a sport where ego's and money dont dominate everything? We have the Football bilionaires playing with premiership clubs and people like Max and Bernie running motorsport, we have people 'buying' the England cricket team for a week or two to have a private tournament. Overall we have become a society where the wealthy try to have influence over and control what the majority love and enjoy.

This isnt Jealousy, its just despair really. The only professional motor racing Ive come across recently that doesnt involve this kind of person is the Isle of Man TT, long may it reign.

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posted May 30, 2008

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A36666570

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