'He was a remarkable man': Tributes roll in for former F1 boss Max Mosley
Tributes are pouring in across the world of motorsport after the news that former Formula One president Max Mosley has died at the age of 81.
Regarded as a controversial, yet highly influential figure, Mosley served as the president of motor sports' world governing body from 1993 to 2009.
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During that period, he oversaw safety reforms in F1 in the wake of Ayrton Senna's death at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.
He spent his latter years campaigning for tougher press regulation, after his own successful legal battle against the News of the World in 2008 after it claimed a sadomasochistic sex session was related to Nazism.
Three-time F1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart told the PA news agency: "He was a remarkable man in many ways and a really well-educated man.
"He was controversial, there is no doubt, but he did things in motor sport that we should all be grateful for."
Stewart said his son Paul had been in recent contact with Mosley, who had been suffering with cancer.
"He had been challenged by cancer for some considerable time, but he had been communicating.
"My son, Paul, wrote to him on Sunday because they had been in touch, so it seems to me that it happened quite quickly."
Stewart said Mosley and former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone had been like conjoined twins and the 90-year-old paid his own tribute to Mosley.
"Max was like family to me," Ecclestone said. "We were like brothers. I am pleased in a way because he suffered for too long."
Mosley's death has led to a flood of tributes on social media as the motorsport world remembered a unique personality.
Everyone at Formula 1 is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Max Mosley
From a team owner to FIA president, he transformed our sport - and his legacy, particularly in safety, will last for generations
Our thoughts are with his family and friends pic.twitter.com/DPrqazxS9r— Formula 1 (@F1) May 24, 2021
Max Mosley has died, Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed to BBC Sport. He was 81. A titanic and controversial figure, who changed the face of motorsport safety in his role as FIA president
— Andrew Benson (@andrewbensonf1) May 24, 2021
Deeply saddened by the passing of Max Mosley.He was a major figure in @F1 & motor sport. As @FIA President for 16 years, he strongly contributed to reinforcing safety on track & on the roads. The entire FIA community pays tribute to him. Our thoughts & prayers are with his family pic.twitter.com/iFcHzBHaWX
— Jean Todt (@JeanTodt) May 24, 2021
So few realise the very good work that Max Mosley did as regards safety in racing & its transfer into road cars. The pioneering work which he drove at the FIA post Imola ‘94 helped make safety a key marketing tool for car co’s. A fascinating man, with quite the life story. #F1
— Mark Gallagher (@_markgallagher) May 24, 2021
R.I.P Max Mosley
1940 -2021 pic.twitter.com/w65QHmZsOh— Felipe Massa (@MassaFelipe19) May 24, 2021
There will be much spoken in the next few months and years about this complicated and controversial man. But for now, may God rest his soul and condolences to his family #f1 #MaxMosley
— Damon Hill (@HillF1) May 24, 2021
We are deeply saddened by the news of Max Mosley's passing. He was passionate about motorsport and as President of the @FIA he made an immensely valuable contribution to improving safety in the sport. @ScuderiaFerrari extends its sincere condolences to his family. pic.twitter.com/8MmrnYucWN
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) May 24, 2021
McLaren Racing sends its condolences and sympathies to the family and friends of former FIA president Max Mosley on the news of his passing.
His tenure was defined by the major safety advances in motorsport and global mobility that continue to this day. pic.twitter.com/hf6CVZA4Fb— McLaren (@McLarenF1) May 24, 2021
We are saddened to learn of the passing of former FIA president, Max Mosley.
Our condolences go out to his family and friends at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/IZXUIEmLyf— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) May 24, 2021
The turbulent life of Max Mosley
Mosley, who was born in London on April 13, 1940, was the son of 1930s British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley.
In 2008 he won a privacy case against the News of the World newspaper after it printed photographs and published a video of his involvement in a sadomasochistic sex session.
It was reported by the newspaper as a "sick Nazi orgy", but Justice Eady found no evidence of Nazi themes in his judgement. He also said there was no public interest defence in the clandestine recording of the session.
Mosley experienced a family tragedy in 2009 when his son Alexander died at the age of 39. The coroner ruled Alexander's death was due to non-dependent drug abuse.
Mosley senior studied at Oxford University, where he read physics, but later trained as a lawyer and became a barrister whose specialism was patent and trademark law.
His love of motor racing began in his youth and he was involved in Formula 2 for Brabham and Lotus before retiring in 1969.
He founded a car manufacturing company, March Engineering, and oversaw its legal and commercial affairs from 1969 to 1977.
He became the official legal advisor to the Formula One Constructors' Association in the mid-70s, and helped draw up a peace agreement between it and FISA, F1's governing body at the time.
He became FISA president in 1991 and two years later took over unopposed at the FIA.
He oversaw the safety reforms in the sport which followed the death of Ayrton Senna at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.
Jean Todt replaced him as FIA president in 2009.
Mosley's life is to be the subject of a new documentary which will be released in July, titled 'Mosley: It's Complicated'.
with AAP
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