Devastating new details emerge after death of ex-motorsport boss
Disturbing new details have emerged around the death of Max Mosley, with a coroner's inquest hearing the former president of motorsport's world governing body took his own life after being told he only had weeks to live.
The former racing driver and president of the FIA died last May, aged 81, and had been suffering from terminal cancer.
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The inquest into his death at Westminster Coroner's Court was told that Mosley took his own life after being told he had a "very limited life expectancy" and was in "debilitating" pain.
The court heard Mosley told his personal assistant of his intent the night before he was found, and had one last meal with his wife before writing a suicide note.
Police reportedly found Mosley dead on his bed after a note was discovered nailed to his bedroom door reading: “Do not enter, call the police”.
Detective Constable Ben Benlounes gave the court an account of the day he found Mosley's body at his Kensington home.
“On the chest of drawers there was a suicide note covered in blood, but I could read ‘I feel I have no choice," Benlounes said.
Dr Christopher McNamara, a consultant haematologist who had been treating Mosley since 2019, confirmed that he had spoken on the topic of suicide before.
He said: “He emailed me on 22 May 2021, these were questions about the management of the condition. He had accepted this would not be cured.
“He was extremely upset as his quality of life was poor and left him uncomfortable.
“He had expressed ideas of committing suicide to myself and other members of the team previously.
“He never expressed a plan of doing this and all he said was that the problem was his wife would not accept this.”
Senior Coroner Fiona Wilcox said she was "satisfied" Mosley intended to kill himself.
"I am also entirely satisfied Mr Mosley would not have undertaken this action but for the distressing and debilitating terminal lymphoma," she said.
Mosley became FIA president in 1993 after serving in previous administrative roles in the sport, including within Formula One. He served three terms as president before standing down in 2009.
Ex-Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone told AFP at the time of his death that he and Mosley were "like brothers."
"He was interesting and a character. He had a Corinthian spirit. He was the sort of guy who was hard to get to know."
Max Mosley lived a controversial life
Mosley was the son of 1930s British fascist leader Oswald Mosley and Diana, one of the famed Mitford sisters.
One of the sisters, Unity, was said to be close to Adolf Hitler. She survived a suicide attempt when World War II broke out.
In 2008 Mosley won a privacy case against the now-defunct News of the World newspaper after it printed photographs and published video of his involvement in a sadomasochistic sex session.
It was reported by the newspaper as a "sick Nazi orgy" but the judge found no evidence of Nazi themes in his judgment.
Mosley experienced a family tragedy in 2009 when his son Alexander died aged 39. The coroner ruled Alexander's death was due to non-dependent drug abuse.
His love of motor racing began in his youth and he was involved in Formula 2 for Brabham and Lotus before retiring in 1969.
His first race at the Nurburgring in Germany in 1968 is best known for the tragic death of legend Jim Clark.
He oversaw the safety reforms in the sport that followed the death of Ayrton Senna at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.
If you are concerned about the mental health of yourself or a loved one, seek support and information by calling Lifeline 13 11 14, Mensline 1300 789 978, or Kids Helpine 1800 551 800.
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