Embattled Mosley skips Barcelona

Formula One launched its much-vaunted anti-racism campaign in Barcelona on Thursday. But Max Mosley, the embattled head of world motor sport, was 2,000 miles away planning his next PR move – a trip to Israel.

Mosley chose the low-profile Jordan Rally rather than Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix to make his first public appearance since allegations that he took part in a Nazi-themed orgy with five prostitutes.

It meant he passed up the opportunity to front the FIA's 'EveryRace' initiative – prompted by abuse aimed at Lewis Hamilton here in February – to the consternation of a cynical paddock.

Although the FIA insisted the Spanish Grand Prix was never on his itinerary, the prevailing mood was summed up by one team boss, who said: 'The fact he's there rather than here, shows that he just can't do his job. His position is untenable.'

Mosley, 68, claims that he is engaged in important FIA business, promoting motor sport in the Middle East.

It is also under that pretext that he is taking up an invitation from the Israel sports minister, Galeb Majadle, to talks in his country after the two met yesterday in Amman, where both were guests of Jordan's crown prince, Feisal Al Hussein, the head of the country's motor sport fraternity. More at Daily Mail