Mosley letter ‘could be war’ – Ecclestone
Ecclestone is annoyed that Mosley attempted to widen the sex scandal to a "declaration of war" with the sport's commercial rights holder, which is headed by the 77-year-old F1 chief executive.
"Everybody's wrong except him," Ecclestone mocked in the Monte Carlo paddock on Thursday, according to the Daily Telegraph.
"Everybody was involved in the orgy except him. He is just lashing out at anything he can.
"If he wants me to be the enemy he should be very careful because if he makes me an enemy I could make sure that he never whips anybody again," he warned.
Ecclestone said the Mosley letter was insulting to the 222 FIA clubs because it effectively branded them as "idiots" who could not take over responsibility for the Paris based governing body.
"Normally Max is more together instead of making silly, outrageous mistakes," Bernie, whose former alliance with Mosley stretched back decades, continued.
Ecclestone also put his signature to a formal letter of reply to the clubs, vigorously denying that he wants to take over all the FIA's F1 powers.
In the letter, he moved to correct the "misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions" that Mosley invited the club presidents to come to.
"The (commercial rights holder) does not wish to have control over the formula one regulations," Ecclestone wrote.
He also clarified that the only changes he wants to F1's agreements with the FIA are to clear up some "unintended consequences" of the original documents.
"We intend to continue our successful relationship with the FIA," Ecclestone said.
05/21/08 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has not ruled out suggestions that a letter written by fellow F1 powerbroker Max Mosley last week was a "declaration of war".
Ahead of the FIA senate's crucial confidence vote relating to the sex scandal, the embattled FIA president warned motor racing club presidents that he should be kept in his role because of "complex negotiations" about the future of the sport.
Mosley revealed that F1's commercial rights holder CVC, represented by F1 chief executive Ecclestone, is trying to renegotiate its 100 year agreement so that it has "control over the formula one regulations and the right to sell the business to anyone".
Mosley also said he is opposed to the push for a new Concorde Agreement that would give non-FIA entities even more power.
"I sincerely hope that it isn't a declaration of war because, if that's what the message should be, then we'll have to defend ourselves," 77-year-old Ecclestone, referring to Mosley's letter, was quoted as saying by the British newspaper The Times.
"I don't want to have a war with Max. I hope he doesn't want one with me," he added.
Ecclestone also rejects Mosley's argument that the confidence vote on June 3 is about anything other than whether he still has the ability to be FIA president after he was caught in a sadomasochistic romp with five prostitutes.
"It's nothing to do with anything else and I don't quite know why he's come out and said these things," Bernie said, also rejecting Mosley's claim that F1 is on the verge of a "major financial crisis" and the loss of more teams.
"I don't see any problems up until a couple of months ago," Ecclestone explained, referring to the News of the World expose.
Following a board meeting that took place this week, Ecclestone said CVC intends to reply to Mosley's letter.
See the entire letter written by Max Mosley To all FIA Club Presidents on our Home Page.