“I was one of relatively few prepared to speak out because of the way F1 is run, which is very sad. The fact is people can't say what they like; there isn't freedom of the press within
F1. I was just happy the British national newspapers came out and covered the story properly.
“The way it works in F1 is that if people say something the authorities don't like, their paddock pass doesn't work for a day, or they can't get a car pass or something. It's ridiculous, but when something is as big as this, you have to speak out. I was in Bahrain last week, and you'd be amazed at the number of people who came up to me and said ‘Well done, we felt the same'.”
Force India chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne, meanwhile, also joined in the chorus of disapproval of both Mosley's behaviour and his refusal to step down.
“If he wishes to stay it will devalue his office, which is obviously not good,” the Englishman is quoted as having said in the
News of the World. “I think any person in that position has to consider the impact of their actions.”
There were more encouraging – if unexpected – words for the beleagured president, however, from the United Arab Emirates' automobile and touring club (IATC), with Mohammed ben Sulayem insisting that he is a ‘full supporter' of the sanctity of a person's private life despite the Gulf region not being renowned for its moral liberality.
“I think [the scandal] has been used for the wrong reasons,” the IATC president said in an interview with the
Daily Telegraph. “Surely he did not break the law. This is something that is allowed there. If someone wants to use this for the wrong reasons, it is not acceptable.”
Abu Dhabi will join Bahrain as the second Middle Eastern country to host a grand prix from next year, and ben Sulayem stressed it was imperative not to lose sight of all the good Mosley has done for the sport since he took over the presidential role back in 1993.
