Stewart fears scandal could hurt Formula One
SIR Jackie Stewart believes the
scandal surrounding FIA president
Max Mosley could deter potential
sponsors from Formula
One.
The News of the World yesterday
published further lurid allegations
regarding 67-year-old
Mosley, who has so far maintained
a defiant stance.
Mosley insisted he had done
nothing wrong'' and that his actions
were harmless and completely
legal''.
However, three-times former
world champion Stewart feels
Mosley has failed to grasp the
possible implications from a commercial
standpoint, and the damage
that could have on the sport.
Speaking in the Formula One
paddock ahead of the Bahrain
Grand Prix, Stewart said: In this
sport you are talking about
multi-national corporations because
it's global.
What's going on right now
could damage them because if
you were a multi-national corporation,
corporate ethics are part
and parcel of daily business.
If you were such an organisation
and the chairman or CEO
was excited about coming into
Formula One, the marketing director
might say there's a lot of
stuff going on at the moment,
why don't we hold back and see
how they're going to handle it.'
So the sport is vulnerable
when it comes to moral issues
and if it's called scandal' that affects
the sport as a whole and the
perception of it by some cultures
and religions we are exposed to.
If we go to a Muslim country
or to a large Jewish organisation,
because of what has occurred,
they might put any plans on
hold.''
As for those sponsors already
tied into F1, Stewart feels they
could start to get itchy feet the
longer the situation drags on.
Many sponsors are already
tied in contractually,'' added the
68-year-old Scot, who works on
behalf of the Royal Bank of Scotland,
who are one of the primary
sponsors of Williams.
The problem is if those contracts
are coming up for renewal,
they might be unhappy the sport
has been blemished, and the
focus on a grand prix is suddenly
on another issue.
Instead of getting coverage
about their sporting achievements
and the outcome of the
grand prix, they are going to see
very little about the actual race
and more on the politics.''
Stewart reiterated his call for
Mosley to stand down, believing
the sport's leadership has to be
whiter than white''.
If he was chief executive of
the CBI (Confederation of British
Industry), the FA or the International
Olympic Committee, he
would have already stood down,''
added Stewart.
It demonstrates to me the
power he believes he has that he
does not have to do that. But it is
not a private matter any more, it
is public domain.''
Stewart feels Bernie Ecclestone
holds a very key role'' in
the situation as the F1 supremo
has so far refused to condemn
Mosley publicly, primarily as he
is deputy president of the FIA.
If he is going to listen to anybody,
then he should listen to
Bernie because it was he who
sold him the commercial rights,''
insisted Stewart.
Bernie has been largely responsible
for getting him where
he is today.''
At this stage, it appears Mosley
will soldier on until a hearing of
the extraordinary general assembly,
who will decide his fate.
As it takes 45 days' notice before
the meeting can be convened,
and then there are the logistics
involved of getting the 222
members together at the same
time, it is unlikely to take place
before the end of May, stretching
into June.
By then we will have had the
grands prix of Spain, Turkey,
Monaco and Canada, and I don't
think he can hold on for that
long,'' said Stewart.
It's more to do with him saying
I'm going to have to step
down', than the Federation (FIA)
having to vote. Seldom do you go
to your own family and ask them
if you are going to resign or not."
9:37am Monday 7th April 2008
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