Wednesday, March 26, 2008: The FIA appoints the management committee for the development fund for the safety of motor sports, where the $60.000.000 from McLaren for the spy-story case will be invested. The committee includes Max Mosley, Michael Schumacher, and Nicholas W. Craw, along with Jean Todt and Norbert Haug representing the teams involved. The News of the World, known for revelations with a sexual undertone, publishes a story on Sunday, March 30, 2008, that is unprecedented even for the widely circulated British Sunday newspaper. Thanks to a video obtained somehow, the tabloid details a sadomasochistic orgy that allegedly took place in a luxurious Chelsea apartment, one of London's chic neighborhoods. The main figure is Max Mosley, the president of the FIA, one of the UK's most famous and wealthy individuals. The scandal goes beyond the fact that Mosley has been married for thirty years and is the father of two daughters. The more significant issue is that both he and the five high-end prostitutes involved in the revelry staged a Nazi-style scene. Some of the call girls wore SS uniforms, while others donned the black and white striped jackets of Auschwitz prisoners. Mosley himself, at one point, is examined on his head and genitals by a supposed Third Reich doctor, as if checking for lice, a procedure inflicted on Jewish deportees before entering Nazi extermination camps. While Mosley has publicly distanced himself from his father Oswald Mosley's Nazi-fascist positions, the private orgy suggests a morbid fascination with Nazism, concentration camps, and the SS. The News of the World accuses the FIA president, often seen with racing tycoon Bernie Ecclestone or racing champions, of secretly being a sadomasochistic sexual pervert with fascist tendencies. The newspaper posts the video on its website, describing the events in detail in its print edition. Mosley initially plays the role of a Nazi camp commander, giving orders in German to the naked or semi-naked prostitutes and whipping them. He later switches roles, becoming the victim, being examined, interrogated, and whipped to the point of bleeding and begging for mercy. Each prostitute allegedly received £2500 for their participation in the orgy, with one of them potentially earning much more by filming and selling the footage to the News of the World. The following day, Monday, March 31, 2008, Max Mosley apologizes to the Federation but asserts that he has no intention of resigning. Two days after the publication of the sadomasochistic video featuring him, Mosley writes a letter to the members of the World Council and the institutions of the motor racing world, apologizing for the embarrassment and vehemently denying the Nazi implications of the incident. In the letter, Mosley speaks of an operation designed to discredit him and denies the Nazi connections associated with the orgy.
"Based on information provided to me by a highly reliable source close to the English police, I have learned that, in the last two weeks or so, a secret investigation into my private life has been conducted by industry experts, for reasons and clients currently unknown. I have received similar information from France. Unfortunately, you are already aware of the results of this secret investigation, and I am extremely sorry if this has caused embarrassment to you or your associations. Not content with publishing extremely personal and private activities that are at least embarrassing, a British newspaper has published the story claiming that there were also Nazi implications. This is absolutely false".
Mosley explains his intention to take legal action against the British tabloid.
"It is against the law in many countries to publish details of people's private lives without proper justification. The publications of the 'News of the World' have been a complete invasion of my privacy, and I intend to take legal action against the newspaper in England and other jurisdictions".
Max Mosley then claims that he has no intention of resigning following the scandal.
"I have received numerous expressions of support from the FIA and the motorsport world in general, explaining that my private life has nothing to do with my work and suggesting that I should stay in my position. I intend to follow this advice".
The FIA president explains that his primary concern at the moment is directed towards his family.
"Now I will have to dedicate time to those responsible for making all this public, but above all, I intend to repair the damage done to my family, who are the innocent victims of a deliberate and calculated personal attack. However, you can be sure that all this will not in the slightest affect my commitment to the FIA".
According to Bernie Ecclestone, Max Mosley would do well not to attend the upcoming Grand Prix in Bahrain.
"Resignation? Max must do what he feels in his heart. But it wouldn't be wise for him to come to Bahrain; it would attract all the media attention to him".
Max Mosley's sports career seems irreparably off track. The sadomasochistic Nazi-style orgy, organized with five high-end prostitutes in an underground torture chamber in London's Chelsea district, has caused a scandal too significant even for the not-so-moralistic Formula 1 environment.
"Max should not go to the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend".
Says his friend, colleague, and head of the Circus, Bernie Ecclestone, explaining that:
"The royal family of the small Arab state would not appreciate his presence".
But his presence appears unwelcome even by F1 teams, especially those linked to German automakers like BMW and Mercedes, particularly sensitive to the issue of Nazism, and Japanese teams like Toyota and Honda, belonging to a country with strict rules regarding moral and personal behavior.
"Max Mosley must resign".
Cuts short an editorial from The Times of London. For now, Mosley does not seem to agree with this idea. On the contrary, he has instructed his lawyers to see if it is possible to sue the News of the World, the newspaper that published the photos and video of the sadomasochistic party, for invasion of privacy.
"It is against the law to publish details of private life without a very specific reason in many countries. The reportage is not authorized. In fact, I have had information from the English police and French sources that a secret investigation into my life has been conducted for two weeks for unknown reasons commissioned by unknown clients. And then the tabloid spread a story suggesting Nazi connections on my part, which is absolutely untrue. So I think I don't have to resign from the position of FIA president but only apologize for all the fuss I have caused".
What scandalizes, of course, is not the fact that Max Mosley had an orgy with five call girls paid €4000 each. He is a millionaire, and with his money, privately, with consenting adults, he can do whatever he wants. The outrage stems from the Nazi-themed staging, with the girls dressed as SS or Auschwitz detainees, him whipping them or being whipped, compounded by the fact that his father was the founder of the British Fascist Party and, between the wars, became a personal friend of Adolf Hitler to the point that the Führer attended his wedding.
"If Max had gone to bed with two prostitutes, everyone would say, good for him. But something like this, on the contrary, is considered repugnant by everyone. That's the problem".
Max Mosley? No thanks. The world of F1 repudiates the Federation president. A unanimous chorus, in some ways embarrassing because we are talking about the highest authority of the FIA, the man who oversees all the (fragile, it must be said) rules and nuances of F1. The anti-Mosley coalition started even from the Prince of Bahrain Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad al-Khalifa, who wrote a letter to Max Mosley expressly asking him not to show up at the Grand Prix to be held in the emirate.
"Reasons of opportunity".
Explain the prince, referring to the scandal of the video depicting Mosley in an orgy with prostitutes dressed as Nazi guards. The presence of the president of the FIA would be inappropriate, shifting attention from the sporting aspect to other issues and therefore not appreciated. Max Mosley is now fighting to save his career and has already told friends that he will not attend the race because he is too busy with his lawyers defending himself. However, it's not just the prince creating problems for Max Mosley: BMW and Mercedes, four days after the release of the explicit video, corner him with a statement.
"The content of the publication is shameful. As a company, we strongly dissociate ourselves. This incident involves Max Mosley both personally and as the president of the FIA, an organization that encompasses all motor clubs worldwide. The consequences extend well beyond the world of motorsports. We expect a response from the relevant FIA bodies".
Even Toyota, breaking the historic Japanese discretion, takes a stance:
"Toyota Motorsport does not approve of any behavior that could damage the image of Formula 1, especially any behavior that could be interpreted as racist or anti-Semitic. Major figures in any sport should represent the highest standards of behavior".
In addition, Honda is ready to release a similar statement on the matter. Max Mosley is still okay with it; if there were still drivers like Clay Ragazzoni, Alessandro Nannini, or René Arnoux in F1 today, it is certain they would have shown up with whips and other BDSM accessories painted on their helmets. The fate of the FIA president is hanging by a thread. As expected, the Mosley case has turned into a real storm, a cyclone that risks overwhelming the English lawyer who has been commanding the automotive world since 1991. Mosley is not present in Bahrain and will not be for the entire weekend; the prince of the small emirate himself, Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, has deemed his presence unwelcome and inappropriate. But this has not saved him from harsh attacks because on Thursday, April 3, 2008, in the pits of the Sakhir circuit, despite being on the eve of an important weekend in the World Championship, the third of the season, all they talked about was him and how his image had literally plummeted, to the point of being irreparably compromised for many. Ferrari has not spoken, but four other giants have taken a stand: Mercedes, BMW, Toyota, and Honda, powerful automotive companies that, in their harsh indictment, besides defining Max Mosley's behavior as shameful and unacceptable, have effectively called for his resignation. Mosley is a besieged man, who from inside his bunker threatens lawsuits, curses the serious intrusion into his private life, defends himself vigorously, and guarantees that he has no intention of leaving that position that, with the fourth term, he has the opportunity to maintain until September 2009. Forget resignations. Mosley takes the blows and counterattacks, even clumsily (in this case earning the dissociation of his FIA), like when, to respond to BMW and Mercedes, shaken by the Nazi references in the explicit video, he launches venomous barbs about their past before and during World War II:
"Knowing their history, I understand that they want to distance themselves sharply from this affair".
In fact, he blamed the two German companies for collaboration with the regime in the 1930s. The president of the FIA is the main accused, even some drivers like Keke Rosberg, albeit timidly, remind him that public figures are role models and should set a good example, but he always tries to turn the situation around, talking about false or inaccurate revelations about him, a conspiracy against him, a matter that will not bury him, and of which he is only a victim. The wave of indignation increases, and in the mid-afternoon, Max Mosley is forced to make a move that risks marking his condemnation. He must explain to the world of the automobile that he represents, more than 100.000.000 people, and so he has chosen the most direct and at the same time dangerous way: the General Assembly, the assembly that elected him, 222 members representing 130 nations and all the Automobile Clubs, people who encompass everything related to the FIA, not just Formula 1, and to whom he will still ask for trust. He could not convene an extraordinary session on his own initiative; it is not within his duties; he had to ask the president of the FIA Senate, a small circle of nine wise men (they were ten; a few days ago, Jean-Marie Balestre, the former president, passed away). It won't take long for a decision. The moment is serious, the need for an urgent turning point, also because the English press predicts sensational news (and more troubles for Mosley) in the Sunday edition of News of The World. The FIA, in a statement, simply says that the Assembly will be held at the earliest opportunity, that is, as soon as possible. Mosley will explain and ask for trust. If it doesn't come (the degree of disagreement is not a minor detail), he won't be forced to resign, but he may realize that his era is over. Possible heirs are already being named. Many talk about Jean Todt or the Italian Marco Piccinini, especially the Monegasque Michael Boeri. The German Tomczyk (liked by Mercedes and BMW) and the former driver Vatanen should not be overlooked. Fresh air. For a giant wipeout on a scandal that really risks putting the FIA on the ropes. However, Arie Ruitenbeek, the president of Knap, the Dutch Motorsport Federation, announces that he will vote against Mosley at the next meeting:
"In light of his position, what happened cannot be accepted. I have not yet received the invitation for the extraordinary assembly of the FIA, but we will go there and vote for him to resign".
The Adac, the German Federation, does not want to wait for the Paris meeting, the date of which has not yet been set.
"In a letter to the president of the FIA, Max Mosley, Adac distanced itself from the events involving his person. The role of the president of the FIA, which represents more than 100.000.000 people in the motorsports world, should not be burdened by an episode like this. For this reason, we ask Mosley to reconsider his role within the organization very carefully".
On Friday, April 4, 2008, the Ferraris outpace the other teams in the first session on a dusty track surrounded by the sand dune desert of Sakhir. Massa's time of 1'32"233 is quicker than Räikkönen's, who is slowed down by an early excursion across the sand, requiring a pit stop. Nico Rosberg of Williams, Hamilton, McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen, Williams driver Kazuki Nakajima, and Kubica round out the top seven. In the second session, Hamilton loses control of his car and slides sideways into a wall. Hamilton emerges unharmed from the collision, but his McLaren suffers significant damage. Except for the crash, the second session ends like the first: once again, Massa leads Räikkönen to Ferrari 1–2, ahead of Kovalainen, Hamilton, and Kubica. The redemption and the fear. The smile and the concern. Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton. Redemption is red and has Felipe's face, the absolute master of Bahrain's Friday, unleashed in the first free practice session, but above all in the second, able to give his teammate Kimi Raikkonen a last-minute gap of 0.9 seconds, 1.3 seconds to the first McLaren, that of Heikki Kovalainen, and almost 1.5 seconds to the second car of Ron Dennis's team, that of the brave Lewis Hamilton, struggling all day. Last year in Bahrain, Felipe Massa had a clean sweep, pole and victory, and dreams of repeating it, keeping the promise he made after leaving Malaysia: silencing all critics after the disastrous start to the season, two retirements and zero points.
Fear, on the other hand, has the McLaren brand and the shaken face of Lewis Hamilton, disappointed with his own times, but above all for having crashed into the barriers. Going off track at 200 km/h is never pleasant, especially when the mistake is yours, you accidentally ended up on a curb, at turn seven you lost control of your car, you no longer have the safety net of electronic aids, and ending up in a spin becomes almost inevitable. Lewis Hamilton turns sideways, tries to countersteer, but it's all in vain. Call them skids and not monumental errors, the fact is that his McLaren, like gone mad, devours the escape route, storms the gravel, and ends its run against the barriers. The driver gets away with it, the car doesn't: it has extensive damage to the right side, the front suspension broken, the front tire hanging. At the end of the second session, there are only 9 minutes left, but even if there were many more, the consequences would be the same. Since the FIA has banned external aids, cranes or marshals, a driver who stays on foot must necessarily return to the pits and can no longer continue the tests. Hamilton knows it and sulks; his bad Friday is over. However, nervousness remains; it cannot be compressed. The stewards would like to take him to the medical center for a check-up; he refuses and argues. They have to convince him by force; the suggestion becomes an order, and he, whether he likes it or not, has to go there.
"Everything is okay; they didn't find anything wrong with me. I knew I was fine. I made a mistake; I need to apologize to all the mechanics".
In the statement, the FIA describes, with a printing error, the track exit as indecent instead of incident... The McLaren doesn't seem to be in great shape, at least here in Bahrain, despite him talking about a productive day. Some argue that the new car doesn't suit his characteristics well - an aggressive driver who tends to attack the corners directly. The result this year, however, is difficulty in controlling the front of the car and excessive tire wear. Whether true or not, on Friday, he struggled, being beaten not only by the two Ferraris but also by his teammate, the sly but determined Heikki Kovalainen. There is a different serenity in Felipe Massa's gaze.
"My response to criticism is work".
He states, commenting with a hint of controversy on the pleasing ranking of the first day. Obviously, confirmation is needed in the battle for pole position and especially in the race. Raikkonen, in fact, despite the gap accumulated, doesn't seem to have the look of a defeated man. He didn't aim for a great lap time; he often drove with used tires, and the best time was achieved in a sequence of laps when he was working for the race.
"We are competitive".
Says the laconic Finn. Useful for forgetting the only bad news of the day, a €2,400 fine for speeding in the pit lane at 72 km/h. On the other hand, these days it's better not to overdo it with slowdowns. On Friday, the FIA, after penalizing the McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen in Malaysia, sets the rules for the third round of qualifying. There is a time limit, in Bahrain, 1'39"0, to complete the lap. If a driver is slower, with the risk of disturbing an opponent trying to set a time for the grid, they face a penalty. On Saturday, April 5, 2008, the third session is again held on a dusty track, where Rosberg is quickest with a time of 1'32"521. Massa takes second, ahead of Red Bull driver Mark Webber, Toyota driver Jarno Trulli, David Coulthard of Red Bull, Nakajima, and Kubica. Räikkönen is ninth quickest, and Hamilton is 18th. A few hours later, Robert Kubica clinches the first pole position of his career with a time of 1’33”096. Massa qualifies less than 0.03 seconds behind the BMW and joins Kubica on the front row of the grid. Hamilton takes third place, using his team's spare chassis; Räikkönen is next quickest, and despite being critical of his car's set-up is confident in its racing ability. Kovalainen lines up fifth on the grid alongside Heidfeld, who has trouble maximizing performance from his tires. Trulli takes seventh place, ahead of Rosberg and Honda driver Jenson Button. Renault driver Fernando Alonso is the last driver to make the third session; Webber misses out on the top ten by 0.009 seconds and will start the race in 11th position.
Button's teammate Rubens Barrichello takes 12th place after a gearbox problem interrupts his second session laps, ahead of Timo Glock of Toyota, Nelson Piquet of Renault, and Toro Rosso driver Sébastien Bourdais. Nakajima is the slowest of the second session drivers and takes 16th. Coulthard qualifies 17th, ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella of Force India. Toro Rosso driver Sebastian Vettel takes 19th and blames his set-up:
"I felt it was more a case of the car driving me than me driving the car".
Fisichella's teammate Adrian Sutil qualifies 20th, ahead of Anthony Davidson of Super Aguri. Davidson's teammate Takuma Sato spins out and crashes into the barriers. Sato's accident damages his rear wing and suspension and leaves him unable to continue in the session. In Q2, with empty tanks, he had outperformed everyone. More than 0.5 seconds ahead of Heikki Kovalainen and Robert Kubica, nearly 0.8 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen. Felipe Massa thought he would have an easy time, but at the last moment, out of nowhere, a Polish driver emerged, unleashed with his BMW, a young man who decided to enrich his story in Bahrain by securing the first pole position of his life. This time, the setback for Felipe Massa is named Robert Kubica, always behind throughout the weekend but ahead in the crucial moment. The Brazilian, who has a higher quantity of fuel in the tank, at least four extra laps, was disappointed but has no intention of giving up.
"The disappointment is strong, I admit it, I didn't expect it, but my chances of victory remain intact because my Ferrari is very fast. In the first two rounds, I was perfect, in the third, the most important one, I was penalized by traffic. In the first attempt, I had Rosberg in front throughout the lap; in the second, I braked at turn 9 because of Alonso, but it doesn't matter. I wanted the pole, I will make up for it in the race".
The bitterness is there, but it doesn't overshadow the desire for revenge after the first two disastrous races. Especially since Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen, the two most dangerous rivals, are behind him. Felipe Massa considers all opponents equal:
"I may be the furthest back, last in the standings, with zero points. To make a comeback, I have to beat everyone. I have the best car in my hands; I only need to worry about myself. Victory here is a must".
It's more difficult for Lewis Hamilton, with a new car, struggling.
"My lap wasn't perfect; I had balance problems".
The goal is to overtake Felipe Massa at the start, an idea also shared by the dissatisfied Kimi Raikkonen.
"You can't be happy with a fourth position, but nothing is lost".
On the other hand, there is immense joy in the BMW-Sauber box, where they look confidently towards the race. Mario Theissen, the team's general manager, says:
"We have good predictions for performance and keep our fingers crossed. The car is truly exceptional".
Robert Kubica, the pride of Poland, has lost seven kilograms in seven weeks. The BMW driver has humbled the ambitions of Ferrari and McLaren, securing the first historic pole position: for him, for the team, for his country, for which he is now very happy. Until today, he was known more for the terrible accident in Canada, Montreal, in 2007, from which he emerged unharmed - a circumstance that was called a miracle, especially because his helmet bore the name of Pope John Paul II and the coat of arms of Krakow, now removed to avoid speculation and exploitation. Robert Kubica, who speaks Italian well, could become the uncontrollable variable in the 2008 World Championship. But what does the diet have to do with F1? Daniele Morelli, his manager, explains:
"It matters, in the sense that the seven kilograms lost by Robert have been redistributed on the car, helping its balance, enhancing his driving style".
An Italian who took charge of young Robert from his father and accomplished the mission, bringing him to the top of F1. But to make the final leap in quality, play a leading role, Robert Kubica had to fast during the winter, for almost two months.
"No bread and pasta. Abolished. Only fish, salad, and white meat. And orange juice".
A huge sacrifice but useful for this announced talent.
"I am very happy. I missed the chance to take pole position in Australia, but this time it worked out well... We knew before the season that the car was good due to the results of the computer simulation and the wind tunnel work. Finally, it has paid off that we never gave up working hard. I want to thank the entire team who have worked so hard over the last months. We will now study the data and prepare for tomorrow. A long race lies ahead of us".
Everyone talks about the great absentee, but only in private, protected from prying ears. Officially, no, because Max Mosley is a nuisance that no one wants to deal with. The truth is that the FIA president has been ousted by the motorsports community, and this 68-year-old Englishman, in power for fifteen years (since 1993), should acknowledge this. As an experienced man, he should have easily understood, not for the attacks received throughout Saturday, but for the lack of understanding, of any justification from anyone. Because if Bernie Ecclestone dismisses every topic quickly, a thought embraced by Flavio Briatore, and Ferrari prefers silence, as stated by Stefano Domenicali:
"We are here to achieve a one-two, and we don't want distractions, so we choose the path of silence".
It means that Max Mosley is not doing well at all. Even though his lawyers spoke up yesterday, demanding unlimited damages from the News of the World newspaper, which first spread the images of the party. The London lawyer receives additional blows, especially from Germans and Dutch. But also from the English Association of Constructors, not to mention the shock of the Israelis.
"The facts, as they have been recounted, are shocking".
Says Yitzhak Milstein, president of the Israeli national motor organization, Memsi. Mosley's response came with the announcement of an extraordinary assembly of the Federation within six weeks. A month and a half to try to mend, to explain. How? What? The defensive strategy will be to admit to resorting to prostitutes but to denounce that party as a trap organized against him, Mosley, for reasons yet to be discovered. And of course, it always holds that he knew nothing about cameras. Possible, plausible. But then why speak in German?
Why immerse himself so deeply in the role? Especially him, Mosley, the son of Oswald Ernald, founder of the British Union of Fascists. For this reason alone, he should have refrained from commenting on the attacks from Mercedes and BMW. Who knows, in six weeks, he might save himself by raising the stakes, challenging the assembly to vote him out (122 votes). But in Bahrain, for now, Mosley is not just absent. He is a ghost. Bulky and embarrassing. One that everyone wants to distance themselves from. On Sunday, April 6, 2008, the weather and conditions on the grid are currently dry for the Bahrain Grand Prix. The air temperature is 29 °C with signs of a breeze that could blow sand onto the track and impede the cars' grip. Massa gets the best start of the frontrunners off the line, passing Kubica into the first corner to take the lead. Hamilton's poor start causes his anti-stall system to kick in, and he is passed by six drivers, falling back to ninth. Räikkönen benefits from Hamilton's start, moving up to third, ahead of Kovalainen, Trulli, and Heidfeld. As Massa extends his lead at the front of the race, Hamilton, who trails Alonso, collides with the back of the Renault, knocking the McLaren's front wing off the car. Suffering handling difficulties, Hamilton returns to the pit-lane for a new nose section and rejoins in 18th place. Räikkönen takes second place when he passes Kubica on lap three; Heidfeld takes fourth when he passes Trulli and Kovalainen in separate maneuvers. Further down the field, Vettel retires from the race on the first lap after twice colliding with other cars; Button, Sutil, and Coulthard pit to repair early damage. By lap 10, Massa has opened his lead over Räikkönen to 4.4 seconds, ahead of Kubica, Heidfeld, Kovalainen, and Trulli. Kubica is the first of the frontrunners to pit on lap 17. Räikkönen and Trulli follow on lap 20; Massa pits from the lead one lap later. Following the first round of pit stops, the gap between the Ferraris is 5.4 seconds; however, by lap 31, Räikkönen has closed to within four seconds of his teammate. Massa holds a 3.6-second lead over Räikkönen when the two Ferraris pit for the final time on laps 39 and 38, respectively, and Massa retains his lead into the final stint. Kubica pits on lap 41, Heidfeld on lap 45, and Kovalainen on lap 47. Coulthard and Button collide on lap 18 when Button attempts to pass the Red Bull on the inside at turn eight; the Honda loses its front wing and retires a lap later after two pit stops. Hamilton continues his climb back through the field; he moves from 18th, passing Piquet, Davidson, Sutil, and Bourdais in separate maneuvers, to sit in 14th by the time he pits on lap 31.
Piquet retires on lap 42 with transmission failure, requiring a gearbox change before the next race. Massa takes his first win of the season when he crosses the line at the end of the 57th lap, 3.3 seconds ahead of the second-placed Räikkönen. Kubica takes third, ahead of his teammate Heidfeld, and Kovalainen, who sets the fastest lap of the race on lap 49, with a time of 1'33"193, despite being slower than the frontrunners for much of the race. Trulli, Webber, Glock, and Alonso round out the top ten, after Glock's Toyota holds off a quick Alonso late in the race. Barrichello and Fisichella finish strongly, ahead of Hamilton, who manages only 13th. Nakajima, Bourdais, Davidson, and Sato take the next four places; Coulthard and Sutil finish last on track after their respective crashes demote them to the back of the field. Vettel, Button, and Piquet are the three retirements from the race. A tear on the face. More tension, perhaps, than emotion. Felipe Massa wanted to win at all costs. And he succeeded. He aimed for triumph, repeating last year's success on his favorite track in the World Championship, to re-enter the title race. But above all, to silence those who, according to him, had criticized him after the first two disastrous races. He wanted to respond with actions to the poisoned words of the critics, to demonstrate that there is a place for him in Ferrari not just because of the nobility of his manager (Jean Todt's son) but for his driving skills. He felt the pressure, he admitted it himself after the race, fearing that a mistake could ruin everything. However, he gritted his teeth and, after taking the lead at the first corner by overtaking the Polish driver Robert Kubica with the BMW, he crossed the finish line flawlessly. He was perfect, and now on the podium, in front of the Crown Prince of Bahrain, he can express his joy freely. Impeccable on the day when his father Luiz Antonio, mother Ana, and wife Raffaela are in the pits, his closest loved ones who decided to follow him in one of the most delicate moments of his career. Extraordinary on the Sunday when Ferrari discovers that perhaps the most formidable rival has changed, with even more German blood in its veins. It's not the Mercedes-English McLaren hybrid but the Teutonic BMW, which makes a mistake with Robert Kubica in the early laps, doesn't warn him about oil patches on the track, distracts him, allowing Kimi Raikkonen to snatch second place.
However, BMW doesn't make more mistakes, proving to have two skilled drivers (Robert Kubica at the foot of the podium, Nick Heidfeld fourth) and, above all, two fast and reliable cars. More competitive, at least here in the desert, than McLaren. The Polish driver Robert Kubica, the hero of Saturday, perhaps hoped for more. He knew he couldn't keep up with Felipe Massa's pace but at least aimed to fend off Kimi Raikkonen's attack. However, he melted in front of the Brazilian immediately, just a few meters, the time to reach the first corner. He resisted Raikkonen for two and a half laps before succumbing to a terrific overtaking. He dreamed of capitalizing on the first pole of his career, but in the end, he's still satisfied. Because he finished only 4.9 seconds behind Felipe Massa (certainly not a defeat), because he ended up on the podium for the second time in a row, and because three clues make a proof. If he hadn't made a mistake in Australia, he would now be leading the World Championship. Bahrain is not an extemporaneous exploit; it is the third consecutive race at the forefront, demonstrating that BMW is not a flash in the pan, a fact confirmed by the consistent Nick Heidfeld, who never wins but always finishes and is currently the closest driver to Kimi Raikkonen in the World Championship standings. It is not often to witness a collective smile from the top four at the finish. Only Kimi Raikkonen doesn't exaggerate; he wanted victory. Throughout the weekend, he struggled with the balance of his Ferrari, but all in all, he has good reasons to be happy since his challenging Bahrain race could mark the beginning of his escape in the World Championship. On the other hand, Lewis Hamilton has the right to be depressed, the protagonist of a disastrous weekend. He only stood out after the race, apologizing to his team for disappointing them, for wrecking the car on Friday, for making a mistake at the start, for colliding with Fernando Alonso on the second lap, for having the most anonymous race of his career. He was in the second row, ruined it with his own hands, remaining stuck on the grid. He had to accelerate more; the car refused to start. After a few meters, he was tenth, then in the crash with Fernando Alonso, the definitive end of his aspirations. He finished thirteenth, lapped, with the disgrace of crossing the finish line with Felipe Massa but with a lap behind. He even managed to make a new enemy, Fisichella. On lap 31, they were fighting for thirteenth place, the Roman with the small Force India had been fending off all his attacks for four laps. When Hamilton finally overtook him, he gestured obscenely for no apparent reason. Sunday in the desert also confirms Fernando Alonso's definitive difficulties. While Jarno Trulli forcefully claims a sixth position, the Spaniard finishes tenth, behind rookie Timo Glock. On the podium, Felipe Massa doesn't hide his feelings: palpable relief, even a bit of emotion. The Brazilian driver is competitive again.
"Finally. I have forgotten the dark clouds".
The day of revenge.
"The day of the sun. I saw the sun again after so much darkness, after so many bad days, after the criticisms...".
He didn't accept them.
"Because when I make a mistake, I admit it. And in Malaysia, I didn't make a mistake".
So, he knew he was risking everything in Bahrain.
"But I stayed focused the whole weekend, and here we are. I didn't want to make mistakes. But how much fear I had".
And why?
"Just a little, and a triumph could have turned into a disaster".
Irreversible.
"But that's life, I always say. There are good days and bad days; it wasn't the first time and won't be the last".
Was all this in that start?
"I had a good start".
Then it was all easy.
"I managed the race, but until I crossed the finish line, I had the nightmare that something might happen".
But was there a difficult moment?
"There were some difficult laps for a specific reason: there was oil on the track, but the team warned me in time, and I avoided the danger".
And Kimi Raikkonen's presence?
"Nothing. I didn't even push the car to the limit".
Bahrain is good.
"Yes, it's my second victory".
And now, his strongholds are coming, Barcelona and Istanbul.
"Two circuits I like, and that have given me satisfaction. They are coming at the right time".
So, the critics will stop.
"Well, I repeat: I've had many difficult moments, I think of when I didn't have enough money to compete in Formula Renault. I think back to my dismissal from Sauber. That's not the point".
And what is?
"The written things. But I understand that the media have to write or talk. I reflected, and the only important thing is to surround oneself with those who speak well of you, not badly. And focus on work, see how united the team is, know what the team thinks of you. These things I prefer to hear with my own ears, and not read or see them on TV".
He got a weight off his chest.
"Just to say that it's from these thoughts that I draw the energy that will take me to São Paulo, to the last Grand Prix".
But he had a guest who brought him luck. Is it true?
"Jacques Villeneuve was here".
It was said that you were not on good terms at Sauber.
"At first, it was like that because he always complained about me. Then he apologized, and we became great friends".
A Villeneuve in Ferrari.
"Yes, he said that the Ferrari garage was nice. Good atmosphere and good food".
And what did Massa tell him?
"That there is much more than good food".
A family affair. Certainly, Lewis Hamilton is still intimidating, despite the disappointing results in the last two races. As Stefano Domenicali, the new head of Sporting Management, warns:
"The real McLaren we will see on April 27th in Barcelona".
And until then, it's better not to trust. Certainly, in Bahrain, BMW showed that it is not a flash in the pan. Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld are two skilled and fast drivers; in qualifying, they can make a difference, and in the race, they always reach the finish line. But the dominance shown by Ferrari in Malaysia (without Felipe Massa's mistake, it would have been a one-two) and in Bahrain, where the one-two arrived, suggests that the fight for the world title is a family affair, a battle painted in red between Kimi Raikkonen, the reigning champion who has no intention of relinquishing his crown, and Felipe Massa, the homegrown talent discovered at a young age by the Maranello team, which in 2008 entrusted him with its two dreams: becoming a father and Formula 1 World Champion. Ferrari, since Michael Schumacher's departure, does not establish hierarchies. The two drivers start on equal footing, both have the chance to win, as the Bahrain Grand Prix showed, where the Brazilian emerged victorious, still at zero in the standings, and not the Finn who already had 11 points. The stopwatch and the desire to win of the two protagonists will determine the ranking.
"I have never been able to get the most out of my Ferrari. This time, I didn't feel the car was mine; throughout the weekend, I had balancing problems. I hoped to put pressure on Massa, but I never managed to get close to him. There's no use denying it: in these days, I've never been as fast as him".
A fairly disappointed expression, a low voice, it seems like the epitaph of a defeat. Instead, these are the words of the new leader of the World Championship standings, who is also the driver who won the title last year. He dreamed of starting strong, of breaking away from the first races, of arriving with a good margin at the first race in Europe, in Barcelona.
Kimi Raikkonen loves to win, and it's hard to ask him to smile for a second place. Yet, this troubled weekend, starting with a fine of 2,400 euros for speeding in the pits, ends in the best way. Lewis Hamilton did not score points, but the Finn added eight points to his tally, and now he can look down on everyone.
"It happens not to be able to set up the car; I don't worry too much. In Barcelona, I can aim for victory. But it's positive that even in such disappointing races, I have collected many points. When they warned me that Hamilton had stuck on the track, I thought: excellent news".
If anything, for the cool Finn, the problem is the comeback of his teammate, Felipe Massa, who seemed already out of the game and who, with the victory in Sakhir, has relaunched himself. Kimi Raikkonen is not surprised.
"I have always said that this is a very long season, that there is enormous space for comebacks. I am happy for Massa; in these days, he was very strong, he seemed unbeatable".
Hoping not to have more problems with pit stops.
"It was a minor inconvenience, but at most, we would have lost a second. It didn't affect the final result; nothing would have changed anyway".
Meanwhile, Max Mosley, at the center of the sadomasochistic video scandal, insists on his innocence.
"If I had driven at crazy speeds on a public road or drunk, I would have resigned immediately, on the same day. Not like this, because I haven't done anything wrong; the mistake is from the newspaper, guilty of a serious intrusion into my private life. For which I sued them".
Not only does he defend himself vigorously, but he also counterattacks by adding a new episode to his burning affair every day. This time, the weapon is a letter sent to the president of the German Automobile Club, Peter Meyer, who had asked Mosley to resign on Friday.
"I don't see why I should; many may consider certain behaviors unacceptable, but they are harmless and completely legal. Many people do things in the bedroom or have personal habits that others find repulsive. As long as they remain private, no one has anything to object to. The offense is not what I did but that it was made public. As for the Nazi element, it's a pure montage; in that case, I am a victim of a disgusting conspiracy".
For Mosley, the scandal that involved him should have no repercussions on his institutional role.
"Adults in the 21st century don't care as long as sexual matters remain private and don't harm anyone. What happened does not affect my work, car safety, the environment, or sports in any way".
Max Mosley sues the newspaper that revealed his sadomasochistic tendencies in a Nazi setting, but the newspaper comes back with new revelations, and former Formula 1 World Champion Jackie Stewart publicly asks him to resign. News of the World publishes new images of the orgy and a long interview with one of the five prostitutes, paid the equivalent of almost 4.000 euros each, who confirms the most embarrassing detail for Max Mosley: the Nazi-themed staging and the Holocaust camp setting, which would be serious for anyone but even more so for Max Mosley.
"Mosley gave us orders in a ridiculous fake German accent, while one of us, dressed in a Nazi uniform, whipped him until he bled. It was not the first time Max hired us for his perverse lust. He knew very well that the theme of the orgy was Nazism; he explicitly requested it himself. He said he wanted a German dominatrix, whom he made wear an SS uniform, and two others who played the part of concentration camp prisoners. There must be something twisted in his psyche, perhaps because his parents were pro-Nazis. I feel sorry for him".
Meanwhile, pressure from the Formula 1 circles is growing for Max Mosley to voluntarily step down from his position. Three-time Formula 1 World Champion Jackie Stewart says:
"If Max were the president of Confindustria, the Football Federation, or the Olympic Committee, he would have already resigned. In the leadership of a sport, one must be whiter than white. If he stays, there is a risk of commercial repercussions for the teams; we can lose sponsors".
While Mosley faces a legal battle with News of the World, he has requested the convening of a general assembly of the federation he presides over to decide his future. But Stewart and others within the car manufacturers think there is no time to waste. Convening the assembly could take months, while the Formula 1 world seems convinced that Mosley should step aside before the Monaco Grand Prix, scheduled for Sunday, May 25, 2008, the race that is the pride of F1 and a magnet for sponsors and investors.
"Max must go before Monaco".
Stewart says unequivocally.
"Bernie Ecclestone (the boss of F1 and a friend of Mosley) must convince him".
Wednesday, April 9, 2008, marks Max Mosley's first defeat in court. News of the World will be able to keep the 90-second video clip of the Nazi-themed sadomasochistic orgy organized by the FIA president online. This is determined by a judgment of the High Court of London after the president of the Federation had requested its removal. In its motivations, the judge explains that the news, although not of legitimate public interest, has already had media coverage worldwide, and therefore it would be superfluous to prevent News of the World from broadcasting images that are still accessible elsewhere.
"In practical terms, there is no longer any way for the law to protect Mr. Mosley's privacy. The dam is now open. Therefore, not without reluctance, I have come to the conclusion that although this material is intrusive and harmful, and despite there being no legitimate public interest in its broadcast, an order against the tabloid would be a futile gesture".
The legal case brought by Mosley, who did not appear in court, against News of the World will take place in July. In the meantime, Max Mosley's automotive fate will be decided between June and July. The president of the Federation will receive the first verdict, the sports one, on Tuesday, June 3, 2008, in Paris, on the eve of the Canadian Grand Prix. The members of the Senate unanimously approved the request (made by the Federation president himself) to convene an extraordinary general assembly, the vote of confidence of which will also be secret. The second verdict, concerning the personal legal dispute of the world's top motorsport official against News of the World, the magazine that published the news and put the video of the Nazi-themed orgy online, will arrive in a hearing scheduled in the first week of July in London.
Two hot months await Max Mosley, who will now work to try to mend relations with the assembly members of the Federation, but it will be less simple than he may think. On Wednesday, April 9, 2008, New Zealand withdrew the invitation scheduled for June for a summit on transport and the environment in Wellington.
"The invitation may not be possible given the current circumstances".
Hunting, the New Zealand spokesman, informs him, and Mosley has had to take note of it. It is the sixth federation to distance itself from the president, after the German, American, Canadian, Dutch, and Austrian ones. Plus, the opinion of some car manufacturers is now known, asking for Mosley's removal from the presidency of the Federation. The comeback seems complicated.