Mosley defends 'eccentric' lifestyle - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Mosley defends 'eccentric' lifestyle

Embattled motorsport boss Max Mosley has defended his right to an "eccentric" private life and said he would fight to continue running Formula One.

In his first interview since a newspaper printed lurid allegations about him, Mosley admitted the scandal had embarrassed his family. But he also spoke of his pride that "thousands" of lives had been saved on the roads thanks to the work of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), of which he is president.

Speaking of the criticisms he has received, he told the Sunday Telegraph: "They're based on the idea that somehow you can't have in your life any sort of sexual activity that's at all eccentric."

He continued: "Most people say if somebody likes doing that, if it's not harming anybody, if it's in private and it's completely secret and personal, it's nothing to do with me."

Mosley does not dispute the events documented by the News of the World occurred, but he maintains they were private.

He also revealed his wife Jean was "not best pleased" and his sons were "embarrassed" at the revelations.

Mosley accepted that "a few ex-drivers" had criticised him, but said none of Formula One's real "opinion formers" had said anything.

He added: "My inclination is to stand and fight."

Mosley faces a vote of confidence at an extraordinary hearing of the FIA's general assembly in Paris on June 3.

The 68-year-old is pursuing a claim for breach of privacy against News Group Newspapers, with a five-day trial expected in July. The News of the World is to defend the action.

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
Gala night for the Queen of arts - stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute

Happy & glorious

Stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute to Queen
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London
Amy Childs bares all like Britney

Dare to bare

Amy Childs vajazzles like Britney
Thais go Gaga: singer’s ‘fake rolex’ tweet sparks new tour row... but fans still mob her at airport

Thais go Gaga

Singer mobbed at airport
Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon

Fashion

Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon
Chelsea Champions League celebrations - in pictures

Victory parade

Chelsea Champions League celebrations
High-flying heroes

High flying heroes

David Oyelowo reveals all about new film Red Tails
The Twitter Diaries: Think Bridget Jones tries social networking

The Twitter Diaries

Think Bridget Jones tries social networking