Beleagured motorsport boss Max Mosley has announced that he plans to attend the Monte Carlo Grand Prix in two weeks’ time – because the tiny principality is where he lives.
The appearance will follow his absence at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where he was reportedly asked to stay away for fear of offending that country’s royal family.
He is also avoiding the Barcelona Grand Prix after a friendly crown prince of Jordan, HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, came to his aid by inviting him to a rallying event instead, thus sparing him the necessity of attending the launch of the FIA’s new anti-racism campaign.
The Monaco race is scheduled for the weekend of May 25 – a few days before a vote of confidence in Mosley’s leadership of the FIA is due to take place, following extensive revelations about his sex life from the News of the World.
An extraordinary general meeting of the FIA’s general assembly will hold a secret ballot on Mosley’s future in Paris on June 3.
A number of the world’s motorsport federations have come out against him and it is unclear whether or not he will be able to survive the vote.
Mosley, 68, has set out his stall by pointing out that international motorsport has only got to put up with him until October 2009 anyway, when his term of office is due to expire, and stating that he does not intend to seek re-election.
Will this be enough to preserve his position? We can only wait and see.