FIA chief speaks out at last, says he will step down in 2009

So, what happened in the Mad World of Max Mosley over the weekend? Quite a lot, actually…

• Ex-Ferrari chief Jean Todt (pictured above with girlfriend Michelle Yeoh) publicly declared his support for Max. “If you are asking me if I’m happy with the actions of the president of the FIA since he’s been in office, I think he does a very good job,” said Todt, who has been mooted as a potential successor to Mosley. [ITV]

• Mosley gave an interview to the Telegraph, the first time he’s spoken out since the News of the World first ran the “Nazi Orgy” story more than three weeks ago. In it, Mosley admits that his wife is “not best pleased” with the news that her husband engaged in sexual activity with a bevy of hookers. You don’t say. He also said that he was going to stand down from the FIA in 2009 anyway, and that if he wins any damages from the Screws, he will donate the money to charity. [Pitpass]

• Mark Webber wasn’t as forgiving as Todt – the Red Bull driver accused Mosley of bringing the sport into disrepute, saying “F1 simply cannot have scandals of this type.” [BBC Sport]

• King Abdullah of Jordan has decided that he will not meet with Mosley officially during his visit to the Rally of Jordan. The Times has learnt that senior officials in Jordan would prefer it if the visit did not go ahead, although Prince Feisel, the king’s brother, will still buddy up to Max as planned. [The Times]

This scandal has lingered for so long now – and will continue to do so, at least until the FIA’s vote of confidence at the start of June – that Mosley is beginning to look like the victim in all of this, a fact that could yet work in his favour. Like many motorsport fans, Grid Crasher doesn’t really care what he likes to get up to in private – and we’re damn sure that he is not the only figure in F1 to have a few skeletons in his garage.