FIA: Mosley's Return Not Because of Writ

FIA president Max Mosley's return to London was not because of the high court writ, the FIA said today.

The FIA and Mosley have been issued a high court writ by Business F1 and its publisher, Tom Rubython, after the new publication did not receive press accreditation for the Australian Grand Prix. The FIA press office stated the publication, released for the first time this month, did not meet the necessary criteria for press credentials.

Mosley, who was on his way to Australia, aborted his travel plans and returned to his office in London. The FIA stated Mosley would not attend the Grand Prix in Melbourne "due to a problem with his flight arrangements," as the FIA president could not be flown in time to Melbourne to attend the press conference that was scheduled for earlier today.

An FIA spokesman clarified to Atlas F1 that Mosley's return to London was strictly due to problems with his flight and has nothing to do with Rubython's writ. Mosley himself, the spokesman said, would not be involved in press accreditation matters. The spokesman also said this case is being dealt with by the FIA's director of communications, Richard Woods, who is currently in Melbourne.

Rubython was the founder and editor of F1 Magazine, the official Formula One magazine that was owned by Bernie Ecclestone and was recently transferred to the FOM's ownership. The new magazine, Business F1, is intended to cover Formula One from a business and financial standpoint.