Stewart Warns of Writ Over 'half-wit' Jibe
Motor sport: Jackie Stewart is set to take action after FIA president Max Mosley labelled him a "certified half-wit".
Jackie Stewart may take legal action against Max Mosley after the FIA president recently labeled the three-times formula one world champion a "certified half-wit". Mosley's comments came after Stewart criticized the FIA's handling of the McLaren spying scandal.
"That [legal] option is still very open," Stewart said. "My lawyers advised me that I have every right to do so and that's an option I am able to take up. My lawyers are in communication with Mr Mosley."
The FIA president has insisted that the Scot's criticism of the governing body's actions were unjustified and he has refused to apologize for his remarks. "Some members of the British motor sport establishment consider Jackie Stewart to be a national treasure,"he said. "I have known Jackie for almost 40 years, and understand their view, but they must forgive me if I do not share it. The comments Jackie repeatedly made to a global audience before and after the recent hearings into the McLaren affair were ill informed and entirely misrepresented the world council's position.
"Jackie claimed the World Council were 'witch hunting' against McLaren. A witch hunt is the irrational and unjustified persecution of the innocent. To make this and other unfounded and partisan accusations without viewing any of the evidence was not only inept but thoroughly irresponsible. Such comments could do nothing but damage to the sport.
"I have no apology to make for having said as much publicly and I am more than happy to repeat this view about him now and in the future."
Fernando Alonso was interviewed by an Italian magistrate yesterday as part of a legal investigation into the spying controversy. Ferrari have started a separate legal case against their former engineer Nigel Stepney, who is alleged to have passed the information on to suspended McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan.
Giuseppe Tibis, a magistrate in Ferrari's home district of Modena, has broadened the inquiry and several McLaren employees were warned last month that they were under investigation.
"That [legal] option is still very open," Stewart said. "My lawyers advised me that I have every right to do so and that's an option I am able to take up. My lawyers are in communication with Mr Mosley."
The FIA president has insisted that the Scot's criticism of the governing body's actions were unjustified and he has refused to apologize for his remarks. "Some members of the British motor sport establishment consider Jackie Stewart to be a national treasure,"he said. "I have known Jackie for almost 40 years, and understand their view, but they must forgive me if I do not share it. The comments Jackie repeatedly made to a global audience before and after the recent hearings into the McLaren affair were ill informed and entirely misrepresented the world council's position.
"Jackie claimed the World Council were 'witch hunting' against McLaren. A witch hunt is the irrational and unjustified persecution of the innocent. To make this and other unfounded and partisan accusations without viewing any of the evidence was not only inept but thoroughly irresponsible. Such comments could do nothing but damage to the sport.
"I have no apology to make for having said as much publicly and I am more than happy to repeat this view about him now and in the future."
Fernando Alonso was interviewed by an Italian magistrate yesterday as part of a legal investigation into the spying controversy. Ferrari have started a separate legal case against their former engineer Nigel Stepney, who is alleged to have passed the information on to suspended McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan.
Giuseppe Tibis, a magistrate in Ferrari's home district of Modena, has broadened the inquiry and several McLaren employees were warned last month that they were under investigation.
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