Ex-F1 boss Max Mosley shot himself after terminal cancer diagnosis

Former Formula 1 boss and FIA president Max Mosley shot himself after learning his cancer was terminal, an inquest has heard. 
Ex-F1 boss Mosley shot himself after terminal cancer diagnosis

Mosley, who served as the FIA president for 16 years between 1993 until 2009, was found dead at his home in London last M꧒ay at the age 🅠of 81. 

He had been suffering from large B-cell lymphoma for two years prior to h♒is death and was told in early 2021 he likely had a “very limited life expectancy”. 

An inquest at Westminster Coroner’s Court heard on ꦇTuesday that Mosley was experiencing chronic bowel and bladder pain that could only be reduced with palliative care, but not cured. 

Senior Cor😼oner Dr Fiona Wilcox ruled Mosley’s death as suicide. She also told the court Mosley had informed his personal assistant of 20 years he was going to take his own life, left a suicide note, and had a final meal with his wife Jean before fatally shooting himself. 

“It was obvious he had used the shotgun to himself andꦡ endured a life-ending injury,” said the coroner. “It’s clear he had injuries not compatible with life.’ꦉ”

She added: "I am also entirely satisfied Mr Mosley w♔ould not have undertaken this action but for the distressing and debilitating terminal lymphoma."

A neighbour and Mosley’s housekeeper call𓆉ed 999 after they found a note on his bedroom door which read: ‘Do not enter𝄹, call the police’. 

His PA, Henry Alexander, sai𓆉d he had begged M🐻osley not to end his life: 

“He was sat in an armchair i✃n a despairing way. He spoke to me and said I'd been amazing and thanking me,” he said. 

“He said he'd had enough, had intentions of killing himself. I begged him to reconsider and said, 'please, there ♍must be another way’.

“He said he'd made up his mind. When I pleaded with him, asked him if he co🌠uld give it 🐼24 hours, he said ‘why?'”

Mosley’s lasting impact on F1 

Ex-F1 boss Mosley shot himself after terminal cancer diagnosis

Moseley had a transformative impact on F1 by pushing through improved safety sta🎀ndards in the world championship following 🦂the death of Ayrton Senna at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. He oversaw the introduction of the HANS device and stricter crash tests.

Prior to his FIA pr🌳esidency, Mosley was a barrister and founded March Engineering, a racing car const♏ructor and F1 team, in 1969 with Robin Herd, Alan Rees and Graham Coker. 

After leading the team to three grand prix victories, Mosley quit in 1977 and alongside Bernie Ecclestone, went on to form the F1CA, then FOCA (Formula Oneꦗ Constructors’ Association). 

Mosley took🃏 over as president of the FIA after defeating Jean-Marie Balestre in 1993. 

He decided not to stand for re-election in 2009, ultima🐷tely being replaced by former Ferrari boss Jean Todt, who held the position until December 2021. 

While Mosley w𝓀as not shꦚort of controversy in his personal life, he left a major mark on the sport and wider car industry.

He was heavily involved in the decision to fine McLaren heavily in the Spy scandal in 2007, while his tenure as president came to an end when he took t𝄹he News of the World to court after it printed allegations about ๊his sex life. 

After taking the case to the high court, Mosley won £60,000 damages from the Sunday tabloid after it published a story which falsely accused of him of taking part in a Naꦉzi-themed orgy. 

Speaking at the time of his death, ex-F1 supremo Ecclestone told BBC Sport: "It▨’s like losing family, like losing a brother, Max and I. He did a lot of good things not just for motorsport, also the [car] industry he was very good in making sure people built cars that were safe."

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