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 May at the age of 81. 

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

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

Senior Coroner 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 and endured a life-ending injury,” said the coroner. “It’s clear he had injuries not compatible with life.’”

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

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

His PA, Henry Alexander, said he had begged Mosley not to end his life: 

“He was sat in an armchair in 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 could give it 24 hours, he said ‘why?'”

Mosley’s lasting impact on F1 

Moseley had a transformative impact on F1 by pushing through improved safety standards 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 presidency, Mosley was a barrister and founded March Engineering, a racing car constructor 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 One 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, ultimately being replaced by former Ferrari boss Jean Todt, who held the position until December 2021. 

While Mosley was not short 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 the 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 Nazi-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."