The Westminster Coroner’s Court has learned that former FIA president Max Mosley died last May from “significant injuries consistent with a gunshot wound”.
The 81-year-old, who chaired the FIA from October 1993 to October 2009, was found dead at his London home on May 23, 2021.
British media have reported that the Westminster Coroner’s Court heard that Mosley “was receiving hospice care for lymphoma” after being diagnosed in 2019. It also heard that he had shared his plans and left a suicide note.
Police were called to Mosley’s home on May 23, and officers found Mosley in his bed with a shotgun.
“It was obvious that he had used the shotgun on himself with a life-ending injury,” said the coroner, who ruled Mosley’s death a suicide. “It is clear that he had injuries incompatible with life.”
Mosley had been receiving treatment for lymphoma since October 2019, but the approach to cancer treatment had changed to improve his quality of life as of April 2021. It was believed that he did not have long to live.
The Mirror reported that Dr Christopher McNamara, a consultant haematologist who had been treating Mosley for the lymphoma since October 2019, said: “He emailed me on May 22, 2021, it was questions about managing the condition. He had accepted that this would not heal.
“He was extremely upset as his quality of life was poor and he was uncomfortable. He had expressed thoughts of suicide to me and other members of the team previously.”
It is understood that the family also submitted a written statement.
Mosley, a former lawyer and amateur pilot, formed March Engineering in 1969 with Robin Herd, Alan Rees and Graham Coker. The team took three wins in Formula 1, but found far greater and more lasting success in lower formulas.
Mosley left in 1977 and teamed up with Bernie Ecclestone to run what was called F1CA, and later FOCA (Formula 1 Constructors Association).
He left this role at the end of 1982 to try to enter politics, but returned to motorsport as chairman of the FIA manufacturers’ commission four years later. In 1991, Mosley defeated Jean-Marie Balestre to become FISA President, and in 1993, he became FIA President.
Mosley was widely recognized for improving safety in F1 and motorsport in general during his 16-year tenure as chairman, and he also strove to reduce costs and make the sport more environmentally conscious. , as “green” issues became more and more important.
