To the astonishment of the outside world, the sport of motor racing decided yesterday not to sack Max Mosley, the head of its governing body, despite lurid allegations about his private life.
The extraordinary victory came at a price for the 68-year-old multi-millionaire, however. After a lifetime of sharing the spotlight with royalty and celebrities, a welcome guest at the most glamorous venues, Mr Mosley will see out his final days in office as a pariah, repudiated by former allies and business partners.
He is no longer even guaranteed to attend grands prix at European venues. In this most image-conscious sport, whose revenues depend greatly on its reputation for sophistication and prestige, a man revealed to have a penchant for sado-masochistic bondage sessions with prostitutes