FEBRUARY 1, 2006

Friends visit high places

Formula 1 boss Max Mosley has been appointed a chevalier in the Legion d'Honneur for his services to motorsport. The 65-year-old accepted the award from the French foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy in Paris last night, which indicates that the award was put forward by that ministry.

Of the current F1 bosses, Sir Frank Williams is also a holder of the award, as is Todt. In recent years recipients have included Frequelin, Todt and Bruno Saby.

The interesting thing about the event was the guest list which included Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz, Austrian finance minister Karl-Heinz Grasser, Gerhard Berger, Guy Frequelin, Jean Todt, Tony Purnell and Bernie Ecclestone.