Former F1 chief and media regulation activist Max Mosley dies aged 81

He helped set up a media watchdog after being the subject of a 'News of the World' story

Max Mosley, the former Formula One president who waged a campaign for restrictions on the media, has died aged 81. Getty Images

Actor Hugh Grant talks with Max Mosley at the launch of the Hacked Off campaign group near Parliament in London, in 2011. Getty Images

Max Mosley leaves the High Court in 2008 in London, after he won his legal action against the News of the World newspaper. Getty Images

Max Mosley talks with McLaren F1 driver Lewis Hamilton and his brother Nick at the 2007 FIA Gala Prize Giving Ceremony in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Getty Images

Then FIA President Max Mosley chats in the paddock with BMW Williams's team principal Frank Williams during the 2005 Monaco Formula One Grand Prix. Getty Images

Max Mosley is seen with Prince Albert of Monaco, World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm, and German Formula One driver Michael Schumacher during an FIA prize award ceremony in Monte Carlo, Monaco, in 2002. Getty Images

Bernie Ecclestone talks to Max Mosley during the 1996 Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne. Getty Images

Max Mosley heads for the FIA bus during the 1994 Spanish Formula One Grand Prix in Barcelona. Getty Images

Max Mosley at the wheel of a race car in 1968. Getty Images

Max Mosley with his father Sir Oswald Mosley after a visit to the Old Street Police Court, where Max faced charges of threatening behaviour, in 1962. Getty Images

Max Mosley marries Jean Taylor at the Chelsea Register Office in 1960. Getty Images

Max Mosley, the former Formula One president who waged a campaign for media restrictions, has died aged 81.

Confirming his death, ex-Formula One boss Bernie 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 [and the car industry]. He was very good at making sure people built cars that were safe."

Once one of the main figures in Grand Prix racing, Mr Mosley also threw his weight behind press restrictions following a News of the World story in 2008 about his sex life, along with unfounded allegations regarding Nazi connotations.

After winning a lengthy landmark privacy case against Rupert Murdoch's media empire, he set up a press watchdog called Impress.

Mr Mosley – the son of Sir Oswald Mosley, a Second World War-era leader of the fascist movement in Britain and sympathiser of Adolf Hitler – was born in London on April 13, 1940.

He began his career as a barrister and amateur racing driver. He was also involved in European Formula Two, working for Brabham and Lotus until 1969.

That same year he founded car manufacturing company March Engineering, overseeing its legal and commercial affairs until 1977.

He became the official legal adviser to the Formula One Constructors' Association in the mid-70s and helped draw up a peace agreement between it and FISA, F1's governing body at the time.

He became FISA president in 1991 and two years later took over at the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), where he was president of Formula One and other international motorsports until 2009.

Mr Mosley, who had been diagnosed with cancer, is survived by his wife Jean. Their son Alexander died aged 39 in 2009.