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Always controversial F1 owner Bernie Ecclestone's holiday card depicts a cartoon of F1's even more controversial rulemeister Max Mosley whipping F1 team members, with Bernie brandishing band-aids for their red rear ends. Seriously? Yes.

The story everyone talked about in F1 was Max Mosley's reported nazi-style sex scandal, so Bernie decided a holiday card highlighting the horror would be the best route. Laughter is the best medicine, right?

Bernie's not one to avoid controversy with his personal holiday cards. Last year, the F1 CEO poked fun at the McLaren-Ferrari spy scandal, depicting a nervous Ron Dennis being handed a gift-wrapped present by former chief designer Mike Coughlan. But this year's cartoon takes things to an entirely different level.

The card cartoon allegedly shows Mosley whipping the member of an F1 team next to a monitor wearing fishnets and high heels. Other F1 members are depicted with "sore bottoms" so, you know, the usual Christmas message. We haven't actually seen the card so this is all "reported" — but if you've got one in your inbox or seen one in a forum please send it this way. Zank you! (Hat tip to Autophiles!)

[Source: F1 Live]

With Max Mosley pushing a one-engine-for-all agenda as a cost-saving measure for Formula One teams, Ferrari has threatened to get out of the F1 business entirely. Ferrari believes that, after more than 50 years of consecutive commitment to the racing series, it would be better served looking elsewhere for race wins if the spec engine proposal gets approved. Mosley has tried to ignore the problem — which he's proven is a winning strategy. Ferrari is probably just mouthing off, as they have made so much history in F1 people are naming buildings after their drivers. The Ferrari statement below the jump.

Ferrari Statement
"The Board of Directors of Ferrari SpA met today under the chairmanship of Luca di Montezemolo, to examine the third quarter results. The Board of Directors also examined the proposed changes to the Formula One regulations, in the light of the current global economic crisis.

"Whilst reiterating its wholehearted commitment to a substantial and needed reduction in costs in Formula One, starting with propulsion, the Ferrari Board of Directors expressed strong concerns regarding plans to standardise engines as it felt that such a move would detract from the entire raison of a sport with which Ferrari has been involved continuously since 1950, a raison d’etre based principally on competition and technological development.

"The Board of Directors expressed the opinion that should these key elements be diminished, it would have to re-evaluate, with its partners the viability of continuing its presence in the sport."

[F1-Live]