FIA SILENT ON MOSLEY SEX ALLEGATIONS:

Formula 1's governing body has refused to be drawn on lurid sexual allegations in a British tabloid newspaper about its president Max Mosley.

The News of the World claimed in a front-page expose on Sunday that Mosley had taken part in a sadomasochistic orgy with several prostitutes which allegedly involved Nazi role-playing.

The paper printed pictures and posted video footage on its website showing a man it identified as Mosley and claimed the figure in the pictures was re-enacting a scene from a Nazi concentration camp.

An FIA spokesman distanced the governing body from the allegations while revealing that Mosley was considering taking legal action.

"This is a matter between Mr Mosley and the newspaper in question," he said.

"We understand that Mr Mosley's lawyers are now in contact with that newspaper and the FIA has no comment."

It is not known what form any legal action might take; the two most obvious recourses open to Mosley are to sue for libel or for a breach of privacy under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

Jewish groups have reacted angrily to the allegations and called for Mosley's resignation.

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, told The Times: "This is sick and depraved. For anyone to be in such a position of influence and power beggars belief. I am absolutely appalled."

Stephen Smith, director of the Holocaust Centre, added: "As Mr Mosley has condemned the racism in motorsport he should live up to the standards he sets.

"This is an insult to millions of victims, survivors and their families. He should apologise. He should resign from the sport."

However, Formula 1's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone rejected such demands, playing down the allegations and arguing that Mosley's private behaviour does not affect his ability to do his job.

"I've known him an awful long time," Ecclestone was quoted as saying by The Times.

"If somebody had told me this without the evidence I would have found it difficult to believe.

"Assuming it's all true, what people do privately is up to them.

"I don't honestly believe [it] affects the sport in any way.

"Knowing Max it might be all a bit of a joke.

"You know, it's one of those things where he's sort of taking the p***, rather than anything against Jewish people."

SOURCE: ITV-F1

BERNIE ADVISES MOSLEY TO MISS BAHRAIN:

Bernie Ecclestone has advised FIA president Max Mosley not to make his planned trip to this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix in the wake of the sexual allegations published in a tabloid newspaper on Sunday.

The News of the World claimed that Mosley had been involved in a sadomasochistic activities with several prostitutes, and that Nazi role-playing had featured.

The FIA president had been set to make his first paddock appearance of the season in Bahrain, but Ecclestone said this would now be unwise.

"He shouldn't go (to Bahrain), should he?" Bernie told The Times newspaper.

"The problem is he would take all the ink away from the race and put it on something which, honestly and truly, is nobody else's business anyway."

An FIA spokesman confirmed to itv.com/f1 that the Bahrain GP had been on Mosley's schedule.

"We understand that Mr Mosley was originally scheduled to attend Bahrain, but we cannot confirm his plans at this moment," the spokesman said.

Despite believing that Mosley should skip this weekend's event, Ecclestone reiterated his belief that the scandal was ultimately a private matter.

He also insisted that Mosley should be allowed to make his own decision about his future rather than being pressured to step down.

"What Max should do is what he thinks is right because it is only him that's involved, not the FIA," said Ecclestone.

"He must do what he believes, in his heart of hearts, is the right thing."

SOURCE: ITV-F1

EMBATTLED MOSLEY VOWS TO FIGHT ON:

Max Mosley has vowed to continue as FIA president despite the scandal about his private life that broke last Sunday.

In a letter sent to the FIA's members and constituent bodies on Tuesday, Mosley apologised for the embarrassment the revelations about his involvement with prostitutes had caused.

But he flatly rejected the most damaging aspect of the News of the World story - describing the claim that he took part in Nazi role-playing as "entirely false".

He also implied he was the victim of a set-up, claiming the publicity about his sexual conduct was the product of a "covert investigation" into his private life and constituted a "deliberate and calculated personal attack".

And he confirmed that he plans to sue the News of the World for invading his privacy.

The letter - sent to all presidents of the national FIA clubs, all members of the FIA Senate, the World Motor Sport Council and the World Council for Mobility and the Automobile - begins as follows:

"From information provided to me by an impeccable high-level source close to the UK police and security services, I understand that over the last two weeks or so, a covert investigation of my private life and background has been undertaken by a group specialising in such things, for reasons and clients as yet unknown.

"I have had similar but less well-sourced information from France.

"Regrettably you are now familiar with the results of this covert investigation and I am very sorry if this has embarrassed you or the club.

"Not content with publicising highly personal and private activities, which are, to say the least, embarrassing, a British tabloid newspaper published the story with the claim that there was some sort of Nazi connotation to the matter.

"This is entirely false.

"It is against the law in most countries to publish details of a person's private life without good reason.

"The publications by the News of the World are a wholly unwarranted invasion of my privacy and I intend to issue legal proceedings against the newspaper in the UK and other jurisdictions."

There have been calls for Mosley's resignation from some quarters, notably Jewish groups and 1979 world champion Jody Scheckter.

But F1's commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone maintains that Mosley has every right to continue as FIA president because his sexual activities are a private matter and do not affect his ability to do the job.

In his letter Mosley claims this reflects a widely held view within the sport and states his intention to stay on.

"I have received a very large number of messages of sympathy and support from those within the FIA and the motor sport and motoring communities generally, suggesting that my private life is not relevant to my work and that I should continue in my role," he wrote.

"I am grateful and with your support I intend to follow this advice."

Despite voicing his support for Mosley, Ecclestone has advised his long-time friend to cancel a planned visit to this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix, admitting his attendance would displease the Bahraini royal family.

Mosley hinted in the letter that he will heed this advice, writing: "I shall now devote some time to those responsible for putting this into the public domain but above all I need to repair the damage to my immediate family who are the innocent and unsuspecting victims of this deliberate and calculated personal attack.

"You can, however, be certain that I will not allow any of this to impede my commitment to the work of the FIA."

SOURCE: ITV-F1

CAR FIRMS PILE PRESSURE ON MOSELY:

The pressure on motorsport boss Max Mosley following accusations about his private life has been increased by four of the car makers in Formula One.

The German companies labelled Mosley's behaviour "disgraceful" after he was said to have taken part in a "Nazi-s_tyle orgy in a torture dungeon".

They said they "strongly distanced" themselves from the FIA president.

Mosley has apologised for any embarrassment caused, but denied any Nazi connotations to his behaviour.

A joint statement from BMW and Mercedes demanded a response from the FIA, which represents the interests of motoring organisations and car users as well as motorsport.

Honda and Toyota released their own statements, both emphasising that high standards of conduct were required of senior figures in sport and business, and demanding that the FIA gives the matter "careful consideration".

Mosley said in a statement: "Given the history of BMW and Mercedes-Benz, particularly before and during the Second World War, I fully understand why they would wish to strongly distance themselves from what they rightly describe as the disgraceful content of these publications.

"Unfortunately they did not contact me before putting out their statement to ask whether the content was in fact true.

"No doubt the FIA will respond to them in due course, as I am about to respond to the newspaper in question."

The BMW and Mercedes statement said: "The content of the publications is disgraceful. As a company, we strongly distance ourselves from it.

"This incident concerns Max Mosley both personally and as president of the FIA, the global umbrella organisation for motoring clubs.

"Its consequences therefore extend far beyond the motor sport industry. We await a response from the relevant FIA bodies."

BMW refused a request by the BBC for further clarification of the statement. A Mercedes spokesman was unavailable for comment.

BBC Sport understands the statement is referring to Mosley's behaviour rather than the newspaper's decision to publish.

"Senior figures within any sport or business, including motorsport, must adhere to high standards of behaviour.

"When all the facts are known, it will be for the FIA to decide whether Mr Mosley has met the moral obligations which come with the position of FIA president."

Honda added: "It is necessary that senior figures in sport and business maintain the highest standards of conduct in order to fulfil their duties with integrity and respect.

"The Honda Racing F1 Team is extremely disappointed by recent events surrounding Mr Mosley and we are concerned that the reputation of Formula One and all its participants is being damaged.

"We request that the FIA gives this matter careful consideration and reaches an immediate decision in the best interests of F1 and motorsport."

In a letter sent to FIA members on Tuesday, Mosley said he would take legal action against the News of the World, which first published the allegations on Sunday.

He said he had been the victim of "a covert investigation of my private life and background", described his "highly personal and private activities" as "embarrassing", but said any Nazi connotation was "entirely false".

He added that he intended to continue in his role.

The letters from the car companies are the first public sign of disapproval of Mosley by stakeholders in F1 - previous condemnations had come only from former drivers Jackie Stewart and Jody Scheckter.

And now the car manufacturers in F1 have so publicly condemned his behaviour, Mosley is likely to come under increasing pressure to stand down.

It had already been made clear to him that his presence at this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix would not be welcome.

Mosley's behaviour is regarded widely as having reflected badly on Formula One, and many insiders believe the sport will be viewed in a dim light if Mosley continues in his role.

There have been questions about how he can continue to represent both F1 and the wider automotive world in international corridors of power following the revelations about his activities.

There has been widespread surprise in F1 at Mosley's desire not to step down - insiders have contrasted it with the behaviour that would be expected of any director of an international company found to have behaved in a similar manner.

BBC 5 Live F1 commentator David Croft said he thought this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix would be "a real acid test as to the future of Mosley as to whether he can carry on or not".

SOURCE: BBC SPORT

MOSLEY CALLS FIA MEETING ON SCANDAL:

Under-fire FIA president Max Mosley has called an extraordinary general meeting of the sport's governing body to discuss the fall-out from the recent allegations about his private life.

Four of the major car manufacturers involved in Formula 1 have issued statements criticising Mosley's alleged sexual behaviour and calling into question whether it is appropriate for Mosley to stay on as FIA president in light of the reports.

They also urged the FIA to make an official response to the scandal.

Now Mosley has asked the FIA senate to convene an EGM on the matter at the earliest opportunity.

"The full membership of the FIA will be invited to attend the meeting at which the widespread publicity following an apparently illegal invasion of the FIA President's privacy will be discussed," said an FIA statement.

"The FIA has noted that Mr Mosley is preparing legal proceedings against the newspaper in question.

"It is anticipated that the meeting will take place in Paris.

"It will be held on the earliest practicable date.

"No further comments will be made by the FIA regarding the matter at this stage."

The F1 teams and manufacturers have no direct influence over Mosley's future.

The FIA president is elected by worldwide automobile clubs and motorsport organisations, and Mosley's current term extends until October 2009.

However he can be pressured by the FIA senate, which comprises senior members of the voting organisations.

The FIA represents not only global motorsport, but also the worldwide motoring industry as a whole.

BMW and Mercedes highlighted in their statements that the scandal's "consequences therefore extend far beyond the motorsport industry."

SOURCE: ITV-F1

PRESSURE MOUNTS ON MOSLEY TO QUIT:

World motorsport boss Max Mosley is facing fresh calls to resign following allegations about his private life.

Germany's national motoring body, ADAC, has written to Mosley asking him to "very carefully reconsider" his position as president of the FIA.

And Dutch motorsport federation, KNAF, has said it will vote against him at the FIA's general assembly.

"Because of his high-profile position, this can't be accepted," KNAF president Arie Ruitenbeek told BBC Sport.

"I have not received my invitation yet (to the FIA meeting), but we will go and will vote for him to resign."

A British newspaper claimed on Sunday that Mosley took part in a "Nazi-style orgy in a torture dungeon". He has denied any Nazi connotations and apologised for any embarrassment.

On Thursday, Mosley called an extraordinary session of the assembly as the pressure on him to quit escalated ahead of this weekend's Bahrain GP.

In a statement, the FIA said the session will be held in Paris on the earliest possible date.

Mosley, 67, has indicated he is preparing legal action against the newspaper and that he will fight to carry on as FIA boss.

Leading car manufacturers BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Toyota, who all have F1 teams, have issued statements calling on the FIA to take action.

ADAC said: "In a letter to FIA president Max Mosley, ADAC has distanced itself from events surrounding his person.

"The role of an FIA president who represents more than 100 million motorists worldwide should not be burdened by such an affair.

"Therefore, we ask the president to 'very carefully reconsider his role within the organisation'."

Mosley wrote to all the FIA's 222 members - national motoring organisations from 130 countries - earlier this week to apologise for any embarrassment that the affair had caused.

The FIA is a non-profit making association that represents the interests of motoring organisations throughout the world. It is also the governing body of international motorsport.

SOURCE: BBC SPORT

STEWART: MOSLEY'S POSITION IS UNTENABLE:

Triple world champion Sir Jackie Syewart has called on the scandal-hit Max Mosley to resign from the FIA presidency in the wake of tabloid allegations about his private life.

Mosley is suing the News of the World for invasion of privacy, but has insisted that the reports about his sexual behaviour are a private matter and should not affect his FIA role.

However, Stewart says Mosley cannot separate his personal life from his FIA duties in this issue.

"It's no longer a private matter," Stewart told ITV Sport's Ted Kravitz.

"The matter is fully in the public domain now.

"Had it not got into the public domain, I daresay Max Mosley could have continued for a great many years as president of the FIA.

"But I think it's now untenable for that to happen, because he is president of a global federation that services different cultures, different religions, and different morals in different parts of the world.

"Formula 1 goes to a great many different continents.

"I would only quote the fact that Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Honda and Toyota have been quite unspoken on the matter that it would be quite impossible for him to continue as president."

Stewart also highlighted the reports that the Bahrain royal family had encouraged Mosley to cancel his planned trip to this weekend's race.

"If you look at what happened here in Bahrain, the Crown Prince could not have had Max Mosley come here because of the religious beliefs of his population, and with his majesty attending it as well as the Crown Prince being here, that would have been a great embarrassment because of the revelations," he said.

Although Stewart and Mosley have often been in loggerheads - most recently when Mosley described Stewart as a 'certified half-wit' following his criticisms of the FIA's handling of the spying affair - JYS said his personal relationship with Mosley did not influence his criticisms.

"It's not just a question of myself," he told Ted.

"If he had been in charge of the CBI, or he had been in an Olympic commission, or if he had been working for any multi-national corporation or public company, clearly he would already have had to resign because the moral issue is part of that (position)."

SOURCE: ITV-F1

MOSELY SUES NEWS OF THE WORLD:

FIA president Max Mosley has filed a lawsuit against the News of the World over its allegations about his private life.

The British tabloid claimed in a front-page expose last Sunday that Mosley had taken part in a sadomasochistic orgy with several prostitutes which involved Nazi role-playing.

Mosley has since been criticised by leading car manufacturers involved in F1 and is facing escalating pressure to resign.

"Lawyers representing Mr Mosley have today served proceedings against the News of the World claiming unlimited damages," an FIA spokesman said in a statement on Friday.

Mosley indicated earlier this week that he intended to sue for a breach of privacy.

"It is against the law in most countries to publish details of a person's private life without good reason," he wrote in a letter to FIA members.

"The publications by the News of the World are a wholly unwarranted invasion of my privacy and I intend to issue legal proceedings against the newspaper in the UK and other jurisdictions."

There is no specific privacy law in the UK but Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights recognises a right to respect for one's "private and family life".

SOURCE: ITV-F1

NOTW's Edited Secret Footage

there we go.

MOSLEY SAYS HE DID NOTHING WRONG:

Beleaguered FIA president Max Mosley has continued to resist calls for his resignation and argued that his behaviour was "harmless and completely legal".

Pressure has been mounting on Mosley in recent days following critical statements by several national sporting bodies and four of Formula 1's manufacturers.

But in a letter addressed to German federation president Peter Meyer, and copied to all FIA member clubs, the World Motor Sport Council and the FIA senate, Mosley insisted that the sexual allegations published in the News of the World had no relevance to his FIA duties.

"Had I been caught driving excessively fast on a public road or over the alcohol limit (even in, say, Sweden where it is very low) I should have resigned the same day," wrote Mosley, according to excerpts from the letter that were published on autosport.com.

"As it is, a scandal paper obtained by illegal means pictures of something I did in private which, although unacceptable to some people, was harmless and completely legal.

"Many people do things in their bedrooms or have personal habits which others find repugnant.

"But as long as they keep them private, nobody objects.

"The offence seems to be not what I did but the fact that it became public.

"But I played no role in this, indeed I did my utmost to ensure it remained private."

Mosley announced last night that he is taking legal action against the News of the World.

"I was the victim of a disgusting conspiracy," he said.

"It goes without saying that the so-called Nazi element is pure fabrication.

"This will become crystal clear when the matter comes to trial.

"The newspaper invented this in order to spice up their story and introduce my family background.

"In short, I think I have done nothing wrong and that the wrong was done by the newspaper.

"That is why I am suing them."

Mosley has called on extraordinary general meeting of the FIA to discuss the scandal and his future.

"I don't think any of this should affect my work on motoring safety, the environment or the sport," he added.

"I believe that 21st century adults do not worry about private sexual matters as long as they are legal and harmless.

"I shall put this view to the Assembly in due course."

SOURCE: ITV-F1

MOSLEY FAILS IN VIDEO INJUCTION BID:

FIA president Max Mosley has failed in a bid to prevent the News of the World from showing the video at the centre of the current sexual scandal on its website.

Mosley's legal team had attempted to take out an injunction against the newspaper, but in a High Court hearing this morning Mr Justice Eady ruled against them.

While the judge acknowledged that there was 'no public interest' in broadcasting the 'intrusive and demeaning' footage, he said that an injunction against the News of the World would now be futile as the video was widely available elsewhere on the internet.

"I have come to the conclusion that the material is so widely accessible that an order in the terms sought would make very little practical difference," said Justice Eady.

"One may express this conclusion either by saying that Mr Mosley no longer has any reasonable expectation of privacy in respect of this now widely familiar material or that, even if he has, it has entered the public domain to the extent that there is, in practical terms, no longer anything which the law can protect.

"The dam has effectively burst.

"I have, with some reluctance, come to the conclusion that although this material is intrusive and demeaning, and despite the fact that there is no legitimate public interest in its further publication, the granting of an order against this respondent at the present juncture would merely be a futile gesture."

Mosley is taking legal action against the News of the World for invasion of privacy, and has vigorously contested the paper's allegation that there were Nazi connotations to his sexual role-playing with five prostitutes.

But the newspaper stands by its position.

"Max Mosley's attempt to suppress the News of the World's video of his sordid activities has failed," said a News of the World statement.

"As the judge acknowledged, he was able to see only 'very brief extracts' - less than two minutes - of the very much longer video.

"Had he seen it in its entirety, we are confident that he could not fail to recognise the Nazi connotation which Mr Mosley so strenuously denies."

Several national bodies represented on the FIA, four of the car manufacturers involved in Formula 1, and former world champions Jackie Stewart, Jody Scheckter and Niki Lauda have called on Mosley to consider his position.

He has called an extraordinary general meeting of the FIA to discuss the scandal, although the logistics involved in arranging a meeting featuring all 222 clubs on the FIA general assembly mean that it is not expected to happen imminently.

SOURCE: ITV-F1

FIA TO DECIDE MOSLEY'S FATE ON 3RD JUNE:

The FIA meeting to decide president Max Mosley's future has been scheduled for 3 June.

A statement from the sport's governing body also confirmed that a vote of confidence in Mosley would take place during the meeting.

Mosley asked the FIA to hold an extraordinary general meeting after allegations about his sexual behaviour were published in the News of the World.

The meeting was always likely to be several weeks in the future, because the FIA had to first hold a fax vote to agree on holding it, and because its assembly includes 222 different organisations from 134 countries.

"The FIA can confirm that the members of the Senate have unanimously approved the proposal of the President of the FIA, that further to the recent press coverage relating to his private life, an Extraordinary General Assembly should be convened," said an FIA stament.

"The meeting will be held on June 3, 2008, in Paris.

"The General Assembly will include a vote of confidence by secret ballot."

Since the meeting was announced last week, several national sporting and motoring authorities - including the American, Dutch, German, New Zealand and Canadian bodies - have called on Mosley to consider his position.

He has faced similar pressure from within Formula 1, with BMW, Mercedes, Honda and Toyota issuing critical statements in Bahrain.

Mosley had to abandon his plan to attend the Bahrain Grand Prix, with The Times newspaper reporting that the Crown Prince had specifically requested that he stay away.

The FIA president is not disputing the whole content of the News of the World's allegations - but rejects that the paper's suggestion that his sexual role-play had Nazi overtunes, and is suing the publication under privacy laws.

That court hearing is also likely to take place in June.

Mosley has so far resisted all calls for his resignation, and has insisted that his private sexual activities should have no bearing on his FIA position.

SOURCE: ITV-F1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quIdtZuFXzQ&NR=1

there we go.

kipi19

The vid was removed, so I haven't seen it

The vid was removed, so I haven't seen itsambob530

Updated Kip's post with a new link that works. However:

1. Under YouTube T&C, you must have an account with the site & be over 18 to view this video.

2. Some footage, obviously, may disturb & offend, so pre-warnings have been given.

MOSLEY BACKED BY UAE CHIEF:

Beleaguered FIA president Max Mosley has been backed to continue in his role by the head of motorsport in the United Arab Emirates.

The under-fire Englishman will face a vote of confidence at an emergency general meeting of Formula 1's governing body on June 3 following lurid allegations about his private life in the News of the World newspaper.

Mosley has faced mounting calls for his resignation from some high-profile paddock figures and several national motorsport bodies.

But he has received support from the UAE chief, who suggested that Mosley's opponents were using the scandal as a pretext to oust him.

Mohammed ben Sulayem, president of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, said: "I think it has been used for the wrong reasons.

"Surely he did not break the law.

"This is something that is allowed there. I am a full supporter.

"If someone wants to use this for the wrong reasons, it is not acceptable."

Mosley has so far resisted all calls for him to step down, insisting that his private sexual activities should have no bearing on his FIA position.

Ben Sulayem argues that the FIA members should not lose sight of the good work Mosley has done at the helm of the organisation over the past 15 years.

"God gave us a very amazing gift not to forget," he said.

"How fast can we forget what this man did for motorsport?

"Where it was and where it is now.

"He did not commit anything that weakens the FIA. We as members of the FIA elected him."

The UAE motorsport president's views are at odds with the majority of other national sporting and motoring authorities to have reacted publicly since the scandal broke earlier this month.

New Zealand recently joined the American, Dutch, German, and Canadian bodies in calling on Mosley to resign.

Ross Armstrong, general manager of Motorsport New Zealand, told Radio New Zealand: "Sometimes it's better to go than be pushed."

SOURCE: ITV-F1

DAMON HILL ADDS TO MOSLEY CRITICISM:

Former world champion and BRDC president Damon Hill has become the latest major figure to speak out against Max Mosley's conduct.

There have been calls for Mosley to resign from the FIA presidency after the News of the World alleged that he participated in Nazi-themed sexual activities with five prostitutes.

Mosley, who strenuously denies that the event had any Nazi connotations, is suing the paper for breach of privacy and insists his activities have no bearing on his FIA position.

But Hill believes it is impossible to separate Mosley's private life and public duties in this case.

"None of us wants to be moralising about individuals, but there has to be an element here to do with the image of the sport, and the ability of the premier representative of the sport in the world to continue to engage with a politic concerned about values," Hill was quoted as saying by The Times newspaper.

Mosley had to cancel his plans to attend last weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix, amid reports that the nation's Crown Prince had asked him to stay away to avoid embarrassment.

"It's a practical issue, but it's also a marketing issue," Hill added.

"Businesses connected with the sport want a positive image, and politicians want to engage with it because they know motorsport people support those values."

The FIA general assembly will discuss the scandal and take a vote of confidence in Mosley at an extraordinary general meeting on 3 June.

SOURCE: ITV-F1

WEBBER: MOSLEY'S SCANDAL "HAS DISGRACED F1"

Formula One driver Mark Webber has accused Max Mosley of bringing the sport into disrepute following allegations about his private life.

Mosley, the president of governing body the FIA, was accused by a newspaper of taking part in a "Nazi-style orgy". He denies his deeds had Nazi connotations. Webber said: "The current scandal has brought the sport into disrepute.

"Whether we like it or not, all of us in F1 are role models, and F1 simply cannot have scandals of this type."

The Australian, one of very few Grand Prix drivers to give his view on the Mosley scandal, would not comment on whether he thought the 67-year-old should resign.

Mosley faces a vote of confidence in a secret ballot of FIA members at an extraordinary meeting of the FIA on 3 June.

"Whether Max chooses to resign, or how the vote will go at the extraordinary general meeting of the FIA on 3 June, is a matter for him and the FIA membership," Webber said.

"Hopefully that decision will come on 3 June. We have got the confidence in the people - they have all the information they need to make the decision that will see if he can continue."

But, while emphasising he did not want to comment specifically on Mosley's position, the 31-year-old did add that he felt Mosley would now find it more difficult to fulfil his duties.

These involve dealing with heads of government as a representative of the FIA's member automobile clubs, as well as the bosses of the major car manufacturers around the world.

Webber, BBC Sport's columnist, said: "He's in a very, very influential position and it's a very important role that he has.

"It makes it difficult when any of these sorts of scandals are involved, when they become public. It will be more challenging for him to do his role."

Although four of the road-car manufacturers involved in F1 have demanded a response from the FIA, most senior figures in the sport have refused to comment on the situation.

Webber said the relative lack of reaction was because the sport's heavy-hitters were waiting to see what the FIA decides on 3 June.

"I think they are waiting for the extraordinary meeting to take place. A lot of people are sitting on the fence and waiting for the right protocol to happen. And I'm sure on the 4 June there will be a lot more reaction."

Webber's accusation carries heavy resonance in F1 - a disrepute charge carries heavy penalties for those involved in the sport and has been used by the FIA and Mosley as a means of quietening criticism.

"F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport so a lot of other sports have been tarred with the same brush," Webber said.

"Because F1 is so high profile, we are always very sensitive to not bringing it into [disrepute] because of the amount of people involved in it."

Mosley has been FIA president since 1993. His position is elected by the FIA membership of national automobile clubs and motorsport bodies and his latest four-year term does not expire until October 2009.

SOURCE: BBC SPORT

Mosley aims to stand down in 2009

Embattled Max Mosley has revealed he will not seek another term as head of the International Automobile Federation - if he survives a vote of confidence.

The FIA president's term does not expire until October 2009 but he could be forced out in June after allegations surfaced about his private life.

Mosley was accused by a newspaper of taking part in a "Nazi-****orgy". He denies his deeds had Nazi connotations. "My inclination is to stand and fight," Mosley told the Sunday Telegraph.

"If they wish me to continue, I will continue, if they don't, I'll stop," said the 68-year-old.

"But I will also say to them that it was always my intention, because it is, that I was never going to go beyond 2009."

It was Mosley's first interview regarding the allegations and came a day after Formula One driver Mark Webber accused him of bringing the sport into disrepute.

Webber told BBC Sport: "The current scandal has brought the sport into disrepute.

"Whether we like it or not, all of us in F1 are role models, and F1 simply cannot have scandals of this type."

Mosley, who has been FIA president since 1983, faces a vote of confidence in a secret ballot of members at an extraordinary meeting on 3 June.

He said: "The fundamental reason [I've not resigned] is that the people who elected me, the presidents of all these clubs worldwide, a number of them have written.

"And for every letter I've had from a club president saying, 'I think you should step down'... I've had slightly more than seven who said, 'You've absolutely got to stay, don't give an inch.

"It would then be impossible to turn around to all these people, the great majority, and say, 'No, I'm going to walk away', even if I'm inclined to.

"But my inclination is to stay and fight.

"As far as the people in the sport are concerned, it's interesting that none of the heavyweights have said anything, the people who really are the opinion formers in Formula One."

Mosley admitted his wife Jean was "not best pleased" and his sons were "embarrassed" at the revelations.

But speaking of the criticisms he had received, he said: "They're based on the idea that somehow you can't have in your life any sort of sexual activity that's at all eccentric.

"Most people say if somebody likes doing that, if it's not harming anybody, if it's in private and it's completely secret and personal, it's nothing to do with me."

BBC SPORT

I were just about to post that haha :P

Anywhoos, good news for the Mosley dislikers. We'll have to see how good the next guy does in 2010.

"RISK OF FIA SPLIT" IF MOSLEY STAYS:

Max Mosley's determination to continue as FIA president risks a damaging schism within the ranks of the governing body's member clubs, according to a report in the Sunday Times.

The newspaper claims that some national motoring bodies are considering leaving the FIA and setting up a breakaway organisation if Mosley succeeds in clinging to office.

The American Automobile Association, which has already called on Mosley to step down, warns that the ongoing controversy threatens to "significantly impact" the FIA.

"This in turn could give way to a new international umbrella organisation," AAA spokeswoman Yolanda Cade told the Sunday Times.

"In the interests of preserving the FIA, the AAA believes the most appropriate course of action would be for Mosley to step down."

Mosley will face a vote of confidence in his presidency by the FIA's worldwide membership on June 3 in Paris following the News of the World's allegations that he took part in a "Nazi-****orgy" in a Chelsea flat.

He denies there were any Nazi connotations to his actions and has served legal proceedings against the tabloid citing a breach of privacy.

But he has faced mounting calls for his resignation from national automobile and motorsport bodies, with the USA, Germany, Spain, South Africa, Holland, Israel, Canada, Australia and New Zealand all questioning whether he should continue in office.

However, Mosley insists he retains enough backing within the governing body to win a vote of confidence, recently claiming that he had received seven supportive letters from member clubs for every one that called on him to step down.

Only two voting organisations - Brazil and the United Arab Emirates - have publicly pledged their allegiance to Mosley, but he is believed to have a strong power base among smaller motorsport clubs that hope to attract FIA-sanctioned events in their countries.

The AAA, with 50 million members, is the FIA's largest constituent body, but carries no more voting weight than the other 221 member clubs.

However its spokeswoman claimed dissatisfaction with Mosley was not limited to the larger high-profile clubs.

"The wisdom of individual club representatives and their ability to deal with the current controversy is not a function of the size of their organisation," said Cade.

"Large and small clubs have expressed their indignation over what has occurred."

Formula 1 teams have no direct influence over Mosley's fate, although four of the six car manufacturers involved in the sport - Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Honda and Toyota - have expressed concern that the scandal risks damaging F1's image.

Last Saturday at the Spanish Grand Prix, representatives of 10 of the 11 teams discussed the situation with F1 impresario Bernie Ecclestone at a meeting in Toyota's motorhome.

Several media outlets reported that seven teams were willing to sign a letter calling for Mosley to stand down, but that three - Ferrari, Williams and Toro Rosso - declined to do so.

Some sources claimed that Ecclestone offered to withdraw his backing for Mosley if the teams could agree a united position, and that only the lack of unanimity prevented him from doing so.

However, Ecclestone dismissed claims that he was ready to abandon his long-time friend and business partner as "a load of nonsense".

Source: ITV.com/F1

DENNIS DENIES ROLE IN MOSLEY EXPOSE:

McLaren boss Ron Dennis has categorically denied the suggestion that his organisation or a third party working for it played any role in the News of the World's revelations about Max Mosley's private life.

Dennis was responding to comments attributed in the media to Radovan Novak, general secretary of the Czech Automobile Association and an FIA World Motor Sport Council member, on a radio programme in Prague.

According to The Times newspaper, Novak drew an apparent link between the News of the World's expose and last year's spying controversy, which resulted in McLaren being handed a record fine by the FIA - although The Times stressed that Novak's comments were "at best ambivalent" and his meaning was unclear.

Dennis has responded by stating that neither his McLaren Group nor any external agency working for the company had anything to do with the News of the World story.

"As I have consistently said whenever I have been asked about this, I categorically deny that I have anything to do with the News of the World's investigation into Mr Mosley, neither does anyone connected with the McLaren Group or the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team," he said in a statement.

"Neither does any agent or any other party acting on behalf of myself or anyone connected with the McLaren Group or the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team."

Dennis added that he would be writing to Novak in order to seek clarification about the comments attributed to him.

"We are writing to Mr Novak and are currently considering the appropriate route via which the remarks that have been attributed to him may be withdrawn or corrected," Dennis said.

FIA president Mosley is suing the News of the World for unlimited damages for what he claims is an invasion of his privacy, after the British tabloid last month published pictures and a video which it said showed the 68-year-old taking part in a "Nazi-style orgy" with prostitutes.

Mosley, who is adamant there were no Nazi connotations to his actions, claimed in a letter to the FIA's members and constituent bodies on April 1, two days after the scandal broke, that he had been the victim of a sting operation.

"From information provided to me by an impeccable high-level source close to the UK police and security services, I understand that over the last two weeks or so, a covert investigation of my private life and background has been undertaken by a group specialising in such things, for reasons and clients as yet unknown," he wrote in the letter.

"I have had similar but less well-sourced information from France."

SOURCE: ITV-F1

Mosley letter could be 'war'

Bernie Ecclestone has not ruled out suggestions that a letter written by fellow F1 powerbroker Max Mosley last week was a "declaration of war".

Ahead of the FIA senate's crucial confidence vote relating to the sex scandal, the embattled FIA president warned motor racing club presidents that he should be kept in his role because of "complex negotiations" about the future of the sport.

Mosley revealed that F1's commercial rights holder CVC, represented by F1 chief executive Ecclestone, is trying to renegotiate its 100 year agreement so that it has "control over the formula one regulations and the right to sell the business to anyone".

Mosley also said he is opposed to the push for a new Concorde Agreement that would give non-FIA entities even more power.

"I sincerely hope that it isn't a declaration of war because, if that's what the message should be, then we'll have to defend ourselves," 77-year-old Ecclestone, referring to Mosley's letter, was quoted as saying by the British newspaper The Times.

"I don't want to have a war with Max. I hope he doesn't want one with me," he added.

Ecclestone also rejects Mosley's argument that the confidence vote on June 3 is about anything other than whether he still has the ability to be FIA president after he was caught in a sadomasochistic romp with five prostitutes.

"It's nothing to do with anything else and I don't quite know why he's come out and said these things," Bernie said, also rejecting Mosley's claim that F1 is on the verge of a "major financial crisis" and the loss of more teams.

"I don't see any problems up until a couple of months ago," Ecclestone explained, referring to the News of the World expose.

Following a board meeting that took place this week, Ecclestone said CVC intends to reply to Mosley's letter.

Source: F1-update motorsport

Full letter of Max Mosley's

Mosley sues over Nazi orgy claim

Motorsport boss Max Mosley has launched a libel claim against a UK newspaper in France over claims he took part in a Nazi-themed orgy with prostitutes.

The News of the World, which published a video of the alleged encounter, has declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Mr Mosley, son of fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley, alleges defamation and invasion of privacy against the paper, its editor-in-chief and other staff.

He accepts he visited the prostitutes but denies there were Nazi overtones.

The FIA president, 67, is also suing News Group Newspapers, which owns the paper, in the UK for breach of privacy.

The News of the World has said it will vigorously defend the claims against it in the British courts. A five-day trial is expected to take place in July.

The newspaper successfully blocked a High Court bid by Mr Mosley to prevent publication of the video last month.

Mr Mosley has apologised to the FIA - the governing body for Formula 1 racing - for any embarrassment caused by his actions and has faced repeated calls for his resignation.

He faces a confidence vote in Paris next week and has indicated he will not seek another term as FIA chief even if he wins the vote.

Clubs plead with Mosley to resign

The FIA is in a 'critical' situation and could suffer serious damage to its image and credibility unless Max Mosley resigns, a number of leading automobile clubs have warned the FIA president in a last ditch plea ahead of next week's confidence vote.

Mosley has been told there is 'no way back' for the governing body to avoid being hurt if he does not agree to stand down and put in place an orderly transition process for a new president.

With tensions inside the governing body clearly rising ahead of next week's Extraordinary General Meeting in Paris to vote on his future, 24 clubs representing 22 different nations have written a joint letter expressing their belief that the FIA would be best served if Mosley stood aside.

"We strongly believe that the only respectable way forward for the FIA, and for yourself, is to have an orderly transition, with an immediate agreement and your commitment to step down," said the letter, a copy of which has been seen by autosport.com.

"The FIA is in a critical situation. Its image, reputation and credibility are being severely eroded. Every additional day that this situation persists, the damage increases. There is no way back."

The letter, sent on Wednesday, was signed by representatives from America (AAA and AATA), Singapore (AAS), Germany (ADAC), Finland, (AL), Canada (CAA), Brazil (CCB), Denmark (FDM), France (FFA), India (FIAA), Japan (JAF), the Netherlands (KNAC), Sweden (M), Hungary (MAK), Israel (MEMSI), Austria (OEMTC), Spain (RACC and RACE), Belgium (TCB) and Switzerland (TCS).

The clubs also express their disappointment that Mosley refused the offer of a compromise deal to step down in November in exchange for a guaranteed victory in next week's vote.

"We deeply regret your refusal to accept the proposal by the members of the World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism to reach an agreement for you to step down at the General Assembly in the coming month of November," said the letter.

"This is a constructive effort to facilitate an orderly transition within the FIA and to find a solution to the present crisis.

"Instead, your intention to remain until the end of your term in 2009, in spite of the severe damage being inflicted to the FIA, could imply putting personal considerations before the interests of the FIA and its member clubs."

The clubs also reject Mosley's fears, expressed in a recent letter he wrote to FIA clubs, suggesting there was a risk of division amongst them. They also state they do not accept Mosley's warning that the FIA could lose control of F1 if he is forced out of office after next week's vote.

Instead, they claim Bernie Ecclestone's letter last week that suggested he wanted to continue working with the FIA gave a better indication of the state of play between the governing body and F1's commercial rights holders.

"We take note of the letter sent by B. Ecclestone to all member clubs, stating his support for the FIA as the sole body governing international motor sport and his willingness to continue working with the FIA, irrespective of the result of the Extraordinary General Assembly on June 3rd.

"We believe that his explanations put in due perspective the state of the relationship between the FIA and the Formula One world, taking away relevance to many of the arguments you make in your letter to justify your continuity. We take note of his point on the importance that the FIA be led by a credible and respected President."

Although the letter sheds light on the level of dissatisfaction with the FIA, it is believed there are still enough clubs willing to back Mosley at next week's vote to make it likely that he will receive the support of the majority to continue in his role until his term ends in October 2009.

However, the ultimate aim of this latest letter may not be to convince Mosley to step down but to make clear to the wavering voters that there is enough feeling against Mosley for him to lose the vote.

With the 24 clubs that signed the letter representing 86 percent of the total FIA members (though not the votes in the General Assembly), those contemplating voting against Mosley may feel safe in doing so without fear of being a lone voice of dissent.

autosport.com

BERNIE URGES MOSLEY TO STEP DOWN:

Bernie Ecclestone has called on Max Mosley to accept a compromise deal and agree to quit the FIA presidency later this year.

Mosley's future - which has been in question since the News of the World published allegations about his sexual practices two months ago - will be decided by a vote of confidence at an extraordinary general meeting of the FIA assembly next Tuesday.

He is reported to have recently rejected leading clubs' recommendation that he agree to step down in November this year in exchange for calling off the vote, and has remained adamant that he will stay on until the end of his current term in autumn 2009.

Ecclestone was initially publicly supportive of Mosley, but has now urged him to stand down at the earliest opportunity.

"Since the story broke I have been under enormous pressure from the people who invest in Formula 1, sponsors and manufacturers, over this issue," Ecclestone told the Daily Telegraph.

"They point out that as a chief executive or chief operating officer of a major company they would have gone either immediately, or within 24 hours, in the same circumstances.

"They cannot understand why Max has not done the same."

Mosley has suggested that it is imperative that he stays on for his full term because the FIA is currently at loggerheads with Ecclestone - the sport's commercial rights-holder - over F1's future.

But Ecclestone believes Mosley can still achieve all that he wishes in a shorter timeframe, and should then stand aside.

"Max is a strong man," said Bernie.

"Once he makes a decision he sticks to it.

"He feels that there is still important work to do at the FIA.

"But in my view there is a way to accomplish this and retire at the end of the year at the FIA general assembly in November.

"I would be happy to sit at his side to help him to achieve that."

Ecclestone reckons his viewpoint reflects the F1 paddock's opinion on the Mosley question.

"He should stand down out of responsibility for the institution he represents, including F1," he said.

"Everyone who I speak to in a position of authority across F1 rings me to say he should leave.

"It is regretful that he has not made that decision."

But he added that he still felt great sympathy for the scandal-hit president.

"Max is being punished for the wrong reasons," Ecclestone said.

"He has done a first-class job as president.

"Like all of us he has made some mistakes but 90 per cent of the decisions he has taken have been to the benefit of all.

"He deserves to be remembered for all the positive work he has done, not for an expose in a tabloid newspaper.

"That is why he should announce his decision to resign now and not go through with a vote of confidence.

"That is not in his best interests, the FIA's or the sport's."

SOURCE: ITV-F1

Mosley stays on as FIA president

Max Mosley has won a vote of confidence to stay on as president of motorsport's governing body, the FIA.

More than a third of delegates did not back Mosley at Tuesday's meeting in Paris but he won 103 of 169 votes.

Mosley called the vote following a newspaper report that he took part in a "Nazi-****orgy" with prostitutes, though he denied Nazi connotations.

US delegate Robert Darbelnet said he was disappointed with the outcome and may withdraw his country's membership.

The 68-year-old has kept a low profile since the News of the World broke the story in April but, following a two-hour discussion during which frank views were exchanged regarding the Englishman, Mosley was understood to be delighted after the result was announced.

The reaction from some delegates, however, has been markedly different.

The German motoring organisation, ADAC, has already voiced its anger at the result.

"We view with regret and incredulity the FIA general assembly's decision in Paris, confirming Max Mosley in office as FIA president," said a spokesman.

"This is a reason for Europe's largest automobile club to let its functions and co-operation in FIA working groups rest at world level.

"ADAC will stay with its decision as long as Max Mosley holds the top FIA office of president."

BBC SPORT

Full statement from the FIA:

During the Extraordinary General Assembly (EGA) held in Paris today, the FIA Member Clubs voted on a motion of confidence in the FIA President.

The FIA membership voted as follows:

For the motion: 103
Against the motion: 55
Abstentions: 7
Invalid votes 4

Voting in the EGA was made by secret ballot. Votes were counted in private by the FIA legal department in the presence of four scrutineers, selected by the EGA from a list of Delegates proposed by the Chairman of the meeting (the President of the FIA Senate).

The entire voting procedure was supervised by an external Huissier de Justice (French state-appointed public witness).

Paris, 3 June, 2008

BMW KEEN TO MOVE ON FROM SCANDAL:

BMW Sauber team boss Mario Theissen says his company will respect the FIA general assembly's decision to back Max Mosley.

Theissen was one of the first Formula 1 figures to criticise Mosley when the sex scandal initially broke.

But with Mosley having won today's FIA vote of confidence by a convincing margin, Theissen says he now wants to move on from the saga and switch the focus back to racing.

"The relevant bodies of the FIA have passed a vote of confidence in Max Mosley, which means he will see out his term of office as president of the FIA, ending in October 2009," Theissen said.

"We respect this decision, which was made by the delegates in full knowledge of the facts.

"It is important now for everyone concerned to turn their undivided attention back to the sport."

In the immediate wake of the News of the World's lurid expose, BMW, along with Mercedes, Toyota and Honda, suggested that Mosley's position as FIA president had become untenable, although Theissen also conceded that he had sympathy for Mosley having his private life brought into the public domain.

SOURCE: ITV-F1

HILL DISMAYED BY MOSLEY VOTE OUTCOME:

Former world champion and British Racing Drivers' Club president Damon Hill has expressed dismay at the FIA's vote of confidence in Max Mosley - and suggested it could harm his efforts to protect the future of the British Grand Prix.

The FIA general assembly voted in support of Mosley by a comfortable margin of 103 to 55 in Paris today.

But with Mosley's critics amongst the automobile clubs now considering their positions, Hill fears the vote will ultimately weaken the governing body.

"I shouldn't be amazed or astonished, but I am," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It is incredible how he manages to pull through these difficult situations and prevail.

"It shows how determined he is to stay in that seat.

"The problem with it is that the seat and the building around him is disintegrating, and that's the worry.

"We've already heard noises from large automobile bodies and from the motor manufacturers that they're not happy he's staying.

"It's really gone in the face of all those opinions.

"I think you can only do that for so long before eventually people say 'that's enough, we're not playing any more.'"

In his BRDC role, Hill is at the forefront of Silverstone's negotiations over the British GP's future.

Securing more government support could be vital to the race's survival, and Hill is concerned that retaining Mosley as world motorsport's figurehead could be unhelpful in that endeavour.

"From my perspective, I'm trying to work with the BRDC and Silverstone to protect the British Grand Prix," he said.

"We really need an organisation like the FIA to help us protect our position so that we can have reasonable terms from the commercial rights holders.

"It's very difficult, when you have a president who is as controversial as Max is, to argue the case for funding for Formula 1 from the government if we need to.

"I think not taking on board the general political atmosphere is sometimes a strength, but in this case it seems to be really inconsiderate for the sport.

"Even Bernie Ecclestone has admitted that Max has pushed the boundaries to an extreme here."

SOURCE: ITV-F1

German body leaves FIA working groups

Germany's national motoring body, ADAC, was the first major organisation to react to Max Mosley's victory in today's confidence vote, saying that it regretted the result.

ADAC had been one of the bodies who had asked Mosley to reconsider his position as head of the FIA following revelations about his private life.

The German body, which claims to be the largest Automobile club in Europe, said on Tuesday that it was withdrawing all involvement with the FIA.

The ADAC said it will continue with that policy as long as Mosley stays as president of the governing body.

"With regret and incomprehension, the ADAC has learned from the decision by the General Assembly of the FIA in Paris to confirm Max Mosley in his function as president of the FIA," the ADAC said in a statement.

"For Europe's largest motoring club, this is a reason to put down all its functions and the involvement in the global organisation of motoring clubs with immediate effect and to step down from the globally active FIA working groups.

"The ADAC will stick to this attitude as long as Max Mosley will be on duty as president of the FIA.

"After the affair became public on March 30, 2008, the ADAC insistently called upon Mosley in a personal letter to step down in order to avoid any harm being done to the FIA and its institutions. This was done in close co-operation with other major motoring clubs within this global organisation.

"The service portfolio for ADAC members will by no means be affected by the decision now taken. This is being ensured by a closely-knit worldwide network that the ADAC has already established for a long time and that is working very effectively.

"The services will be carried out without any compromises by its own companies as well as by European and global organisations in which the club is participating."

-autosport.com

JAMES ALLEN'S VERDICT:

Max Mosley has carried the day and by a wider margin than anybody could have expected.

This is a clear mandate from FIA member clubs, particularly the sporting ones, for him to carry on as their president until the end of his term in 2009 - despite the sex scandal, which has changed his image utterly in the eyes of everyone around the world.

The member clubs have stated clearly with this vote that they believe he is a fit and proper person to preside over the world's motoring authority, to judge the best direction in which to lead both motorsport and the wider motor industry and to prosecute those who bring either into disrepute (like McLaren last year).

They have taken this decision despite the clear disapproval of several of the world's leading clubs and motor manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Toyota and Honda.

It is a momentous decision by the majority of FIA member clubs and now we wait for the aftershocks. And there will be plenty.

Everyone is focusing initially on the possible fragmentation of the FIA as the German, American and Dutch clubs express their frustration at the support for Mosley from the other clubs.

They held a meeting after the vote to discuss whether they should pull out of the FIA and start up a new rival body. The Germans have already pulled out.

It will take a strong hand to steer the ship through this next year or so and Mosley, who will stay behind the scenes and delegate his public duties to two deputies, will be fighting fires on many fronts while at the same time lining up his chosen successor (probably Jean Todt) for the presidential election in 2009.

Knowing Max, I imagine he will feel emboldened by this amazing victory and will have a fresh agenda of things he wants to ram through, especially in Formula 1.

What impact will Tuesday's decision have on Formula 1?

Well for a start there was the strong message sent out by Bernie Ecclestone in the Daily Telegraph interview, where he said that he was under a lot of pressure from sponsors, manufacturers and business people over Mosley's continued position in the sport.

He reiterated that view after the vote and that pressure is only going to get stronger now. When extreme pressure is applied, something usually breaks.

One major problem is that there is no Concorde Agreement binding the FIA, Ecclestone and the teams together.

Or rather, some teams like Williams, Force India, the Red Bull teams and Ferrari believe that they have one, because they signed up to an extension of the old agreement in 2005. But the manufacturer-backed teams believe that because they are not bound by any such extension to the Concorde Agreement, there therefore isn't one.

Sorting that situation out for the good of the sport will not have been made any easier by recent events.

Because we are in uncharted territory here, we are probably in for another period of instability in the sport as everyone jostles for position.

Who will come out of this period with a stronger hand and who will be weakened by it? What will Mercedes, BMW Honda and Toyota do next?

Will it lead to an all-out war for ownership of Formula 1? Where does it leave CVC, the finance group which bought 75% of Ecclestone's company, based on the 100-year commercial agreement with the FIA?

Which grands prix will disappear from the calendar as a result of clubs withdrawing from the FIA? Nurburgring looks like one, because of the German ADAC pulling out - could there be others?

One of the next things to happen will be the court hearing over the News of the World story. It sounds like Anthony Scrivener QC delivered some evidence to the FIA on Tuesday which led many members to believe that Mosley may succeed in his legal challenge against the newspaper and that he may clear his name to some extent.

If he succeeds in proving that there was no Nazi element to the role-playing and gets the court to agree that his privacy has been illegally compromised, then that will lighten things up a little bit for him.

But he does not deny the central issue: that he took part in an S&M orgy with five prostitutes, which many people still find abhorrent.

Ultimately the power in our sport lies in the hands of a few central people, of which Mosley is one and Ecclestone another. Everyone around the fringes will be agitating in the weeks and months to come and I wouldn't like to predict the outcome.

SOURCE: ITV-F1

Ferrari boss urges Mosley to quit

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has called on Max Mosley to resign, despite the motorsport boss winning a vote of confidence after a sex scandal.

Mosley won the endorsement of members of governing body the FIA, of which he is president, on Tuesday.

But Montezemolo told news agency Ansa: "He should realise that sometimes it is necessary to say to yourself I have to leave for reasons of credibility."

He is the first Formula One team figure to urge Mosley to quit since the vote.

Di Montezemolo's remarks carry added weight because Ferrari are powerful within F1 and have traditionally had a close relationship with the FIA in general and Mosley in particular.

They will increase the pressure on Mosley to resign to avoid risking damaging F1 and the FIA.

Several major motoring organisations have either threatened to withdraw from the FIA or have already suspended relations.

In the wake of the vote, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone expressed fears that Mosley may no longer be able to function in his role.

Ecclestone, a close associate of Mosley for nearly 40 years, added: "I hope that it will not destabilise sponsors and the constructors."

He added in the Independent: "I knew he would win but I still don't think it's good for him or the FIA.

"He said he wanted to finish at the end of 2007, and then the end of this year, before all this happened.

"Max should stand down in November. For me, it's a difficult situation because I run the Formula One group of companies and the teams - the manufacturers - are violently opposed to him.

"But 62% of the automobile clubs that make up the FIA voted to retain him.

"Max has always ruled by fear but I think more people will be likely to take him on after this."

And former F1 boss Eddie Jordan said Mosley continuing in office would make it even harder to attract new sponsorship to F1 in an already difficult economic climate.

On Tuesday Mosley won 103 of 169 votes in a process he called after the News of the World reported that he had taken part in a "Nazi-****orgy" with prostitutes.

Mosley, the son of former British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley, accepts he visited the prostitutes but denies there were Nazi overtones.

He has launched a legal action against the newspaper alleging defamation and invasion of privacy.

Before Tuesday's vote, Mosley had been asked by the rulers of Bahrain not to attend their grand prix and was shunned by the Monaco royal family at the Principality's race in May.

Ecclestone stated: "What highlights the problems he may still face is what happened in Monaco.

"Prince Albert made it very clear that he did not want him on the grid and that he would have security around him so that if Max did appear they could not be seen together.

"But I have no doubt that Max will be able to deal with that."

Ecclestone added that Mosley did not want to sign a new form of the Concorde Agreement, the document by which F1 is governed and which expired at the end of last year.

"We want Max's signature on a new document," he said. "He doesn't want to do that because he feels he has more power if he doesn't sign.

"But he doesn't need more power. The big manufacturers know just how much they want to spend, to be competitive.

"We just need to write that regulation and move forwards."

BBC SPORT