Ferrari president: Mosley should quit

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has added his voice to the debate surrounding Max Mosley, calling the FIA president to stand down from his role despite winning a vote of confidence from the governing body's General Assembly

Mosley faced an Extraordinary General Meeting of the FIA members yesterday in Paris, following a report in News of the World two months ago, which suggested he was involved in a Nazi-themed orgy.

Since the tabloid broke the story, the Briton has rejected any calls to step down and has sued the newspaper for breach of privacy.

But despite winning the confidence vote by the General Assembly, calls for Mosley's resignation have not ceased - and now Ferrari's di Montezemolo has joined those believing Mosley should not continue in his role as president.

Speaking to Italian news agency ANSA, di Montezemolo stated: "I believe he himself should understand that at times it is necessary to say 'I must leave the place for reasons of credibility'."

Earlier this year - shortly after the affair began - di Montezemolo has already made it clear he did not think Mosley could continue in his role, although he was full of praise for the Briton's achievements in the 17 years he has headed the FIA.

When asked in April if Mosley could remain in his position as president, di Montezemolo told Gazzetta dello Sport: "I think it's objectively unlikely, but I believe it depends on him and his sensibility.

"However, I can say that the day Mosley, for whatever reason, decides to leave, the FIA will need a leader with the same level of experience, competence, personality and balance.

"If I look at what Max has done these years on the issue of safety, at the speed with which a verdict was produced in the spy story, and other stuff, my judgement on him can be nothing but positive. If he leaves, in his place we'd need someone like him."