Mosley dismisses rival talk

Reports this week have suggested that a group of Formula 1 teams are considering putting forward their own candidate to stand against Mosley - even though they have no voting power themselves and are not that well connected with the worldwide motor organisations that make up the FIA.

It is believed that the teams are unhappy at the manner by which Mosley has introduced major new technical and sporting regulations this season, as well as feel that he has not acted in the sport's best interests in recent discussions over the future of the sport - especially in only talking to Ferrari.

Stoddart has been quoted as saying by F1 Racing: "Now, Max, in electing to continue his agenda without involving 90 percent of the teams or even the commercial rights holder [Bernie Ecclestone], is acting counter to the best interests of F1.

"We want to take the sport forward for the good of us all, and Max wants to maintain the status quo with the support of one team."

It is understood that discussions took place at a recent meeting between team principals and Ecclestone about a rival candidate - something which Mosley claims was originally put forward as a complete joke but has been misinterpreted as serious.

"A quick point of my rival," said Mosley, referring to stories of Stoddart's presidential ambitions. "Where my rival got his idea is that in the meeting they were all complaining about me and Bernie said: 'What we need to do is that someone needs to go up against him and I think it should be Paul.

"'I will get some T-shirts printed for Melbourne and they are going to have 'Paul for president on the front' and on the back they will have 'I know more about slowing the cars down than anyone else in F1.' This was Bernie and apparently Paul and one or two others in the meeting took it seriously. They didn't know he was taking the mickey, and the idea has grown in Paul's mind."

Stoddart admits himself, however, that he would not be interested in the president's role, but would consider a job more specific to motor racing and F1.

"The FIA presidency is too wide-ranging a role for me," he added. "But if the job were to be split up, and a senior vice presidency in charge of F1 to be inaugurated, well, yes, that would certainly interest me."