Mosley Will Not Block Rival Series

FIA President Max Mosley said on Wednesday that Formula One's governing body will not block any plans to create a rival single-seater series.

Mosley was speaking in response to a statement from Paolo Cantarella, the chief executive officer of Fiat and chairman of the European Car Manufacturers Association (ACEA).

Cantarella confirmed on Wednesday a plan to create a new series and Mosley believes, as far as the FIA are concerned, there is little to stop them.

"If they do start a series, providing their cars are safe, we would sanction it in the same way as we would sanction any other series," said Mosley. "There would be no reason to stop it.

"I imagine it could be done fairly quickly," he added. "But my understanding is that they are not likely to try to achieve anything until after the end of the present Concorde agreement."

That agreement, which involves all the teams and the governing body of Formula One and controls the administration of the sport, concludes at the end of 2007.

But Mosley refused to be drawn into motives or politics, saying that belonged in the arena of Bernie Ecclestone, SLEC and the manufacturers.

SLEC is the holding company that owns the commercial and broadcasting rights to Formula One and the ACEA want more of a say and input into the future of the sport.

The FIA president also called for unity between the carmakers and the media groups, and offered his help in resolving the crisis.

"We hope they get together and come to a sensible arrangement so there is no fragmentation of Formula One. We will do everything we can to encourage everybody to reach a settlement."