Mosley's fate to be decided in Paris

Mosley called the meeting to bring questions about his future to a head and, following a number of speeches, a simple vote will be taken on whether the FIA wishes its incumbent to carry on.

Although there are 222 members of the FIA General Assembly, votes are only expected to be cast by 140 clubs from 96 countries - representing a total of 177 votes (including 19 proxies). Those clubs without voting rights or who have not paid their FIA fees have been discounted.

Mosley's fate will be decided by an absolute majority of the total number of votes - which means at least half plus one of the votes that could be cast.

The ballot is secret, and each delegate will be called in front of the EGA to cast their vote in a sealed envelope - declaring either a vote for or against a motion of confidence in Mosley.

Following the ballot, the votes will be counted in private by the FIA legal department in the presence of four scrutineers who were selected by the General Assembly from the list of delegates proposed by the meeting chairman, FIA Senate president Michel Boeri.

Although media will not be allowed inside, a verdict is expected to be published around lunchtime - declaring an outcome and a share of the vote.

Tensions inside the FIA have been rising in recent days ahead of the meeting, with several leading clubs making it clear that they do not want Mosley to continue.

And matters took another twist at the weekend when Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said he wanted Mosley to step down.

Ecclestone added this morning to the Times newspaper that he believed Mosley would actually carry on at the FIA for the long term if he won the confidence vote today - despite his public declarations that he will step down next year whatever the outcome.

"The problem is, if he stays until 2009, he will run again," Ecclestone said. "I am 100 per cent certain about that; no, one million per cent certain. That's what he said. He says: 'I don't have to do anything. There'll be another election and I can stand if I want.'"

Ecclestone added that there were sections of F1 that wished Mosley to go because it would help the commercial side of the sport.

"It has been difficult for me," Ecclestone explained. "The people I deal with are commercial people, manufacturers, sponsors and teams. They want peace and they want to get on with the business and the sport. Max doesn't care - he's not commercial - he hasn't got one single dollar invested, so he doesn't give a stuff."

Autosport.com will keep you fully up to date with the latest news from Paris.