Having thrown the sport back into turmoil, warning that he might still stand for re-election and thereby force FOTA into forming its own series, Max Mosley is now drumming up support among the FIA member clubs.

In a no-nonsense, Mosley calls on them to defend the organization's independence and not to succumb to FOTA's bullying.

"The question of FIA president is a matter exclusively for you, the member clubs of the FIA, and most definitely not for the vehicle manufacturers who make up Fota," writes Mosley, according to the Guardian. "To have an FIA president under the influence of the vehicle manufacturers would put at jeopardy all the excellent work our organisation and your clubs do in promoting better safety and environmental outcomes in the vehicle fleet.

"If nothing else, this attempt to tell FIA members who they should or should not elect demonstrates precisely why the FIA needs a strong president who is experienced and knowledgeable about motor sport, in particular Formula One, as well as general motoring interests. We must continue to defend the independence of the FIA, even if this leads to difficulties in the sport."

Referring to reports following Wednesday's meeting of the World Motor Sport council, whereby it was widely seen that Mosley had had to back down in order to prevent F1 imploding, the Englishman writes:

"Unfortunately, some have sought to interpret this outcome as a backdown by the FIA and a coup by teams wishing to remove me from my post. There have even been claims I have ceased to fulfil my role as president, effective immediately. These claims are completely false.

"I will continue to fulfil my role as president up until, and including, our general assembly in October. For me to do otherwise would be to betray the support I received last year when my role as president was confirmed by FIA clubs at the extraordinary general assembly.

"In regard to the claims the FIA was somehow bullied into submission by teams, I can only again stress that the FIA achieved the two goals it set itself - that of very significantly reduced costs and additional teams."

Consequently, less than 24 hours after the headlines claiming "peace in our time", Mosley admits that the threat of a breakaway continues to hang over the sport, something which doesn't appear to trouble him.

"This may well result in short-term problems in Formula One," he writes. "It is possible FOTA will set up an independent series. That is their right, provided they do so under the International Sporting Code.

"But the Formula One world championship will continue to be run by the FIA as it has been for 60 years. The championship has had difficult times in the past, and no doubt will again in the future. But that is no reason to hand control to an outside body, still less one with little or no understanding of sporting ethics and under the control of an industry we have constantly to monitor."