As Max Mosley whips up support among the FIA member clubs, the head of Spain's motorsport federation has given the Englishman the thumbs up, well, sort of.

Referring to the comments made by FOTA Chairman Luca di Montezemolo which have sol riled Mosley, Carlos Gracia told Spain's Onda Cero: "What Luca di Montezemolo has done shows a total lack of respect to FIA and the World Council.

"I don't support Max Mosley to the death," he added, "but what I am totally in favour of, to the death, is respect for our institutions.

"It wouldn't surprise me if Max Mosley does run for re-election," he added, referring to Mosley's threat in the wake of some of the comments made to the media following last Wednesday's meeting of the World Motor Sport Council. "The worst thing you can do is leave an animal badly wounded. What Luca has managed to do is reactivate Max."

Having compared Mosley to an animal, Gracia makes another unfortunate reference to the FIA President when asked about the possibility of Jean Todt taking over from the Englishman when he eventually does decide to stand down.

"Unless Max has gone even more mad I don't think he'll back Jean Todt because we all know where he comes from and who he's linked to," said the Spaniard. "You have to weigh up his sports trajectory but let's see what decision-making capacity he has and what baggage Jean Todt brings."

Even more mad.....?