27/04/2008
NEWS STORY
It is understood that as many as seven of the eleven F1 teams are ready to call on Max Mosley to step down as FIA President, with some sources claiming that Bernie Ecclestone will join them.
A meeting between the Team Principals in Barcelona, intended for the discussion of technical issues such as the introduction of KERS, is understood to have been dominated by just one topic, the future of Max Mosley as President of the FIA.
Seven teams are thought to have agreed to sign a joint statement calling on Mosley to resign, with only Ferrari, Toro Rosso and Williams opting not to back the motion. Super Aguri, which has its own problems, did not attend.
However, true to form, the team principals - who in the past are known to have even disagreed over minutiae such as whether coffee or tea should be served, still or sparkling water - could agree neither the form of the statement or who would sign it first.
Furthermore, there are reports that the teams demanded Bernie Ecclestone take action, with some sources claiming that the meeting ended in a row between Ecclestone and Williams chief executive Adam Parr.
Ecclestone is thought to be willing to make a move, however he is demanding total unanimity, that all the teams agree to the move. The F1 supremo knows better than most that this is a rarity in F1.
While some, no doubt including Mosley, believe the issue will go quiet over the next few week, others are concerned that the lack of action by the sport in response to Mosley's predicament will send out the signal that F1 condones his behaviour, a move that is unlikely to go down well with sponsors, existing and potential.
In a further twist, it is understood that a number of motoring organisations - members of the FIA - including America's AAA and Germany's ADAC, are threatening to withdraw from the FIA unless Mosley stands down.
While many F1 fans might not appreciate the severity of such a move, as Pitpass has previously pointed out this could mean that rounds of the Formula One World Championship are dropped from the calendar.
If ADAC withdrew from the FIA it couldn't authorise the German GP since it would be no longer be entrusted by the FIA to enforce the sporting code. If a replacement FIA sporting association couldn't be found it could put the GP in jeopardy. This, theoretically, could apply to any races on the F1 calendar, if not all.