F1 chief Ecclestone for first time calls on scandal-plagued Mosley to resign

LONDON -- Formula One's most powerful man, Bernie Ecclestone, for the first time called on FIA president Max Mosley to quit rather than be forced out over a sex scandal.

Mosley was reported by a British tabloid to have engaged in a Nazi-themed sex party with five prostitutes. He admits engaging in sex acts with the women, but is suing the News of the World over the allegations of a Nazi theme.

Mosley wants to remain as the head of auto racing's governing body until the end of his fourth term in October 2009. However, FIA is holding a special assembly in Paris on Tuesday where the 200-strong member federations will vote on whether he should step down immediately.

Ecclestone's advice to Mosley is to announce he will quit in November and avoid the damage caused by being ousted.

"The last thing most people involved in the sport, including the clubs, would want to see is Max in a position where he could be forced to stand down," Ecclestone was quoted as saying in Saturday's Daily Telegraph. "I don't want to see that."

"I've been a friend of Max for 40 years. I would hate to see him go this way after all he has done for the sport. ... He feels there is still important work to do at the FIA. But in my view there is a way to accomplish this and retire at the end of the year at the FIA general assembly in November."

While Mosley is the top official in the governing body that oversees Formula One, Ecclestone represents the sport's manufacturers and is also the commercial rights holder.

"Since the story broke I have been under enormous pressure from the people who invest in Formula One, sponsors and manufacturers, over this issue," Ecclestone told the Telegraph. "They point out that as a chief executive or chief operating officer of a major company they would have gone either immediately or within 24 hours, in the same circumstances. They cannot understand why Max has not done the same."