Stewart calls for Mosley to quit

Sir Jackie Stewart believes it is finally time for Max Mosley to quit his role as president of the FIA.

Mosley has so far failed to agree a compromise deal with eight Formula One teams in respect of the future regulations of the sport , with the teams now poised to form a breakaway series.

The FIA president is due to confirm by the end of this month whether or not he intends to stand for a fifth term in office, with his present mandate due to end in October.

Three-time F1 world champion Stewart has demanded the 69-year-old stand down in the past and believes the blame for this latest crisis lies at Mosley's door.

"It's a bad thing to have a split, but I think that has been forced upon the teams, particularly the large multi-national corporations involved in it," said Stewart in the Silverstone paddock ahead of the British Grand Prix.

"When you're talking about Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Toyota, Ferrari and Renault, these are big companies that feel they are being pushed around by the governing body in a way that is inappropriate.

"I think they do want Max to go because I think frankly some of the decisions made over the years have been very questionable, and a lot of people are kind of fed up with the dictatorial attitude.

"The trouble is Max has gone too far with this and the teams have suddenly said 'I'm sorry, we can't take it any more'.

"It may well be that Max Mosley has to go. He has a great position of power, but big trees do blow over."

Stewart feels it is the teams who are in a position of strength at present and that Mosley must be the one to yield, something he has never done in the past.

"Whether there are further negotiations, who knows, but they (the teams) seem to be very well joined up," added Stewart.

"I think Max has to give quite a lot because the teams have come to realise that economically they can manage their own business quite well, thank you very much.

"The FIA often say they are not the commercial arm of F1 and the money side of it is not their business.

"But right now they are making it their business and that is why there has been the fall-out. I hope in some way that they can come to some agreement.

"Bernie Ecclestone must surely play a part in this as well because he has the commercial rights.

"He has to also influence Max on how he goes about his business. He has been doing it with a very imperial role for probably too long.

"But empires do come to an end, as Julius Caesar found out."