Formula 1 in turmoil as shamed Mosley wins vote over 'Nazi orgy' claims

A third of the delegates voted against their 68-year-old president at the two-hour meeting in Paris and he was branded a 'lame duck'.

There was anger at the damage done by the tawdry episode to the glamorous, big money image of Formula 1. And the repercussions were immediate for the FIA, which Mosley has led since 1993. He is not due to stand down until October 2009.

At least one national organisation severed its ties and expressed 'regret and incredulity' at the decision to back Mosley.

Still top man: Max Mosley leaves the FIA headquarters this morning after being told he will stay on as FIA President despite revelations about his private life

He had called for the vote after the allegations in the News of the World and was allowed to address delegates as to why he should remain in office.

Critics claimed the agenda was biased in his favour because there was no opportunity for an opposing case to be formally set out or for members to question their president.

In the end Mosley, the son of the wartime British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley, received 103 of the 169 votes with 55 against, seven abstentions and four invalid.

His case was argued by leading barrister Anthony Scrivener, QC, who gave delegates details of a 24-page report drawn up for the Formula 1 chief who has been married for 48 years.

It is understood Mosley claims that private detectives had been hired to help set him up, with film of the orgy edited to make it appear it involved role-playing between Nazi guards and concentration camp victims.

In fact, delegates were told, the uniforms were those of U.S. convicts and had been hired from a joke shop.

Mosley contends the pictures were obtained by illegal means and were of acts he performed in private which, while unacceptable to some, were 'harmless and completely legal'.

One of the five prostitutes is said to have had a camera concealed in her bra as another is alleged to have whipped the multi-millionaire.

The saga was given an added twist by the revelation that the wife of an MI5 agent was one of the prostitutes who took part in the sex session for which Mosley paid £2,500.

The agent was forced to resign but it raised questions over who was behind the sting which exposed Mosley's private life.

Suggestions that the former MI5 man may have been involved have been dismissed as 'utter nonsense' in Whitehall. The spy's wife is believed to have engineered the tabloid sting after realising that Mosley, a regular client, had booked five prostitutes for a sex session at a £2million flat in Chelsea.

Mosley has apologised for any embarrassment caused by his behaviour but has categorically denied there were Nazi connotations and has launched legal action.

He is said to have been pleased by yesterday's vote but will say nothing publicly until the court case.

There has been mounting pressure for Mosley to go since the allegations appeared two months ago, both from leading national motorsport federations and industry giants such as BMW, Mercedes, Honda and Toyota, who feared for their image and sponsorship money.

Bernie Ecclestone, Formula 1's chief commercial rights holder and, with Mosley, motor racing's power broker, had called for his long-time ally to stand down.

The American, Japanese, French, Australian, German and Spanish automobile federations all voted against Mosley although the British position was unclear.

The Germans afterwards froze contacts with the FIA and expressed 'regret and incredulity'.

Robert Darbelnet, head of the American Automobile Association, called the verdict a 'disappointing day for the FIA'. The AAA will review whether to remain under its umbrella.

Guido van Woerkom, president of the Royal Dutch Touring Club, said he had voted against Mosley and warned that the FIA president was likely to be cold-shouldered for his remaining time in office.