Max's credibility is still on the line

Last month Mosley won his battle for survival as head of the FIA, the Paris-based body that represents motor organisations around the world and governs international motor sport.

A special assembly gave Mosley a vote of confidence that allowed him to remain in office at least until October next year, when the next presidential election will be held.

Whether he stands for re-election or not, June's victory was seen as a hollow one by many at the sharp end of motor racing, particularly those who have to clinch sponsorship deals with blue chip companies who have global reputations for propriety to uphold.

There is no doubt that Mosley is politically adroit, how else would he have secured the support of the Iranian automobile club when the attitude of the Iranian Government to most forms of infidelity is notoriously extreme?

But his social standing in the world of Formula One already seems lost, with many doors to the rich and powerful slammed in his face.

Before the scandal surrounding his private life emerged, Mosley was a high-profile figure at big events, particularly Grands Prix. Since the story broke, he has made one fleeting appearance in the paddock at the Grand Prix in Monaco, where he lives much of the time, but otherwise he has become an F1 recluse.

Sir Stirling Moss today insisted: "He is in a very difficult situation. I can't believe that he's going to be able to handle it that well."

Former F1 team boss Paul Stoddart went further, claiming the FIA would lose all credibility if Mosley remains in office, despite the High Court decision.

He said: "Ask yourself this question, would we be having this discussion now if these allegations had come out against a Tony Blair, a Gordon Brown or another senior political figure?

"We all know the answer - categorically no. The guy would have gone the same day the allegations came out.

"With that damage you cannot hold public office. The head of the FIA is a global public office. If you take the people on a global basis that the FIA represents it is the population of many countries.

"When the Crown Prince of Bahrain says I'd rather you don't come to my country, when the Australian prime minister refuses to have a meeting with you, when the various heads of states of the Grands Prix in particular that Mosley used to attend on a regular basis don't want to be seen with you, most certainly don't want to be photographed with you, you cannot survive a scandal like this.

"There are certain very big public companies that probably won't want to be associated with an institution that Mosley, having been exposed like this, is representing. At the moment I feel the FIA is completely without credibility."

It is understood the Mosley situation will head the agenda of a meeting of F1 teams at Ferrari's headquarters at Maranello in Italy next Tuesday.