Sunday 27 April at 15:56 : F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has withdrawn his support for long-time friend and colleague Max Mosley.

The 77-year-old made it clear in the team bosses meeting at Barcelona on Saturday that he wants Mosley, the embattled FIA president, to stand down because of the sex scandal.

So strongly does Ecclestone defend his view that, according to paddock insiders, he visibly lost his composure when representatives for Williams, Ferrari and Red Bull refused to sign a statement asking for Mosley's resignation that would have been distributed to the media.

The meeting could easily be watched and photographed as it took place inside the Toyota motor home, and Ecclestone and Ron Dennis' raised voices in particular could even be heard on a couple of occasions.

Despite escaping team bosses' unanimity, Mosley's nightmare run after he was caught in a five-hour romp with prostitutes continued on Saturday.

The Times newspaper claims that, if the confidence vote on June 3 does not remove Mosley, some motoring organisations have threatened to break away from the FIA and set up an alternate umbrella organisation.

America's AAA is reportedly leading the push.