Wednesday 21 May at 11:50 : Bernie Ecclestone has not ruled out suggestions that a letter written by fellow F1 powerbroker Max Mosley last week was a "declaration of war".

Ahead of the FIA senate's crucial confidence vote relating to the sex scandal, the embattled FIA president warned motor racing club presidents that he should be kept in his role because of "complex negotiations" about the future of the sport.

Mosley revealed that F1's commercial rights holder CVC, represented by F1 chief executive Ecclestone, is trying to renegotiate its 100 year agreement so that it has "control over the formula one regulations and the right to sell the business to anyone".

Mosley also said he is opposed to the push for a new Concorde Agreement that would give non-FIA entities even more power.

"I sincerely hope that it isn't a declaration of war because, if that's what the message should be, then we'll have to defend ourselves," 77-year-old Ecclestone, referring to Mosley's letter, was quoted as saying by the British newspaper The Times.

"I don't want to have a war with Max. I hope he doesn't want one with me," he added.

Ecclestone also rejects Mosley's argument that the confidence vote on June 3 is about anything other than whether he still has the ability to be FIA president after he was caught in a sadomasochistic romp with five prostitutes.

"It's nothing to do with anything else and I don't quite know why he's come out and said these things," Bernie said, also rejecting Mosley's claim that F1 is on the verge of a "major financial crisis" and the loss of more teams.

"I don't see any problems up until a couple of months ago," Ecclestone explained, referring to the News of the World expose.

Following a board meeting that took place this week, Ecclestone said CVC intends to reply to Mosley's letter.