BMW, Honda urge FIA to act on split fear
By Jonathan Noble
BMW Sauber and Honda Racing believe the FIA must do something to address fears of a split within the governing body in the wake of the vote of confidence in Max Mosley earlier this week.
Although Mosley comfortably won a majority in the vote on his presidency at the General Assembly meeting in Paris, it has not stopped some clubs criticising the decision and threatening to leave the FIA completely if Mosley stays on.
And with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone calling on Mosley to resign later this year for the good of himself and the FIA, BMW Sauber and Honda Racing have expressed concern about the damage such uncertainty within the governing body can cause to F1.
BMW motorsport boss Mario Theissen said: "We respect the decision of the FIA, but it is now a very critical situation for the FIA - between it and its membership clubs. And apparently this does not only affect the FIA, but also external partners like the car industry or motorsport.
"But none the less, only the FIA can solve this situation. So we respect the decision and now we have to see how it develops."
When asked by autosport.com if he was worried that the troubles within the FIA could damage F1, Theissen said: "I think it depends on what goes on in the coming weeks, within the FIA. It is quite critical.
"But what we will see now, is that this controversial situation between the FIA and the membership clubs will certainly make people aware of the fact that the FIA is not in the first instance motorsport. It is in the first instance a worldwide body for the motoring clubs."
Honda Racing CEO Nick Fry backed Theissen's view that he hoped the current uncertainty could be ended quickly.
"We recognise that the FIA reached its decision following due process," he said about the Mosley verdict. "However, the reaction of motoring clubs around the world demonstrates a genuine concern about the extent to which the President of the FIA is able to carry out his role following these events.
"Despite the strong contributions Max has made to the sport, we share this concern and we would wish to see a speedy end to the current instability."
Theissen added that he hoped the wranglings within the FIA would not have an impact on its ability to act as the governing body for motor sport and automobiles.
"We expect that the FIA as a body sticks to its role and handles it professionally, which means governing motorsport - governing F1 and the other series," he said.
"We also expect the current initiatives of cost reduction and introduction of future technology to be carried on and to be really put in place."
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