Stewart: Mosley out

The three-time world champion was labelled as "a certified halfwit" by Mosley after declaring the FIA's dealings with McLaren over Formula One's spy scandal as "nothing more than a witch hunt" a few months ago.

And, following Mosley's choice to install and impartial observer within McLaren for the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix to ensure equality between title rivals and team-mates Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, Stewart has hit back, saying Motorsport's most powerful figure has gone too far.

"Formula one is a domain in which the owners pay the drivers and recruit the mechanics to design the car, and the governing body should have no say in the internal workings of any team," Stewart told The Scottish Herald.

"It is also hypocritical. Can you imagine the FIA going to Ferrari, while Michael Schumacher was at the helm, and insisting that his number-two Rubens Barrichello or Eddie Irvine, was accorded the same privileges and that both men had to race on an equal footing?"

Stewart, 68, who won world titles in 1969, 71 and 73 before retiring with a then-record 27 wins to his name, labelled Mosley's recent governance as "poor" and "misguided".

And he believes that Mosley, FIA president since 1993, has now run his course as president and should step aside for a new face.

"There is an escalating awareness that Mosley is being called into question over the proper governance of the FIA and his authority is being undermined, to an increasing degree, largely because we are in the most exciting F1 campaign there has been for years, and yet the papers are full of negative publicity," Stewart added.

"The governing body is damaging the reputation of the whole sport and bringing it into disrepute.

"They are acting in self interest and I believe there has to be greater accountability," said Stewart.

"Perhaps Max Mosley has been in the job too long. I definitely think that he should consider his position and that a new President should be head hunted from outside the sport, so there is no conflict of interest."

Stewart, the former president of Silverstone owners the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC), would not be drawn on whether or not he would be interested in the FIA presidency.