Critic Stewart admits that president likely to win vote of confidence.
Despite having been among his biggest critics for a longer time than the latest saga to surround the FIA president, Jackie Stewart says he is prepared to put money on the fact that Max Mosley will be given the green light to continue at the head of world motorsport.
The Scot has been vocal in his condemnation of Mosley's involvement in a sex scandal, exposed by Britain's News of the World, claiming that the president's continued stay in power has the potential to greatly damage motorsport, but admits that he does not have sufficient confidence in the various heads of FIA-affiliated clubs worldwide to see Mosley deposed on 3 June.
"I have got a bet on with somebody - and I say that the FIA will not vote him out," Stewart told Reuters in Monaco, "For a Scotsman, $100 is a lot of money, [but] I'll gladly pay out if the other guy wins. I think it's wrong if I win."
Mosley wrote to the presidents of all FIA associations worldwide in the week, claiming that it would be better to allow him to see out his current spell in office - which is due to run until October 2009 - as there was a case for stability to protect the future of the sport, but Stewart maintains that the president - who dubbed him 'certified half-wit' in a disagreement over the $100m fine handed out to McLaren in 2007 - needs to be ousted sooner rather than later.
"He has to stand down," he repeated, "He is unacceptable to the palace of Monaco, to the palace of Madrid, to Bahrain and even the prime minister of Turkey. I just don't understand why he can't see that this is a straightforward case of, unfortunately, you've got to stand down. How can you have one rule for the president and another for those he presides over?
"I'm very surprised that even the FIA don't see that themselves."
Mosley is present at this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix - the first F1 event he has attended since the scandal broke - but is not carrying out any official duties and has been told that neither the royal family or several prominent team bosses want to be photographed with him. Mosley says it was only natural that he attends this weekend, as he lives in Monaco.
