Mosley casts doubt on F1 deal, demands FOTA apology

LONDON (Reuters) - Motor racing chief Max Mosley has thrown into doubt a deal to secure Formula One's future after writing to Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo on Thursday demanding a public apology.

In the letter, seen by Reuters, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) president accused Montezemolo and the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) of falsely stating he had been forced out of office and had behaved like a dictator.

"If you wish the agreement we made to have any chance of survival, you and FOTA must immediately rectify your actions," wrote Mosley.

"You must correct the false statements which have been made and make no further such statements. You yourself must issue a suitable correction and apology at your press conference this afternoon."

The letter was sent before Montezemolo and team bosses held a news conference in Bologna on Thursday.

Mosley, who had said he would step down as FIA president in October, added that he now considered his options open given the "deliberate attempt to mislead the media.

"At least until October, I am president of the FIA with the full authority of that office," he added. "After that it is the FIA member clubs, not you or FOTA, who will decide on the future leadership of the FIA."

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