Mosley to quit as FIA president
 |  Mosley has been in charge of the FIA since 1993. |
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PARIS, France -- Max Mosley will step down as president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) at the end of the Formula One season, the motor sport governing body announced in a statement.
Mosley's tenure was due to end in October 2005 although he had intimated previously that he was interested in another term in office.
It was not clear whether he would be replaced by an interim president or whether elections would be brought forward.
"I'm very surprised about the news," said team boss Eddie Jordan. "It's a difficult time in Formula One and I hope he will look at the whole matter again and perhaps reconsider."
Ferrari's six times world champion Michael Schumacher expressed his sense of shock.
"Obviously that's quite surprising news," he said. "I think Max has been very good in what he has been doing.
"There have been maybe times I haven't agreed with him but in general for the sport I think he has achieved a lot in terms of safety and the reputation of Formula One. He has been very active and a hard worker.
"It will be interesting to see who will replace him, whether we are going to have an improvement or not, but it will be difficult to replace Max in my view."
The FIA groups together the motoring clubs of 119 countries and oversees several world championships, including world rallying, and more than 600 international motor sport competitions.
Mosley has been embroiled recently in controversial changes proposed for both the Formula One and world rally championships, vowing to force through measures to make grand prix racing safer, cheaper and more competitive.
The two line FIA announcement gave no reason for his decision to stand down and there was considerable speculation in Formula One circles about the motives, although some suggested that he had simply had enough.
There was no immediately obvious choice of successor, although French Federation head Jacques Regis had been tipped as a possible challenger while Ferrari boss Jean Todt had been mentioned by Mosley himself.
Mosley first became FIA president in 1993 on a four-year term and was re-elected in 1997 and 2001 to lead an organization celebrating its centenary this year.
The suave and aristocratic English barrister has for decades been close to Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One's commercial supremo, and his departure will be seen as the end of a formidable double-act.
Son of the British pre-war Fascist leader Oswald Mosley and Diana Mitford, the 64-year-old Mosley was an amateur Formula Two driver and later co-founded the March Formula One team.
Mosley is due to hold a press conference on Friday ahead of Sunday's French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours.
