Former champion Michael Schumacher praised Max Mosley on Saturday while refusing to comment on a sex scandal threatening the Briton's reign as head of Formula One's governing body.

"I know Max as a professional person and I really rate him very highly," the German told reporters at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

"I always thought about myself that I didn't want people to comment about my private life, so there's no reason to get into other people's private life," he added.

Schumacher has worked with International Automobile Federation (FIA) President Mosley on road safety issues since his retirement at the end of 2006.

The seven-time world champion, Formula One's most successful driver with 91 wins, was recently named on a five-man committee for a worldwide Motor Sport Safety Development Fund.

The committee, which includes Mosley and former Ferrari boss Jean Todt, will distribute the US$60 million paid by McLaren as punishment for last year's spying controversy involving leaked Ferrari data.

Mosley faces a vote of confidence on June 3 in Paris after the News of the World Sunday tabloid published details of what it described as a Nazi-style sado-masochistic orgy with prostitutes.

He has refused to quit, denied any Nazi connotations to the affair and is suing the newspaper - which stands by its story - for unlimited damages.

Asked whether he was at all concerned about Formula One's image, Schumacher said: "I think I said what I want to say about this subject and I don't have anything else to add."

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has, meanwhile, denied leading an attempt to oust Mosley.

Ecclestone met with 10 of the 11 Formula One team principals on Saturday to discuss technology upgrades for 2009.

But reports have emerged that the future of Mosley came up with Ecclestone willing to back Mosley's removal if all teams signed a letter demanding his resignation.

"That's a load of nonsense. It's just the press trying to conjure up another story," Ecclestone said yesterday.

Reports said that seven of the 10 teams - Super Aguri was not present - backed the letter. Ferrari, Toro Rosso and Williams were the three that abstained. The BBC said Todt was "a lock" to replace Mosley.

Ecclestone had backed Mosley and both are longtime acquaintances who co-founded F1 team March in 1974. The duo has controlled both the business and regulatory sides of motor racing ever since.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily April 28, 2008)