Former FIA president Max Mosley is preparing to launch a "comeback", according to an Italian report.
The usually authoritative 422race website said the 70-year-old Briton, who headed F1’s governing body for 16 years until 2009, is secretly planning with his supporters to "reduce the power" of his successor Jean Todt by proposing rules changes.
The coup will reportedly take place at the FIA’s next general assembly on 5 November, with Mosley and also Bernie Ecclestone upset about the direction taken by Todt.
"You can always expect anything from a man like him," said the 422race report.
In an interview published on Tuesday by the Guardian, F1 chief executive Ecclestone enthused about Mosley’s intellect and political prowess.
He said Mosley "would have been a very good prime minister. Max would’ve been ideal. He would know how to handle things. Max had an awful lot going for him. Maybe people thought he was too clever," added Ecclestone.