Formula One's recently-brokered peace deal was case into doubt on Thursday evening after FIA president Max Mosley said he would reconsider his retirement plans following what he called a deliberate attempt by the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) to mislead the media. These fresh revelations came just a day after Wednesday's agreement between the FIA and FOTA to end the threat of a breakaway series and confirm all current teams for next year's championship.

However, in a strongly-worded letter sent to FOTA chairman Luca di Montezemolo, Mosley was furious with the teams' association for making 'false statements' to the media, branding the 69-year-old a 'dictator' and claiming that he was no longer the head of the FIA.

“We made a deal yesterday in Paris to end the recent difficulties in Formula 1,” began Mosley's letter to di Montezemolo. “A fundamental part of this was that we would both present a positive and truthful account to the media.

“I was therefore astonished to learn that FOTA has been briefing the press that Mr. Boeri has taken charge of Formula 1, something which you know is completely untrue; that I had been forced out of office, also false; and, apparently, that I would have no role in the FIA after October, something which is plain nonsense, if only because of the FIA statutes.”

Mosley went on to rubbish claims that he had dictated the sport. “Furthermore, you have suggested to the media that I was a "dictator," an accusation which is grossly insulting to the 26 members of the World Motor Sport Council who have discussed and voted all the rules and procedures of Formula 1 since the 1980s, not to mention the representatives of the FIA's 122 countries who have democratically endorsed everything I and my World Motor Sport Council colleagues have done during the last 18 years.”

Needless to say, this latest controversy looks set to run somewhat further, given that the letter was sent to di Montezemolo prior to yesterday's press conference in Bologna, giving FOTA a chance to set the record straight, an opportunity which they declined. “You must correct the false statements which have been made and make no further such statements,” Mosley demanded. “You yourself must issue a suitable correction and apology at your press conference this afternoon.

“Formula 1 is run entirely by our 25-strong team without any help from me or any other outsider. There was no need for me to involve myself further in Formula 1 once we had a settlement. Equally, I had a long-standing plan not to seek re-election in October. It was therefore possible for me to confirm both points to you yesterday.”

Having previously announced that he would not stand for re-election as FIA president now that peace had been agreed between the teams and the FIA, Mosley concluded his letter by saying he was keeping his options open, suggesting that he might run for re-election after all.

“However, given your and FOTA's deliberate attempt to mislead the media, I now consider my options open,” Mosley continued. “At least until October, I am president of the FIA with the full authority of that office. After that it is the FIA member clubs, not you or FOTA, who will decide on the future leadership of the FIA.”