Ecclestone (left) and Mosley (right) have been friends for 40 years

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone says International Automobile Federation president Max Mosley should step down from his position.

Ecclestone had previously stood by his friend of over 40 years after newspaper stories about his private life.

"He should go out of responsibility for the institution he represents," Ecclestone told the Daily Telegraph.

"Everyone I speak to in a position of authority in F1 says he should go. It's regretful he's not made this decision."

Mosley was accused of taking part in a "Nazi-style orgy" with prostitutes by the News of the World.

He has apologised for any embarrassment, but denies his actions had Nazi connotations and has launched legal action against the newspaper.

The 68-year-old, the son of British Union of Fascists founder Sir Oswald Mosley, hopes he will be given a vote of confidence to continue in his position at a meeting of FIA member clubs in Paris on Tuesday, allowing him to remain in his job until the end of his tenure, in October 2009.

The last thing most people involved in the sport, including the clubs, would want to see is Max in a position where he could be forced to stand down Bernie Ecclestone

But Ecclestone said he felt Mosley could no longer represent motorsport properly, and he would prefer it if Mosley jumped rather than was pushed out of office.

"The general feeling is that people would no longer be comfortable speaking to him in the same way," he said.

"I have spoken to Max about this and advised him to retire at the end of the year at the FIA general assembly in November. I would be happy to sit at his side to help him to achieve that.

"The last thing most people involved in the sport, including the clubs, would want to see is Max in a position where he could be forced to stand down.

"I don't want to see that. I've been a friend of Max for 40 years. I would hate to see him go this way after all he has done for the sport.

"Since the story broke I have been under enormous pressure from the people who invest in Formula One, sponsors and manufacturers, over this issue.

"They point out that as a chief executive or chief operating officer of a major company they would have gone either immediately or within 24 hours, in the same circumstances. They cannot understand why Max has not done the same."