Their message of condemnation came on the day Mosley was awarded a record £60,000 (€76,000) compensation after winning a privacy action against the News of the World.

The Sunday tabloid had accused the 68-year-old son of 1930s Fascist leader Oswald Mosley of taking part in a “sick Nazi orgy” with five prostitutes.

It was a claim Mosley vehemently denied, with the presiding judge in the case, Mr Justice Eady, stating: “I found there was no evidence that the gathering on 28 March 2008 was intended to be an enactment of Nazi behaviour or adoption of any of its attitudes.”

Mosley was naturally delighted with the verdict, but there is a feeling that after emerging triumphant following his day in court, and being vindicated, he should now honourably resign.

It was just 53 days ago Mosley won a vote of confidence from the FIA, with the probability he will now see out his mandate through to 2009.

That still appals staunch critic Stewart, who said: “If Max were president of the Olympic movement, he would have been told to go.

“I don’t see how he can justify staying on. The vote of confidence was not a large majority, and there were a number of people who did not vote.

“As for the motorsport community, there were very few people who were prepared to speak out, basically in fear of repercussions.

“That does not speak well of the organisation, and I feel Max should now step down and cut out of it totally.”

Mosley, though, has belligerently opted to carry on, with Stewart adding: “That’s what puts a shadow over the FIA, that it is being allowed to occur when any other federation would not tolerate it.

“The FIA needs to be run by full-time, fully-paid executives, and completely re-structured to provide correct corporate governance that is totally transparent.

“If he were in any organisation, he would undoubtedly have had to leave, with influence from within.

“The FIA should have more knowledge of life than to allow this to continue, and that is what is showing up negatively against them.”

Former F1 team boss Jordan felt Mosley had proven himself “a strong man” by taking on the News of the World.

But he added: “There’s still a slur against him and people don’t forget that easily.

“If I was Max now having won this case I would say, ’I’m out of here’.”

Former Minardi team principal Paul Stoddart believes Formula One is “without credibility” while Mosley remains in office.

Stoddart commented: “There are big public companies that probably won’t want to be associated with an institution that Mosley, having been exposed like this, has been representing and will continue to represent.”

Even Moss does not think Mosley’s position is tenable.

“I can understand how people feel, and therefore he cannot hold the stature he did before,” Moss told the BBC.

“With a number of countries behind him, that must at least be quite gratifying to him, that he has the right to continue.

“But I think he would probably feel a bit untenable, and I would have thought this has hurt him tremendously.”