But he added that whatever stake the car makers took in SLEC, the family trust controlled by Bernie Ecclestone, they would have very little influence on how the sport was run.

"I think it would be a good thing if they came in. The way it has been talked about at the moment is a possible acquisition of a substantial shareholding in Bernie Ecclestone's company and I think this would be a good thing because it will tend to stabilise the sport," Mosley said in an interview.

"I don't think it would have much actual influence because the structures are such that whoever controls Bernie's company will have practically no say in the running of the sport because they have just one vote in 26 on the Formula One commission."

Media group EM.TV hold a 50 percent stake in SLEC but are in talks with German media giant Kirch about selling half this stake. EM.TV also holds an option to buy a further 25 percent stake in SLEC from Ecclestone.

Ecclestone was quoted last Friday as saying he had no immediate plans to relinquish control of Formula One.

Mosley said: "I think we have checks and balances in Formula One which would mean that the manufacturers would be interested really in the commercial exploitation rather than in how the sport was actually run.

"Obviously we would listen to them, like we do listen to Bernie but that's a very diferent thing from massive influence.