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As one senior figure in a Formula One team put it yesterday: “There will be a domino effect. The views of the Bahrain Royal Family are indicative of what’s to come. No one wants to stand on the same stage as Mosley and how can the president of the FIA do his job in those circumstances?”

The two big Japanese manufacturers in Formula One, Honda and Toyota, both implied that Mr Mosley’s conduct fell well short of accepted norms. “It is necessary that senior figures in sport and business maintain the highest standards of conduct in order to fulfil their duties with integrity and respect,” a spokesman for Honda said. “The Honda Racing F1 Team is extremely disappointed by recent events surrounding Mr Mosley and we are concerned that the reputation of Formula One and all its participants is being damaged.

“We request that the FIA gives this matter careful consideration and reaches an immediate decision in the best interests of F1 and motorsport,” the company added.

Another body to call for Mr Mosley’s resignation was the Sport Industry Group which will host its award ceremony on May 1.

Nick Keller, the chairman, said: “Whether [Mr Mosley] has been the victim of an orchestrated campaign or not is not the issue for sport – what matters here is what he did, not the manner in which it became public.

“Of course people are entitled to a private life but what they do in their private lives can have a bearing on their public positions, their judgment, their morality and their suitability for important high-profile positions.

“Max Mosley has let himself and his sport down and should accept responsibility for that. He is without doubt not suitable to continue within our industry and I call for his immediate resignation,” Mr Keller said.

In Bahrain where the Formula One circus is gathering, the scandal was overshadowing preparations for the Grand Prix on Sunday.

Asked by The Times whether he agreed with the views expressed by Honda and whether Mr Mosley was upholding those standards by staying in his post, the young German driver Nico Rosberg, said: “I think, in general, yes, if you’re a figure like us who are racing drivers or something, you have got to try and set a good example, because a lot of people are watching you and also looking up to what you do and things like that.”

Lewis Hamilton, the British driver, agreed. “Yes I think that’s key, to set a good example,” he said. “We all, especially the young people, we’re always looking up to at least someone to show us the way and set a good example is the best way of saying it. I totally agree with what they were saying.”