May 28 (GMM) Toro Rosso co-owner and former grand prix winner Gerhard Berger has emerged as a leading candidate to succeed Max Mosley as FIA president.
That is the claim of two highly respected formula one correspondents, Edward Gorman and Kevin Eason, who write for the British newspaper The Times.
In an article published this week by sister News International newspaper The Australian, they contend that "there are signs that Berger ... is seen as a more popular option (to replace Mosley) than the front-runner, Jean Todt."
Berger, 48, could be free to pursue scandal-ridden Mosley's job if his F1 team Toro Rosso is forced to close following the departure of his business partner Dietrich Mateschitz.
Gorman and Eason continue: "Up until now Todt has been viewed as Mosley's favoured candidate to succeed him, but Berger is increasingly being talked of as an alternative."
Berger, a personal friend of Mosley's, spoke glowingly about the embattled 68-year-old Briton during the team chiefs' FIA press conference at Monaco last week.
