In the latest unexpected twist in Formula 1's extraordinary sex scandal, Bernie Ecclestone has come in for stern criticism from the Automobile Association of Kenya for what have been described as 'derogatory, demeaning and uncalled for attacks on Africa'.

In the wake of the FIA Senate vote of confidence on Max Mosley's future ability to rule the sport, Ecclestone was quoted by British newspaper the Daily Express as having said: “Will Prince Albert of Monaco hold a cocktail party for Max now? Just because he got a few more votes from Africa doesn't mean the King of Spain will want to shake his hand.”

Those remarks, however – which Formula 1's supremo insists were taken out of context – have been poorly received in Africa. D N Njoroge, the director general of the Automobile Association of Kenya, has written a letter in response, as a result of which Pitpass claims Ecclestone will subsequently have to explain himself to the FIA's African Council.

Njoroge wrote: 'There is an article in the Daily Express of 4th June 2008 on the FIA Extraordinary General Assembly proceedings where Africa has been focused. The facts are, Africa has 36 clubs and even if all the clubs had voted one way or the other, the end result would not have changed.

'With regard to the remarks, 'Just because he got a few more votes from Africa...', the African clubs take great exception in what is clearly derogatory, demeaning and uncalled for attacks on Africa.

'In more than 30 years of my close relationship with AIT/FIA, this is the first time to come across such subtle and thinly-veiled attacks based on ethnicity, and we expect withdrawal and apology to Africa if there was no motive behind these remarks.'

Meanwhile, with whispers that a second meeting has been held within 24 hours between teams and Ecclestone in Montreal this weekend in discussions regarding a possible breakaway grand prix series [see separate article – click here], the future of F1 is looking ever-more critical.

Negotiations over a new Concorde Agreement or otherwise have been ongoing for months, at a reputed cost of more than £1 million, but they have taken on a greater sense of urgency of late following the infamy that has engulfed the sport's most powerful man – and therefore by extension the sport itself.

With the current governing Concorde Agreement having expired, the teams are effectively free to leave whenever they desire. With threats of a schism within the FIA and Mosley's upcoming court case against the News of the World being likely to further air the disgraced 68-year-old's dirty laundry in public, it is arguable that the teams have been presented with an even more solid reason to break free rather than remain with a sport whose name and reputation is being increasingly dragged through the dirt.