Feb.18 (GMM) Max Mosley has issued a strong hint that he may not be ready to retire as FIA president by the time of the next elections in October 2009.

The 67-year-old Briton, who in 2004 rescinded a decision to step down from the role, told the London newspaper The Times that he still sees work to do as the unpaid head of F1's governing body.

Mosley, despite regularly courting controversy throughout his four presidential terms so far, insists that he wants to guide the sport into a "hugely exciting" new era of energy recovery and a new engine formula for 2013.

He refuses to speculate about the future beyond late 2009, but is fairly certain he will see out the remainder of his current term.

"Provided I remain relatively sane I won't quit before October 2009; beyond that I have to think very, very carefully," he said.

"This is a sport which you almost certainly have to conclude works best with one person capable of taking a decision."

Mosley insists that he is not deterred by regular claims that he should quit.

"I love reading the blogs when they are being furious about me, it's very entertaining, and there is the odd one which defends me.

"But F1 simply cannot divorce itself from the zeitgeist," he added.

Mosley became FIA president in 1993.