Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said on Sunday he would welcome Max Mosley back into the grand prix paddock after a sado-masochistic sex scandal and suggested the sport should do likewise.

Ecclestone, who had urged Mosley to quit as head of the governing body before the Briton won a court case against the tabloid News of the World, said the business side of the sport had suffered less than he expected from the controversy.

"I thought, and I was told, that it would," he told BBC Radio.

"But I think like all these things, people have now really come to the conclusion that whatever happened with Max was Max and nothing to do with anybody else and I don't think they really care any more."

Ecclestone said his friendship with the International Automobile Federation (FIA) president, which dates back to the early 1970s, remained the same as ever.

"For a short period I said he should resign because I had so much pressure from people to say he should resign," said Ecclestone.

"In a lot of ways, at the time, I wished he had done but now I don't see why he should.

"Max works and does the best he can for the sport, for sure 100 percent," added Ecclestone. "All these people say they don't want to meet Max and don't want to do this or that...that's all going to disappear."

Ecclestone said he looked forward to welcoming Mosley back on his next scheduled appearance at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on September 14.

"I will welcome him back," he said. "He should come back and he should carry on like he's normally carried on."

Mosley, whose father Oswald was leader of the pre-World War Two British Union of Fascists, won damages in a British court in July when a judge ruled the News of the World had violated his privacy.

The 68-year-old did not deny taking part in the German-themed sex session with five prostitutes.

Mosley said in April that he would step down voluntarily as FIA head in October next year when he completed his term of office but Ecclestone suggested there could yet be a change of heart.

"He's said he is going to stand down before and hasn't," said the 78-year-old billionaire.

"So I don't know. The problem really is, if we are really selfish and think of the sport as it is, it's difficult to know who is going to replace him to do the things he does."