Max Mosley's injunction against News Group Newspapers, whereby he was attempting to prevent the News of the World showing video footage of him indulging in a so-called orgy with five prostitutes has been rejected, adding further pressure as the Englishman fights to retain Presidency of the FIA.

In the High Court this morning, Mr Justice Eady, who has presided over several other high-profile F1 cases in recent years, rejected the injunction, stating that such a move, with the video content already widely available, would make "little practical difference".

Furthermore, referring to the fact that the video has been widely seen on the News of the World website, and subsequently YouTube, Eady said it was pointless to grant an injunction, saying: "The dam has effectively burst."

He added: "I have, with some reluctance, come to the conclusion that although this material is intrusive and demeaning, and despite the fact that there is no legitimate public interest in its further publication, the granting of an order against this respondent at the present juncture would merely be a futile gesture."

In a separate action, Mosley, who was not in court, is suing News Group Newspapers for breach of privacy, though that action will not be heard until the summer.