Mosley wants Todt to replace him

Jean Todt has been lined up to succeed Max Mosley as president of Formula One’s governing body the FIA.

Mosley wants the Ferrari managing director to take over as his long-term successor and has reportedly written to all 150-plus presidents of the member clubs of the FIA General Assembly.

In his letter, Mosley has suggested splitting the duties of the president to the political side, which he would fulfil, with the deputy president being someone with an in-depth knowledge of the sport.

The idea would be for the deputy president to take over when the time comes for the president to step down.

Mosley told the July issue of F1 Racing magazine: “Todt has worked and won in every major branch of motorsport. I think he’s the only person who’s done that.

“After Ferrari he might feel as I do and see the fascination of trying to make the bigger picture work.

“And if he did that, I think he’d be very effective. In fact, I think he’d be brilliant.”

Mosley has also ruled out the chances of Sir Jackie Stewart becoming president.

He said of Stewart: “I’m not sure he’d know what the job entails.

“The fact that you’re a one-time racing driver, even a very good one, probably wouldn’t, in itself, be good enough.

“But I can think of a few [other former racing drivers] who have more in-depth understanding of modern motorsport, and a better appreciation of the politics of international sport.

“If for some reason [Marco] Piccinini didn’t want to continue in the role of deputy president [of the FIA], and Todt wanted it, and he was no longer working for Ferrari, then it would be very foolish of me to say no.”