Mosley choice Todt may not go down well with F1 teams

MAX MOSLEY may have confirmed he will not stand for re-election as FIA president, but in proposing Jean Todt as his successor, the 69-year-old has opened up a whole new can of worms.

Todt has yet to officially announce his candidature, but in yesterday receiving a glowing reference from Mosley, the Frenchman will now be viewed as favourite to take up the post on October 23.

Such a prospect, however, will be viewed with disdain by many of the Formula One teams given Todt is far from a particularly well-liked character.

Yet in a letter written today to the FIA member clubs announcing the end of his 16-year reign, Mosley has called on them to “elect a strong, experienced and competent team”.

“I believe the right person to head that team would be Jean Todt,” continued Mosley. “Jean is unquestionably the outstanding motorsport manager of his generation, and arguably of any generation.

“If he agrees to stand, I think he would be the ideal person to continue, but also to extend the work of the past 16 years.”

On one hand, the Formula One Teams’ Association have finally managed to rid themselves of Mosley, yet on the other now face the prospect of being governed by Todt.

Following the agreement of a peace pact last month between the FIA and FOTA, the latter’s vice-chairman, John Howett, spelled out the wishes of his organisation.

Howett said the new president should be “somebody who is independent, perhaps independent from any of us either currently or historically”.

Although veiled, the message at the time was clear – that the 63-year-old Todt was not wanted given his previous links with Ferrari.

During his 15 years as team principal Todt was highly successful, helping Michael Schumacher win five drivers’ titles from 2000-2004, and the team claim six constructors’ championships.

Up until just over a year ago Todt was also CEO at Ferrari, but it is understood his tenure ended acrimoniously following a fall-out with president, and current FOTA chairman, Luca di Montezemolo.

Certainly, the one man who has so far announced he is to stand in former World Rally champion Ari Vatanen, would appear to have his work cut out to be elected.

Part of the election process is that each candidate must also name a 22-strong ‘cabinet’ to work alongside him in various positions within the FIA hierarchy.

Todt will almost certainly be able to draw on Mosley’s present team, whilst Vatanen would have to seek out different figures who perhaps would not be as influential.

Yet Mosley maintained, that despite his background, Todt would be impartial, and that he “would preserve the independence of the FIA”.

Mosley has opted not to run again given a new Concorde Agreement to secure F1’s future is close to being signed.

He also made personal promises to his family, in particular after losing son Alexander to drug abuse just over two months ago.

Mosley said: “From a personal point of view it would be very difficult for me to change my mind and stand again.”