- 23 Sep 09, 08:07#156254
A lot of people have been complaining that Todt would just be Mosley mark 2, seeming to think that Mosley is appointing Todt as his heir to continue on exactly as Mosley has in the past.
I don't believe this to be the case. I think that Todt, when president, will remake the organisation in his own, very different, image. And that Mosley will not be able to run the show from the sidelines.
Personally I find it highly plausible that Todt will take some early public actions to demonstrate that he is his own man. There will be some public outcry when/if Todt is voted in, as those of the more paranoid ilk will insist that he will be Ferrari's shill in the FIA. Clearly as time goes by, there will be some decisions to make that involve Ferrari, appeals etc. Even if the first ten in a row go against Ferrari, there will be lots of people who would grab onto the eleventh one that goes in Ferrari's favour, no matter how just, and claim it proves pro-Ferrari bias. Whether or not these "people" need to be taken serious note of is another question. A few yahoos on internet forums, probably not. But the press might need to have more heed taken.
There are are few steps that Todt could take early on to demonstrate considerable independence from Mosley. Large, public, steps that he could take would be to invite Ron Dennis back into the sport, saying that his (more or less) banishment was disproportionate to his involvement in scandals. And, perhaps less likely, Flavio Briatore, could be invited back. The latter is less likely as Bernie will still be around, and I believe that it's Flavio's potential challenge to Bernie's interests that is behind Flavio's banishment. But, if he were to reverse one of these "banishments", that would clearly establish him early on as much different from a Mosley yes-man, and also show willing to work with the teams. It would also show that he is not, as the more lunatic fringe suggest, going to be working solely in Ferrari's interest while in charge, but is prepared to act generously to Ferrari's competitors.
Any other ideas as to what Todt could do early on (if elected), to establish himself as "his own man"?
I don't believe this to be the case. I think that Todt, when president, will remake the organisation in his own, very different, image. And that Mosley will not be able to run the show from the sidelines.
Personally I find it highly plausible that Todt will take some early public actions to demonstrate that he is his own man. There will be some public outcry when/if Todt is voted in, as those of the more paranoid ilk will insist that he will be Ferrari's shill in the FIA. Clearly as time goes by, there will be some decisions to make that involve Ferrari, appeals etc. Even if the first ten in a row go against Ferrari, there will be lots of people who would grab onto the eleventh one that goes in Ferrari's favour, no matter how just, and claim it proves pro-Ferrari bias. Whether or not these "people" need to be taken serious note of is another question. A few yahoos on internet forums, probably not. But the press might need to have more heed taken.
There are are few steps that Todt could take early on to demonstrate considerable independence from Mosley. Large, public, steps that he could take would be to invite Ron Dennis back into the sport, saying that his (more or less) banishment was disproportionate to his involvement in scandals. And, perhaps less likely, Flavio Briatore, could be invited back. The latter is less likely as Bernie will still be around, and I believe that it's Flavio's potential challenge to Bernie's interests that is behind Flavio's banishment. But, if he were to reverse one of these "banishments", that would clearly establish him early on as much different from a Mosley yes-man, and also show willing to work with the teams. It would also show that he is not, as the more lunatic fringe suggest, going to be working solely in Ferrari's interest while in charge, but is prepared to act generously to Ferrari's competitors.
Any other ideas as to what Todt could do early on (if elected), to establish himself as "his own man"?