- 24 Oct 09, 13:22#165295
New FIA president Jean Todt reveals plan for Schumacher reunionhttp://www.forumula1.com/forum/posting.php?mode=reply&f=2&t=7381
• 'He is like a son to me,' says newly-elected FIA president
• Frenchman defeats Ari Vatanen 135-49 in vote
Jean Todt may use his position as newly elected president of the world motoring federation to usher Michael Schumacher back to Formula One. Schumacher, who won five world championships under Todt's management at Ferrari, could become a commissioner responsible for Formula One following Todt's electoral defeat of Ari Vatanen in Paris today.
"I want to nominate commissioners because I am not intending to run Formula One as a first person," said Todt. "I don't want to underestimate the problems but success in my career has always been to have the right people in my teams. He [Schumacher] is like a son. There has always been a place for him next to me and there will still be."
Formula One teams were unable to play any part in Todt's election victory but his former associates were quick to welcome the new FIA president while reminding him of his responsibilities.
"I would like to send my best wishes to Jean Todt in his new role, as I have always appreciated his ability, dedication andcommitment," said Luca di Montezemolo, chairman of the Formula One Teams Association Fota and Todt's former boss at Ferrari. "I am sure that, under his guidance, the federation will be rejuvenated and will restore a climate open to dialogue and constructive collaboration with the teams and Fota, thus ensuring stability of the regulations and the whole environment."
The subtext is that Formula One is not alone in wishing to move away from the hostility created during the latter part of Max Mosley's 16-year reign as president. Todt, sensing danger and recognising the validity of Vatanen's claim that a vote for the Finn would be a vote for urgently needed change, used his well-orchestrated campaign to gradually distance himself from Mosley and push the view that, like Vatanen, he was his own man.
Perhaps recognising that Mosley's interference in the affairs of F1 has contributed to many of the recent problems, Todt plans to introduce commissioners responsible for the day-to-day running of each championship (Formula One, rallying, touring cars etc), thus allowing the president to focus on the strategic management of the FIA's responsibility for motoring as well as motor sport.Todt has never been popular outside the teams that he has managed and inspired remarkable loyalty among drivers and mechanics alike. Being well-liked never figured as a priority if it interfered with his ruthless focus on the job in hand and winning world championships with Peugeot in rallying and Ferrari in Formula One.
Todt's canvassing of voters, the representatives of the world's leading motoring organisations, became a charm offensive that was let down occasionally by snide remarks, some of which bore the fingerprints of Mosley and his advisers, denigrating Vatanen and perhaps contributing to the former world rally champion's 135-49 defeat. There were 12 abstentions.
Mosley, having publicly supported Todt, will be pleased with the landslide victory. But is up to the Frenchman to allay fears that Mosley will continue to have influence from his seat in the FIA senate. Formula One is in need of stability and a retreat from the confrontation methods of recent years. Todt has much to do, but he is more than capable
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Thought i'd bring it back seeing as Non is president.
huh?
