F1: Todt elected FIA president
Frenchman Jean Todt was elected president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) on Friday. The ex-Ferrari Formula One team boss, who stood against Finland's former world rally champion Ari Vatanen, succeeds Max Mosley as head of world motorsport's governing body.
"Jean Todt has been elected president of the FIA for a four-year term by the FIA General Assembly at its annual meeting in Paris," an FIA statement said.
Officials said Todt had won 135 votes to Vatanen's 49, with 12 abstentions.
"It's positive, very positive," seven-times Formula One champion Michael Schumacher told waiting reporters after the news was announced.
Todt had been backed throughout an increasingly acrimonious campaign by Mosley and had also received support from Schumacher and Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
Vatanen, a former European parliamentarian, stood on a platform of change and transparent governance to make a clean break from the Mosley era.
Mosley, whose private life became very public last year when it emerged that he had engaged in sado-masochistic sex sessions with prostitutes, had been FIA president since 1993.
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Joseph B. Fenech
Oct 24th 2009, 10:05
@ Charlot Farrugia - I agree. It seems that in principle we both agree. We love the sport. We both have our favourite team. That all teams should be treated equally is NEVER to be contested. Then, F1 and all other sport is even more exciting to follow !
John Micallef
Oct 24th 2009, 06:50
I am still not that satisfied that Todt has become president when he is 'freshly' out of Ferrari. His brief hiatus from F1 is not enough.
Beside, his son manages Felipe Massa too.
I think Vatanen was more independent, not to mention his experience in politics.
For those who think that pressures are not exercised on such occasions, I think you may be wrong. I often attend conferences, meetings and the such for international organisations, and there is always lobbying by some group or other that believe a president is better for them than another. F1 is no exception.
It's true that race stewards have the last say on the race and they should be independent - but the rules are set by the FIA and we have seen this year how a tiny modification can make all the difference.
No, I hope it is not some stupid Italians vs Brits argument. It's a matter of transparency and fairness, though, strangeley enough, the priorities of the 2 candidates seemed more political than the fun and safety of the sport.
By the way, I support F1 drivers specifically rather than the teams - been doing that for the past 31 years.
charlot Farrugia
Oct 23rd 2009, 22:14
This is not about being saints or whatever!!! this is about an organization not being just in its decisions!! i think that the fia took certain decisions against certain teams or drivers differently from others!! we all remember the senna, prost era where certain decision were taken in favor of one and against the other!! even recently one mention the mclaren case!!! first the fia decided not to take action on it, then mosley decided to re open the case and we all know how it ended up. with the renult issue just a moth ago which was grievous as much as the mclaren one, neither the drivers nor the team were given any penalization!! one wonders. or what about belgium last year! were mc laren were given the ok from charley whitening that hamilton didnt need to give back his place to raikkonen and after a couple of days they gave him a penalty!!! there are so many other cases which bring up big questions about the fia and all concern certain teams!!! believe me i am not a saint but i would like that all teams are treated equally
Joseph B. fenech
Oct 23rd 2009, 21:37
@ Charlot Farrugia - you say, " we all know that Mosely etc etc etc ". We, who ? I am a big follower of sport, mainly football and Formula 1. I suport Ferrari. There are times when any team may seem to be favoured, and Ferrari are no exception. But that does not mean what you are trying to imply by certain friendships. We all know ( and this time, I have the right to include you ) what the McLaren team did not so long ago. After a series of Ferrari successes they wanted to win at all costs. Given the chance, everybody tries his best to win, to be successful in life. There are no saints on earth. Me and you included !
Karl Abela
Oct 23rd 2009, 21:35
You are jumping to conclusions. Rules are primarily not enforced by the FIA board, but by the stewards of the race. Favouritism is nothing but a media speculation, and in F1 there is ALOT of speculation due to the fact that there is nothing much to report in winter.
Besides, this is not football, its not a case of Inglizi kontra t-taljani, thats old maltese mentality and those who think so have no clue of F1.
Teams are international: Ferrari had a German 7 time world champion and english designers; McLaren have a German engine and had a Finnish double world champion; Williams have a toyota engine and previously a BMW engine and a german driver; Toyota's team is based in Germany with a good italian driver and, USF1, the first American F1 team, is mostly made of English engineers. The best of them all is Force India with a German engine, a german and italian driver and no clue of India.
All I say is just enjoy the beauty of the sport and don't let speculation and hatred ruin your love for F1. Its a sport which can be enjoyed by those who love cars, racing and engineering.
Charlot Farrugia
Oct 23rd 2009, 20:39
This has nothing to do with english or italian supporters. this is about different teams being treated differently in the past years!! the rules were not the same for everyone for the FIA!!! lets hope that something changes from now onwards!! but i am not confident about it since todt had the backing of mosley and eccleston and we all know they are biased towards certain teams.
Joseph B. fenech
Oct 23rd 2009, 18:03
@ Peter Sullivan : you are assuming right my friend. It is always like that with sport followers that do not fancy the Italians. They hate seeing them win ( very often ). A work colleague of mine, an English fan, during the last Football World Cup started to support his team which unfortunately had a tragic end ( as usual ) after only a few days. Then all of a sudden he supported Australia, then he seemed to be an Ucranian, then he went on to support Germany and finally France. All these teams played against ITALIA. After the match against France, he went on sick leave for 15 days !
Peter Sullivan
Oct 23rd 2009, 17:04
Why do people have to think bad about such a positive appointment?
If that should be the line of thought, therefore having Mosley for previous years as president was to the advantage of the likes of McLaren / Williams / Braun, etc !!!
Petty minds indeed.
Comments should be forthcoming IF decisions are taken to favour one team over another.
I am assuming that Antoine Spiteri supports one or all the other teams against Ferrari. prosit !!!!!!
Antoine Spiteri
Oct 23rd 2009, 14:40
Good Joke of the Year!! Weldone ehh!! So from now on Ferrari will benefit from everything. Everyone else can say bye bye to F1 Championship.