Abu Dhabi: Motorsports boss Jean Todt has shrugged off suggestions that he can manage a balanced and fruitful life without carrying the extra baggage of being FIA President.
As things stand, Todt has been guaranteed a third and final term in office as FIA President after the organisation declared that no other candidate had officially emerged by filing his nomination for the position. The Frenchman, now 71, had taken over from Max Mosley in 2009 [defeating former world rally champion Ari Vatanen 135-49], after which he won a second four-year term in 2013. The deadline for other candidates to make themselves known was November 17.
The next step in the process is for the FIA General Assembly to ratify Todt’s final four-year period when it meets in Paris on December 8. As per FIA regulations, the position to the highest office can span only three terms (12 years) or till the official reaches 75 years.
“Personally, I don’t need it. I got so much out of motor racing. I feel I want to be in a position to give back something to
motorsport,” Todt said.
“I am involved with the United Nations or with other foundations. I love all that. I am passionate and it has been outstanding for me as I met some outstanding people. If I am elected I will speak for the people,” he added.
“In three years I have visited the small, medium and bigger people. When I was elected, clearly the FIA was more split than now. One of my ambitions was to have a united FIA, and I believe I did manage to do so. I got amazing support. When I announced I would be a candidate I received 160 endorsement letters.
“This means two things: that they are either happy with me, or have no chance to win against me,” he joked.
Todt was pleased with what he has achieved during his past eight years in office. “I have been going through the many categories involved in motorsports. But I have learned a lot, possibly among this learned to listen to everyone involved in our sport,” he said.
Todt also reiterated that there have been no enquiries for new teams seeking to enter the F1 fold in the future. “So far there has been no request even though we feel it would be a strong event where we have 12 teams,” he said.
Earlier this season, Todt had admitted that new teams had expressed an interest and that a couple of slots could be opened up in addition to the current 10 teams. Last season there were 11 teams, but tail-enders Manor opted out.
Since then the sport has been taken over by US-based Liberty Media, who have adopted a more fan-friendly approach and have said they want to see a situation where teams can be competitive and stable. US-owned Haas are the last all-new team to enter Formula One, making their debut last season and finishing eighth overall. Three new teams that entered in 2010 — HRT, Lotus Racing (later Team Lotus and then Caterham) and Virgin Racing (later Marussia and then Manor) — have all disappeared.
