The FIA has invited possible entrants for the 2011 Formula 1 season, after announcing earlier this month that it will open a new selection process to find more teams to fill the grid.
The governing body said on Friday that it will also identify one or more possible 'reserve' entrants to fill the vacancies that may exist next year.
Formula 1's ruling body said the process will be open to all candidates capable of racing in the 2011 and 2012 championships.
"The overall long-term interests of the championship will determine which candidates are selected," said the FIA.
All the details of the selection process will be revealed to the candidates who have registered a formal expression of interest before Thursday 15th April. an administration fee of €1,000 will need to be paid by each candidate.
The FIA said the timing of the process would depend on the candidates' responses, but made it clear a decision on the entrant would be announced by July.
The governing body said a successful entrant should have "the technical ability and resources of the team; the ability of the team to raise and maintain sufficient funding to allow participation; the team's experience and human resources and the FIA's assessment of the value that the candidate may bring to the Championship as a whole."
News from Formula One in the Formation Lap.
Showing posts with label FIA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FIA. Show all posts
Friday, 19 March 2010
Friday, 5 March 2010
McLaren invites FIA to inspect wing
FIA technical chief Charlie Whiting is set to inspect the rear wing of the McLaren MP4-25 today in order to clarify whether the team's design is within the regulations.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner told British newspapers earlier this week that McLaren's rivals had queries over its airbox, engine cover and rear wing layout - amid suggestions that the design allowed the rear wing to 'stall' at high speed to improve straightline performance.
McLaren is confident that the car adheres to the rules, and the FIA confirmed that Whiting had been invited to check it at the team's Woking base.
"We have no concerns with it, but we have been invited by the team to view the car so Charlie is going down to have a look," an FIA spokesperson told the Daily Telegraph.
McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh expects Whiting to quickly ratify the MP4-25, telling the Telegraph that the team had sought clarification from the FIA earlier in the design process.
"The wing is different and innovative, yes," Whitmarsh said. "But we have been in contact with Charlie over a period of several months to check that it complies with regulations. We have been assured that it does."
Red Bull boss Christian Horner told British newspapers earlier this week that McLaren's rivals had queries over its airbox, engine cover and rear wing layout - amid suggestions that the design allowed the rear wing to 'stall' at high speed to improve straightline performance.
McLaren is confident that the car adheres to the rules, and the FIA confirmed that Whiting had been invited to check it at the team's Woking base.
"We have no concerns with it, but we have been invited by the team to view the car so Charlie is going down to have a look," an FIA spokesperson told the Daily Telegraph.
McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh expects Whiting to quickly ratify the MP4-25, telling the Telegraph that the team had sought clarification from the FIA earlier in the design process.
"The wing is different and innovative, yes," Whitmarsh said. "But we have been in contact with Charlie over a period of several months to check that it complies with regulations. We have been assured that it does."
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
FIA report for points system
Following a highly constructive and positive meeting of the Formula One Commission yesterday, agreement was reached by all the sport’s stakeholders on a number of amendments to the sporting and technical regulations.
The proposals will be submitted to the FIA World Motor Sport Council for final approval within the next 48 hours.
2010 FIA Formula One World Championship
- Points system
In order to further encourage the ‘race to win’, an adjustment to the points system was agreed. Points for both titles will be awarded at each event according to the following scale:
1st :
2nd :
3rd :
4th :
5th :
6th :
7th :
8th :
9th :
10th :
25 points
18 points
15 points
12 points
10 points
8 points
6 points
4 points
2 points
1 point
- Quantity and use of tyres
The number of dry weather tyres sets allocated per driver has been reduced from 14 to 11.
In addition, to encourage teams to run during the Friday practice sessions, one set has to be returned before the start of the second practice session, and two sets before the start of the third practice session.
- Improving the show
In order to introduce a further element of strategy, cars having participated in Q3 must start the race on the same set of tyres with which their grid time was set.
Further measures for 2010 are also being examined.
- New technologies
The Commission received a strong mandate from the FIA President to examine the introduction of new environmental technologies in the Championship. The mandate was warmly welcomed by the teams and further proposals will be developed.
2011 FIA Formula One World Championship
- Diffusers
The permitted height of the main diffuser was reduced from 175mm to 125mm and measures to exclude ‘double’ diffusers were agreed.
The proposals will be submitted to the FIA World Motor Sport Council for final approval within the next 48 hours.
2010 FIA Formula One World Championship
- Points system
In order to further encourage the ‘race to win’, an adjustment to the points system was agreed. Points for both titles will be awarded at each event according to the following scale:
1st :
2nd :
3rd :
4th :
5th :
6th :
7th :
8th :
9th :
10th :
25 points
18 points
15 points
12 points
10 points
8 points
6 points
4 points
2 points
1 point
- Quantity and use of tyres
The number of dry weather tyres sets allocated per driver has been reduced from 14 to 11.
In addition, to encourage teams to run during the Friday practice sessions, one set has to be returned before the start of the second practice session, and two sets before the start of the third practice session.
- Improving the show
In order to introduce a further element of strategy, cars having participated in Q3 must start the race on the same set of tyres with which their grid time was set.
Further measures for 2010 are also being examined.
- New technologies
The Commission received a strong mandate from the FIA President to examine the introduction of new environmental technologies in the Championship. The mandate was warmly welcomed by the teams and further proposals will be developed.
2011 FIA Formula One World Championship
- Diffusers
The permitted height of the main diffuser was reduced from 175mm to 125mm and measures to exclude ‘double’ diffusers were agreed.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
FIA's reaction to Ex-Renault pair.
The FIA notes the Decision of the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Paris in relation to Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds.
The Court has rejected the claims for damages made by Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds and their claim for an annulment of the FIA's decision. In particular, the Court did not examine the facts and has not reversed the FIA's finding that both Briatore and Symonds conspired to cause an intentional crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
However, the Court did question the FIA's authority to impose bans upon Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds for procedural reasons and because they are not FIA licence holders and, according to the Court, are therefore not subject to any FIA rules. The FIA's ability to exclude those who intentionally put others' lives at risk has never before been put into doubt and the FIA is carefully considering its appeal options on this point.
The Court’s decision is not enforceable until the FIA's appeal options have been exhausted. Until then, the World Motor Sport Council’s decision continues to apply.
In addition, the FIA intends to consider appropriate actions to ensure that no persons who would engage, or who have engaged, in such dangerous activities or acts of intentional cheating will be allowed to participate in Formula One in the future.
The Court has rejected the claims for damages made by Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds and their claim for an annulment of the FIA's decision. In particular, the Court did not examine the facts and has not reversed the FIA's finding that both Briatore and Symonds conspired to cause an intentional crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
However, the Court did question the FIA's authority to impose bans upon Mr. Briatore and Mr. Symonds for procedural reasons and because they are not FIA licence holders and, according to the Court, are therefore not subject to any FIA rules. The FIA's ability to exclude those who intentionally put others' lives at risk has never before been put into doubt and the FIA is carefully considering its appeal options on this point.
The Court’s decision is not enforceable until the FIA's appeal options have been exhausted. Until then, the World Motor Sport Council’s decision continues to apply.
In addition, the FIA intends to consider appropriate actions to ensure that no persons who would engage, or who have engaged, in such dangerous activities or acts of intentional cheating will be allowed to participate in Formula One in the future.
Monday, 28 December 2009
Former Ferrari engine chief joins FIA
Former Ferrari engine chief Gilles Simon is to join the FIA to help a push by Jean Todt to investigate new energies and more environmentally friendly technology for Formula 1 and other categories.
Simon left the Maranello-based team in October, and Todt has now revealed he will be heavily involved in a new working group that will work alongside committees within the FIA already looking at the environment and new energies.
FIA president Todt is adamant that F1 is not doing enough in environmental terms - especially with KERS having been dropped - and he wants Simon to begin a push to make the situation better.
In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, Todt said: "I am convinced that we absolutely must reflect the environment with new technologies.
"We must adapt to our time and review fundamentally motorsport – even create new disciplines.
"After giving up on KERS, we will accomplish nothing innovative next year. I'm sorry about that. I have therefore decided to create a working group...Gilles Simon, former boss at Ferrari engines, will join the FIA in this context."
Todt’s push on the environment is also mirrored by his belief that F1 must do more to keep reducing costs, despite the big efforts made by teams so far to bring down the amount of money needed to compete.
With FIA plans for a budget cap having left F1 on the brink of a breakaway in the middle of this year, teams eventually introduced a Resource Restriction Agreement – although Todt thinks more needs to be done.
"The F1 teams are sometimes blind and do not realise what is happening in the world," said Todt. "But the racing has been struck as always by the [financial] crisis.
"F1 is too expensive, and my predecessor Max Mosley made great efforts to reduce costs, but it was not enough, especially as some teams were resistant.
"I am sad that Honda, BMW and Toyota are gone, but when you spend a lot and the results are not there, it's inevitable. On the other hand, it's great that new teams will be coming in.
"But the cost-saving measures already taken are not sufficient. I am against limiting regulatory budgets, but if we want to perpetuate F1, it takes a real awareness and fundamental decisions."
Simon left the Maranello-based team in October, and Todt has now revealed he will be heavily involved in a new working group that will work alongside committees within the FIA already looking at the environment and new energies.
FIA president Todt is adamant that F1 is not doing enough in environmental terms - especially with KERS having been dropped - and he wants Simon to begin a push to make the situation better.
In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, Todt said: "I am convinced that we absolutely must reflect the environment with new technologies.
"We must adapt to our time and review fundamentally motorsport – even create new disciplines.
"After giving up on KERS, we will accomplish nothing innovative next year. I'm sorry about that. I have therefore decided to create a working group...Gilles Simon, former boss at Ferrari engines, will join the FIA in this context."
Todt’s push on the environment is also mirrored by his belief that F1 must do more to keep reducing costs, despite the big efforts made by teams so far to bring down the amount of money needed to compete.
With FIA plans for a budget cap having left F1 on the brink of a breakaway in the middle of this year, teams eventually introduced a Resource Restriction Agreement – although Todt thinks more needs to be done.
"The F1 teams are sometimes blind and do not realise what is happening in the world," said Todt. "But the racing has been struck as always by the [financial] crisis.
"F1 is too expensive, and my predecessor Max Mosley made great efforts to reduce costs, but it was not enough, especially as some teams were resistant.
"I am sad that Honda, BMW and Toyota are gone, but when you spend a lot and the results are not there, it's inevitable. On the other hand, it's great that new teams will be coming in.
"But the cost-saving measures already taken are not sufficient. I am against limiting regulatory budgets, but if we want to perpetuate F1, it takes a real awareness and fundamental decisions."
Friday, 11 December 2009
FIA confirm 2010 calendar
FORMULA ONE
F1 Stewards
A smaller permanent group of F1 Stewards will sit with experienced former F1 drivers to provide a permanent panel of three FIA stewards, together with one steward representing the National Sporting Authority, to deal with F1 at each Grand Prix.
There will no longer be a non-voting Chairman and each group of stewards will elect their own Chairman amongst themselves for each race. Utilising video and radio exchanges they should aim to reach decisions very efficiently.
The current observer programme for F1 stewards will continue, and training, distribution of decisions, and an annual meeting will be encouraged to raise the quality of decisions in this permanent group.
FIA F1 Ambassadors
An FIA F1 Ambassador will be appointed from the membership of the World Council for each event. The Ambassador will liaise with the National Sporting Authority (ASN) and organising team at the circuit. He will also meet with the ASN President, FIA VIP guests, Formula One Management, F1 Teams and other stakeholders and act as an Ambassador of FIA sport.
Points
Due to the expanded grid of 13 teams, and further to the recommendation of the F1 Commission, a new points system will be in place for the 2010 season.
2010 FIA Formula One World Championship
14/3 BHR Bahrain
28/3 AUS Australia
4/4 MYS Malaysia
18/4 CHN China
9/5 ESP Spain
16/5 MCO Monaco
30/5 TUR Turkey
13/6 CAN Canada
27/6 ESP Europe (Valencia)
11/7 GBR Great Britain
25/7 DEU Germany
1/8 HUN Hungary
29/8 BEL Belgium
12/9 ITA Italy
26/9 SGP Singapore
10/10 JPN Japan
24/10 KOR Korea*
7/11 BRA Brazil
14/11 ARE Abu Dhabi
*Subject to the homologation of the circuit.
Note: The races in Australia and Abu Dhabi will start at 1700 local time, in Malaysia at 1600 local time, in Canada at 1200 local time, in Singapore at 2000 local time, and in Japan at 1500 local time.
FIA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP COMMISSIONERS
Commissioners for the FIA World Championships will be appointed by the World Motor Sport Council on the proposal of the President of the FIA.
The commissioners report directly to the President of the FIA and, at the request of the President, to the Deputy President of the FIA for Sport or to other members of the World Motor Sport Council.
The commissioners will be present at each event of the World Championship for which they have been appointed and their role is to serve as permanent liaison for the various stakeholders involved (ASNs, promoters, organisers, manufacturers, teams, officials, suppliers, etc.).
They are also tasked with supervising the general running of the Championship and its development on behalf of the FIA.
The commissioners are not empowered to take decisions or to perform any other act of a regulatory nature which may come under the remit (sporting, technical, organisational or disciplinary) accorded to the officials of the event by the International Sporting Code.
The appointment of the commissioners will allow the FIA President to focus on the strategic development of the FIA and in particular to further encourage the synergies between mobility and motor sport.
F1 Stewards
A smaller permanent group of F1 Stewards will sit with experienced former F1 drivers to provide a permanent panel of three FIA stewards, together with one steward representing the National Sporting Authority, to deal with F1 at each Grand Prix.
There will no longer be a non-voting Chairman and each group of stewards will elect their own Chairman amongst themselves for each race. Utilising video and radio exchanges they should aim to reach decisions very efficiently.
The current observer programme for F1 stewards will continue, and training, distribution of decisions, and an annual meeting will be encouraged to raise the quality of decisions in this permanent group.
FIA F1 Ambassadors
An FIA F1 Ambassador will be appointed from the membership of the World Council for each event. The Ambassador will liaise with the National Sporting Authority (ASN) and organising team at the circuit. He will also meet with the ASN President, FIA VIP guests, Formula One Management, F1 Teams and other stakeholders and act as an Ambassador of FIA sport.
Points
Due to the expanded grid of 13 teams, and further to the recommendation of the F1 Commission, a new points system will be in place for the 2010 season.
2010 FIA Formula One World Championship
14/3 BHR Bahrain
28/3 AUS Australia
4/4 MYS Malaysia
18/4 CHN China
9/5 ESP Spain
16/5 MCO Monaco
30/5 TUR Turkey
13/6 CAN Canada
27/6 ESP Europe (Valencia)
11/7 GBR Great Britain
25/7 DEU Germany
1/8 HUN Hungary
29/8 BEL Belgium
12/9 ITA Italy
26/9 SGP Singapore
10/10 JPN Japan
24/10 KOR Korea*
7/11 BRA Brazil
14/11 ARE Abu Dhabi
*Subject to the homologation of the circuit.
Note: The races in Australia and Abu Dhabi will start at 1700 local time, in Malaysia at 1600 local time, in Canada at 1200 local time, in Singapore at 2000 local time, and in Japan at 1500 local time.
FIA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP COMMISSIONERS
Commissioners for the FIA World Championships will be appointed by the World Motor Sport Council on the proposal of the President of the FIA.
The commissioners report directly to the President of the FIA and, at the request of the President, to the Deputy President of the FIA for Sport or to other members of the World Motor Sport Council.
The commissioners will be present at each event of the World Championship for which they have been appointed and their role is to serve as permanent liaison for the various stakeholders involved (ASNs, promoters, organisers, manufacturers, teams, officials, suppliers, etc.).
They are also tasked with supervising the general running of the Championship and its development on behalf of the FIA.
The commissioners are not empowered to take decisions or to perform any other act of a regulatory nature which may come under the remit (sporting, technical, organisational or disciplinary) accorded to the officials of the event by the International Sporting Code.
The appointment of the commissioners will allow the FIA President to focus on the strategic development of the FIA and in particular to further encourage the synergies between mobility and motor sport.
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Tribunal De Grande Instance 25/11/2009
The Tribunal de Grande Instance in Paris has upheld the FIA’s selection procedure for new teams in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship and rejected a legal action filed by UK company MSC, one of the unsuccessful candidates. The court rejected all points raised by MSC and ordered the company to pay the FIA’s legal costs.
MSC was one of 15 new organizations to submit an application to compete in the championship in 2010. The FIA’s selection procedure involved a thorough due diligence process on all applications with the assistance of financial auditors Deloitte & Touche and other technical experts.
MSC was one of 15 new organizations to submit an application to compete in the championship in 2010. The FIA’s selection procedure involved a thorough due diligence process on all applications with the assistance of financial auditors Deloitte & Touche and other technical experts.
Thursday, 29 October 2009
FIA Thursday press conference - Abu Dhabi
Drivers: Fernando Alonso (Renault), Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari), Adrian Sutil (Force India) and Jarno Trulli (Toyota)
Q: A question to you all. What are your reactions to seeing the Yas Island Circuit for the first time. The facilities? The circuit? Adrian, would you like to start?
Adrian Sutil: Impressive, let’s say. A very nice circuit, very big. I think it is the biggest I’ve ever seen. The facilities are amazing. It is going to be an interesting weekend really.
Jarno Trulli: I think I agree. I was impressed with the facilities and the place and the circuit. So far it seems to be very well made with the surface and the kerbs. I think the run-off area so far seems pretty good. Obviously before we judge the circuit lay-out we need to have a run.
Kimi Raikkonen: I have only seen the paddock area so far. I haven’t been around the circuit yet. It looks all new and you can see a bit that it is last minute but, overall, it is a very big, massive thing and it will be one of the nicest when everything is ready.
Q: Fernando, have you looked at it on the simulator?
Fernando Alonso: No, no simulator for us. Not even Play Station this time. It will be the first lap tomorrow. Again, the same as all the others, I am very impressed with all the facilities. The circuit itself and the lay-out I think we need to wait until tomorrow as in the car you have always different feelings and different sensations, so I am looking forward. It will be an interesting weekend especially with the late start for the race, with the lights, so it can be quite a good show for television.
Q: Adrian, you have tried it on the simulator, haven’t you?
AS: Yes, I tried it on the simulator. It is quite good to drive but let’s say, not overwhelming, but let’s see how it is in the real. It is always a different thing.
Q: Do you think you can continue the form you have shown in the last few races here?
AS: Well, hopefully yes. There are long straights on this circuit, so hopefully it will suit our car but it is hard to say where we are. It went really well in the last races, especially in qualifying where our pace was great. But it is a new circuit and we have no set-up here. For everybody it is a big challenge, so let’s see how we go but we try to do the best out of the car and hope for a really good race.
Q: There are a lot of right angle turns here. Do you think they will hurt the car?
AS: Yeah, a long straight and then hairpins. Some second gear corners, some first gear corners, so actually really slow corners everywhere. I am not sure if it suits us but we will have to try and make the best out of it. But when I walked the circuit today I had quite a good feeling, so hopefully it is the truth.
Q: What about your future? What are the chances of staying on at Force India?
AS: Well, at the moment I am still not confirmed but we are talking with Force India for sure and it would be a good thing to do another season there. Both sides are interested and I feel really well with my team at the moment.
Q: Jarno, a similar questions to you really, concerning your form over the last few races and your future.
JT: I think it was really good by the team to show the performance in the last few races after a poor middle of the season. It was nice to be back fighting for the front. I think we missed a little bit of luck but all in all it was nice to prove that Toyota was bouncing back after a fantastic start to the season. But to be honest we have gone through such an up and down season that it is difficult to predict what is going to happen for this race. These hot conditions should suit our car but it is only a hope and we will only find out during the weekend. Regarding the future, I have nothing to say or add at the moment.
Q: Are you talking to other teams as well at the moment?
JT: I prefer not to make any speculation. Obviously I have got some options.
Q: What are your thoughts on possibly leaving Toyota?
JT: Obviously there is a high chance to be leaving Toyota but it difficult to say and talk about. A lot is up in the air.
Q: Kimi, what are your thoughts on leaving Ferrari?
KR: Well, it is not any different than a few races ago. I don’t have a contract anymore with them. It is the last race and we try to make a good result and we will see what happens in the future.
Q: Is your focus totally on Formula One or would you like to pursue your rallying career?
KR: Basically I have a few different options and we will see what is the best one overall and then make my decision.
Q: Would rallying be a consideration?
KR: It is definitely one of them, but I mean it is not just Formula One and rallying. There are other things I could do and we will see what happens.
Q: Just looking back at the second part of the season. You have only scored two points less than the person who has scored the most points. Considering that development has stopped on the car it is a pretty remarkable record, isn’t it?
KR: Yeah, I think we had a good second half. The car is definitely not the fastest but we found a pretty good way of working with the car and getting the best out of. It has been more normal to drive than for a long time before. Once you get something that you have a good feeling with, then usually you get good results. The bigger teams or the better teams who have been faster this year should have done better; better cars, better results and better points overall in the last part but they haven’t and I think we did pretty well.
Q: It seems almost unfair that the focus has been on your team-mates and how fast they have been going whereas you have been racking up points all the time.
KR: It makes no difference for me really. I don’t think they have been going very fast and they can talk to them as much as they want. We just try to score points and get good results. That has been our aim and is still our aim in the last race and hopefully we can get a bit more than McLaren.
Q: Fernando, looking at your future and leaving Renault. What are your thoughts on those?
FA: Well, obviously it is finishing one of the steps that you do in your career and now it is time to move forward and change team. It will be quite an emotional race as it has been many years with Renault now, seven years with them, and I know everybody in the team. Some of them after so many years are good friends to me, so for sure I will miss them in the future but a new challenge is ahead of me now and I am looking forward to next year as well.
Q: When do you go to Ferrari for the first time? Is there a date?
FA: No, there is not a date.
Q: No ideas?
FA: No, soon.
Q: Pretty soon?
FA: Hopefully, yes.
Q: I know for a long time you had somewhere to live in Oxford. Are you going to have somewhere in Maranello?
FA: No, I will be in Switzerland, where I am now, but it is not too far from Maranello. It is only three hours driving or whatever, or two, so it won’t be too difficult to go there.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Dan Knutson - National Speed Sport News) If I can ask all of you. Jean Todt is the new President of the FIA. What would you like to see him achieve and accomplish for Formula One? Jarno, would you like to start?
JT: I mean he knows better than me what Formula One needs at the moment. Probably stability and consistency in terms of rules as this will help the cost cutting. There are plenty of things that will be discussed with the team principals. They really have to work together in order to get Formula One back to where it was last year. This year has been pretty difficult in general. On our side, the drivers’ side, I think we have always had a good relationship with the FIA people. We look after safety and it will be important to talk to each other.
KR: I think he is going to do good work. I think he is a good guy for this work and he is very straightforward and not too much politics. But I know from working with him that he is going to be the right guy.
FA: The same. I think his experience in Formula One will be a huge help to improve things and he will have a better idea of what Formula One needs. He is quite a clever guy, so I am sure we are in good hands now.
AS: Yeah, I think a good President. He has a lot of experience in Formula One and he knows what’s important. I think the biggest point is maybe the drivers can also argue a little bit than just being asked about situations and stuff like that as it did not really happen, I think I had a feeling, in the last years. That will be the most important thing for myself that we are in there for discussions as well sometimes.
Q: (Chris Lines - Associated Press) Question for you all about the late start: starting in the afternoon, going into the evening. We had a situation in Australia, first race of the year, with a similar kind of timing. Towards the end of the race there were complaints from the drivers about the sun getting in their eyes, complaints about the track cooling down, so the grip wasn’t as good. Do you have concerns here for the same reasons?
KR: I don’t think there will be any problems. Of course, it might look a little bit different at some point when the sun disappears but the lights, at least in Singapore, were so good that you hardly see the difference between day and night. Here, it will be quite hot anyhow, so it should be OK.
Q: Would ten degrees make a lot of difference to the track temperature?
FA: I don’t think so. I think in Australia the temperatures were different. Here, the track temperature at the start of the race will maybe be 50 degrees, so it will never be cool enough to give you problems warming up the tyres.
AS: Very similar. I think it won’t be a real problem. The only place where we were quite late this year with the sunset was in Australia. It was a little bit difficult, for sure, in some corners but not a problem for me, and temperature-wise, well, it’s so hot here anyway, so we shouldn’t have a problem. For sure you have to readjust the temperatures but it’s about communicating with the engineers and just doing the right thing at the right time.
JT: I agree. In general temperatures shouldn’t be a problem. The only question mark which we will eventually find out about tomorrow will be the shadows because of the sunset in this twilight race. We’ve got the experience of Australia and all the time schedule has been moved, so already tomorrow we will find out, so we will get an idea.
Q: (Ian Parkes - The Press Association) Question to Jarno and Adrian: I’m just wondering if you two guys have settled your differences after your exchange of words following your first lap accident in Brazil?
JT: I think we’re going to discuss it probably tomorrow in the drivers’ briefing and in the GPDA briefing. Obviously it was very disappointing to end the race like that, especially on the first lap. Obviously I think I had every reason to be extremely furious. I’ve got all the evidence to show that I was there, I was next to him, so I think tomorrow we are going to discuss it.
AS: I think there’s nothing to discuss. It was a quite obvious incident. In the end it was very disappointing for myself, even more, I think, because I was the one who was just driving and he lost control of his car and crashed in my back, so it was not my problem, it was his problem. I don’t know why he’s freaking out like that, to be honest.
JT: (Laughing) If you want, I can show you some pictures. I don’t know if you’re blind but they clearly show you that my front wing is next to your front wing, so…
AS: Yeah, but you’re trying to overtake me on the outside on the kerbing. There was not a problem…
JT: So you mean… you didn’t move there…
AS: No, you were just not going off the power. The same happened in Barcelona where you lost control again and crashed again into a Force India car. You just have to sometimes also…
JT: I just lost…
AS: ...expect the limits of the car. If there’s no way to go, you have to back off, that’s how racing is, and I don’t know how long you want to learn it.
JT: In Barcelona I spun and he hit me because he tapped the kerb, he completely cut the circuit and he didn’t slow down, so basically… Anyway, I think it’s better…
FA: (to KR) Shall we go?
AS: No, no. Watch the race in Barcelona. I didn’t hit you, you hit me. I don’t know what’s the problem, but maybe your eyes are a problem.
JT: I don’t have any feeling about him.
AS: I don’t understand, really, sorry.
Q: (Alan Baldwin - Reuters) I was actually going to ask a similar question, but maybe the two of you can agree on what you said after the incident in Brazil, because obviously Jarno was seen to be gesticulating and saying quite a few things. Could you just tell us what was said at the time?
JT: I was furious because I said ‘didn’t you see me?’ I mean, I was next to him and he kept pushing me going outside until I was obviously on the kerbs. I couldn’t believe…
AS: …the kerbs, not a problem to be on the kerb, I think. Where’s the problem?
JT: Ok, no problem, it’s OK. As long as we know the rules.
AS: I know the rules.
JT: Fantastic.
Q: (Andrea Cremonesi - La Gazzetta dello Sport) Fernando, you were behind these two guys. Could you give us your point of view and Kimi, we heard something about you taking a sabbatical next year in 2010. Is that true, it’s an option or not?
KR: I can if I want. I can do whatever I want, but like I said before, I haven’t made my decision what I want to do yet.
FA: Yes, I saw everything, more or less. Second or third row, because I had two cars in front of me but as Jarno said, I think tomorrow in the drivers’ briefing we will discuss… deep.
Q: (Joris Fioriti - AFP) Do you think, the four of you, that Jenson Button is a good champion for the sport, or just that he had the best car this year?
FA: I think he’s a good champion for Formula One and he deserved it. He did a very good job this season. It’s true that in the second half he maybe didn’t score the points that people expected but it was very difficult to keep the same average points as in the first half, when he won all the races. For that reason, you have the feeling that he stepped back a little bit but I think he did a very good job. If you look at the overall view of the championship from race one to the final race, he was the best of us, so he deserved it. It’s good for him, good for Brawn and good for the sport, I think.
AS: Yes, I think he deserved it, definitely. I think it was quite hard in the last races because he was maybe struggling a little bit with the car and the car just wasn’t the fastest anymore, so they were harder races for him, but I think he always made the best of his possibilities and scored points, a few points, sometimes more points but it was definitely enough for the championship, so my congratulations to him. He did a good job this year, yeah.
JT: I think he’s a very well deserved champion because it’s turned out a good season. Obviously he’s had some ups and downs but he managed to handle the situation; when he had the best car he proved he was a race winner and when he had to defend he just drove well, always keeping his head cool. I think in the end, he deserved it.
KR: Yeah, he had the most points, also at the end of the season but whoever gets the most points deserves it, so he’s definitely the right man for that.
Q: (Flavio Vanetti - Corriere dello Sport) Kimi, what would like to tell Fernando as he’s joining Ferrari to replace you?
KR: I don’t think I need to tell him anything; for sure he will find out. He’s been in Formula One a long time and he’s not going to have any issues there. I think he’s probably been there before and met the people already, so there’s not much to say.
Q: (Gautam Sharma - F1 Racing, Middle East) Question for Fernando: do you know anything about the car you will be driving next year and do you have any expectations for the season or are you just taking it as it comes?
FA: I don’t know anything so far, about the 2010 car but hopefully it’s quick enough to fight for the title which is the main goal not only for myself but for the team as well. After one season that was not good for me and maybe not good enough for Ferrari either, I think next year hopefully we have the possibility to fight and then you can win, you lose, it depends on many details but at least there is the possibility to be winning some races and afterwards you will see race by race. You never have any specific programme before the championship. You take it as it comes, later.
Q: (Jonathan Legard - BBC Sport) Question for Kimi: you talk about your options. I just wondered how important it would be if you decided to stay in Formula One, if you found another team, that you could do some rallying as well, like you did with Ferrari or whether that’s something of a stumbling block, wanting to do another form of motor sport as well as doing Formula One?
KR: It’s definitely going to be Formula One, it’s going to be in the contract that I’m allowed to do it (rallying). It’s not going to hurt you. Any kind of driving is always going to give you some experience, so I don’t see what’s the issue. It’s been working well this year, so as long as it doesn’t disturb what you’re doing in Formula One or whatever you do, I don’t see that there’s any problem.
Q: (Joris Fioriti - AFP) Both championships have been settled. Will this race be the last opportunity to show yourselves, the ones that don’t have a team for next year?
JT: I think we race for the team as well. We don’t only race for us. We always want to do our best and obviously this is the last race and we want to finish on a high, not just for us or the team. Basically we’re in the same boat.
KR: You always try to do your best - at least, I try and it’s the same story in the last race: we try to get back third place in the championship for the team. I think it’s a bit late if you only try to do your best in the last race to try to prove yourself to some other team, then you shouldn’t be there. It’s the same story as any race this year: we try to do the maximum.
AS: For me it makes no difference. I’m always trying to get the best out of the car and do my best. It’s the last race but there’s no difference for me.
Q: (Jonathan Legard - BBC Sport) Fernando, after you won the title in 2005, there were still two races to go. How did you approach those? Just thinking of Jenson Button’s approach; he’s done it now, is there a sense of release, any different approach to the race?
FA: I think he will be more relaxed because you did the job already, and they also won the constructors’ championship, so there is nothing really to fight for, so you approach the race relaxed and you enjoy the weekend, while in the last two or three races you maybe had some stress when you arrived at a race. For me, 2005 was different because we were fighting for the constructors’ championship until the last race, so there was still a little bit of stress in the weekend, but for him it will be quite a fun weekend.
Q: A question to you all. What are your reactions to seeing the Yas Island Circuit for the first time. The facilities? The circuit? Adrian, would you like to start?
Adrian Sutil: Impressive, let’s say. A very nice circuit, very big. I think it is the biggest I’ve ever seen. The facilities are amazing. It is going to be an interesting weekend really.
Jarno Trulli: I think I agree. I was impressed with the facilities and the place and the circuit. So far it seems to be very well made with the surface and the kerbs. I think the run-off area so far seems pretty good. Obviously before we judge the circuit lay-out we need to have a run.
Kimi Raikkonen: I have only seen the paddock area so far. I haven’t been around the circuit yet. It looks all new and you can see a bit that it is last minute but, overall, it is a very big, massive thing and it will be one of the nicest when everything is ready.
Q: Fernando, have you looked at it on the simulator?
Fernando Alonso: No, no simulator for us. Not even Play Station this time. It will be the first lap tomorrow. Again, the same as all the others, I am very impressed with all the facilities. The circuit itself and the lay-out I think we need to wait until tomorrow as in the car you have always different feelings and different sensations, so I am looking forward. It will be an interesting weekend especially with the late start for the race, with the lights, so it can be quite a good show for television.
Q: Adrian, you have tried it on the simulator, haven’t you?
AS: Yes, I tried it on the simulator. It is quite good to drive but let’s say, not overwhelming, but let’s see how it is in the real. It is always a different thing.
Q: Do you think you can continue the form you have shown in the last few races here?
AS: Well, hopefully yes. There are long straights on this circuit, so hopefully it will suit our car but it is hard to say where we are. It went really well in the last races, especially in qualifying where our pace was great. But it is a new circuit and we have no set-up here. For everybody it is a big challenge, so let’s see how we go but we try to do the best out of the car and hope for a really good race.
Q: There are a lot of right angle turns here. Do you think they will hurt the car?
AS: Yeah, a long straight and then hairpins. Some second gear corners, some first gear corners, so actually really slow corners everywhere. I am not sure if it suits us but we will have to try and make the best out of it. But when I walked the circuit today I had quite a good feeling, so hopefully it is the truth.
Q: What about your future? What are the chances of staying on at Force India?
AS: Well, at the moment I am still not confirmed but we are talking with Force India for sure and it would be a good thing to do another season there. Both sides are interested and I feel really well with my team at the moment.
Q: Jarno, a similar questions to you really, concerning your form over the last few races and your future.
JT: I think it was really good by the team to show the performance in the last few races after a poor middle of the season. It was nice to be back fighting for the front. I think we missed a little bit of luck but all in all it was nice to prove that Toyota was bouncing back after a fantastic start to the season. But to be honest we have gone through such an up and down season that it is difficult to predict what is going to happen for this race. These hot conditions should suit our car but it is only a hope and we will only find out during the weekend. Regarding the future, I have nothing to say or add at the moment.
Q: Are you talking to other teams as well at the moment?
JT: I prefer not to make any speculation. Obviously I have got some options.
Q: What are your thoughts on possibly leaving Toyota?
JT: Obviously there is a high chance to be leaving Toyota but it difficult to say and talk about. A lot is up in the air.
Q: Kimi, what are your thoughts on leaving Ferrari?
KR: Well, it is not any different than a few races ago. I don’t have a contract anymore with them. It is the last race and we try to make a good result and we will see what happens in the future.
Q: Is your focus totally on Formula One or would you like to pursue your rallying career?
KR: Basically I have a few different options and we will see what is the best one overall and then make my decision.
Q: Would rallying be a consideration?
KR: It is definitely one of them, but I mean it is not just Formula One and rallying. There are other things I could do and we will see what happens.
Q: Just looking back at the second part of the season. You have only scored two points less than the person who has scored the most points. Considering that development has stopped on the car it is a pretty remarkable record, isn’t it?
KR: Yeah, I think we had a good second half. The car is definitely not the fastest but we found a pretty good way of working with the car and getting the best out of. It has been more normal to drive than for a long time before. Once you get something that you have a good feeling with, then usually you get good results. The bigger teams or the better teams who have been faster this year should have done better; better cars, better results and better points overall in the last part but they haven’t and I think we did pretty well.
Q: It seems almost unfair that the focus has been on your team-mates and how fast they have been going whereas you have been racking up points all the time.
KR: It makes no difference for me really. I don’t think they have been going very fast and they can talk to them as much as they want. We just try to score points and get good results. That has been our aim and is still our aim in the last race and hopefully we can get a bit more than McLaren.
Q: Fernando, looking at your future and leaving Renault. What are your thoughts on those?
FA: Well, obviously it is finishing one of the steps that you do in your career and now it is time to move forward and change team. It will be quite an emotional race as it has been many years with Renault now, seven years with them, and I know everybody in the team. Some of them after so many years are good friends to me, so for sure I will miss them in the future but a new challenge is ahead of me now and I am looking forward to next year as well.
Q: When do you go to Ferrari for the first time? Is there a date?
FA: No, there is not a date.
Q: No ideas?
FA: No, soon.
Q: Pretty soon?
FA: Hopefully, yes.
Q: I know for a long time you had somewhere to live in Oxford. Are you going to have somewhere in Maranello?
FA: No, I will be in Switzerland, where I am now, but it is not too far from Maranello. It is only three hours driving or whatever, or two, so it won’t be too difficult to go there.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (Dan Knutson - National Speed Sport News) If I can ask all of you. Jean Todt is the new President of the FIA. What would you like to see him achieve and accomplish for Formula One? Jarno, would you like to start?
JT: I mean he knows better than me what Formula One needs at the moment. Probably stability and consistency in terms of rules as this will help the cost cutting. There are plenty of things that will be discussed with the team principals. They really have to work together in order to get Formula One back to where it was last year. This year has been pretty difficult in general. On our side, the drivers’ side, I think we have always had a good relationship with the FIA people. We look after safety and it will be important to talk to each other.
KR: I think he is going to do good work. I think he is a good guy for this work and he is very straightforward and not too much politics. But I know from working with him that he is going to be the right guy.
FA: The same. I think his experience in Formula One will be a huge help to improve things and he will have a better idea of what Formula One needs. He is quite a clever guy, so I am sure we are in good hands now.
AS: Yeah, I think a good President. He has a lot of experience in Formula One and he knows what’s important. I think the biggest point is maybe the drivers can also argue a little bit than just being asked about situations and stuff like that as it did not really happen, I think I had a feeling, in the last years. That will be the most important thing for myself that we are in there for discussions as well sometimes.
Q: (Chris Lines - Associated Press) Question for you all about the late start: starting in the afternoon, going into the evening. We had a situation in Australia, first race of the year, with a similar kind of timing. Towards the end of the race there were complaints from the drivers about the sun getting in their eyes, complaints about the track cooling down, so the grip wasn’t as good. Do you have concerns here for the same reasons?
KR: I don’t think there will be any problems. Of course, it might look a little bit different at some point when the sun disappears but the lights, at least in Singapore, were so good that you hardly see the difference between day and night. Here, it will be quite hot anyhow, so it should be OK.
Q: Would ten degrees make a lot of difference to the track temperature?
FA: I don’t think so. I think in Australia the temperatures were different. Here, the track temperature at the start of the race will maybe be 50 degrees, so it will never be cool enough to give you problems warming up the tyres.
AS: Very similar. I think it won’t be a real problem. The only place where we were quite late this year with the sunset was in Australia. It was a little bit difficult, for sure, in some corners but not a problem for me, and temperature-wise, well, it’s so hot here anyway, so we shouldn’t have a problem. For sure you have to readjust the temperatures but it’s about communicating with the engineers and just doing the right thing at the right time.
JT: I agree. In general temperatures shouldn’t be a problem. The only question mark which we will eventually find out about tomorrow will be the shadows because of the sunset in this twilight race. We’ve got the experience of Australia and all the time schedule has been moved, so already tomorrow we will find out, so we will get an idea.
Q: (Ian Parkes - The Press Association) Question to Jarno and Adrian: I’m just wondering if you two guys have settled your differences after your exchange of words following your first lap accident in Brazil?
JT: I think we’re going to discuss it probably tomorrow in the drivers’ briefing and in the GPDA briefing. Obviously it was very disappointing to end the race like that, especially on the first lap. Obviously I think I had every reason to be extremely furious. I’ve got all the evidence to show that I was there, I was next to him, so I think tomorrow we are going to discuss it.
AS: I think there’s nothing to discuss. It was a quite obvious incident. In the end it was very disappointing for myself, even more, I think, because I was the one who was just driving and he lost control of his car and crashed in my back, so it was not my problem, it was his problem. I don’t know why he’s freaking out like that, to be honest.
JT: (Laughing) If you want, I can show you some pictures. I don’t know if you’re blind but they clearly show you that my front wing is next to your front wing, so…
AS: Yeah, but you’re trying to overtake me on the outside on the kerbing. There was not a problem…
JT: So you mean… you didn’t move there…
AS: No, you were just not going off the power. The same happened in Barcelona where you lost control again and crashed again into a Force India car. You just have to sometimes also…
JT: I just lost…
AS: ...expect the limits of the car. If there’s no way to go, you have to back off, that’s how racing is, and I don’t know how long you want to learn it.
JT: In Barcelona I spun and he hit me because he tapped the kerb, he completely cut the circuit and he didn’t slow down, so basically… Anyway, I think it’s better…
FA: (to KR) Shall we go?
AS: No, no. Watch the race in Barcelona. I didn’t hit you, you hit me. I don’t know what’s the problem, but maybe your eyes are a problem.
JT: I don’t have any feeling about him.
AS: I don’t understand, really, sorry.
Q: (Alan Baldwin - Reuters) I was actually going to ask a similar question, but maybe the two of you can agree on what you said after the incident in Brazil, because obviously Jarno was seen to be gesticulating and saying quite a few things. Could you just tell us what was said at the time?
JT: I was furious because I said ‘didn’t you see me?’ I mean, I was next to him and he kept pushing me going outside until I was obviously on the kerbs. I couldn’t believe…
AS: …the kerbs, not a problem to be on the kerb, I think. Where’s the problem?
JT: Ok, no problem, it’s OK. As long as we know the rules.
AS: I know the rules.
JT: Fantastic.
Q: (Andrea Cremonesi - La Gazzetta dello Sport) Fernando, you were behind these two guys. Could you give us your point of view and Kimi, we heard something about you taking a sabbatical next year in 2010. Is that true, it’s an option or not?
KR: I can if I want. I can do whatever I want, but like I said before, I haven’t made my decision what I want to do yet.
FA: Yes, I saw everything, more or less. Second or third row, because I had two cars in front of me but as Jarno said, I think tomorrow in the drivers’ briefing we will discuss… deep.
Q: (Joris Fioriti - AFP) Do you think, the four of you, that Jenson Button is a good champion for the sport, or just that he had the best car this year?
FA: I think he’s a good champion for Formula One and he deserved it. He did a very good job this season. It’s true that in the second half he maybe didn’t score the points that people expected but it was very difficult to keep the same average points as in the first half, when he won all the races. For that reason, you have the feeling that he stepped back a little bit but I think he did a very good job. If you look at the overall view of the championship from race one to the final race, he was the best of us, so he deserved it. It’s good for him, good for Brawn and good for the sport, I think.
AS: Yes, I think he deserved it, definitely. I think it was quite hard in the last races because he was maybe struggling a little bit with the car and the car just wasn’t the fastest anymore, so they were harder races for him, but I think he always made the best of his possibilities and scored points, a few points, sometimes more points but it was definitely enough for the championship, so my congratulations to him. He did a good job this year, yeah.
JT: I think he’s a very well deserved champion because it’s turned out a good season. Obviously he’s had some ups and downs but he managed to handle the situation; when he had the best car he proved he was a race winner and when he had to defend he just drove well, always keeping his head cool. I think in the end, he deserved it.
KR: Yeah, he had the most points, also at the end of the season but whoever gets the most points deserves it, so he’s definitely the right man for that.
Q: (Flavio Vanetti - Corriere dello Sport) Kimi, what would like to tell Fernando as he’s joining Ferrari to replace you?
KR: I don’t think I need to tell him anything; for sure he will find out. He’s been in Formula One a long time and he’s not going to have any issues there. I think he’s probably been there before and met the people already, so there’s not much to say.
Q: (Gautam Sharma - F1 Racing, Middle East) Question for Fernando: do you know anything about the car you will be driving next year and do you have any expectations for the season or are you just taking it as it comes?
FA: I don’t know anything so far, about the 2010 car but hopefully it’s quick enough to fight for the title which is the main goal not only for myself but for the team as well. After one season that was not good for me and maybe not good enough for Ferrari either, I think next year hopefully we have the possibility to fight and then you can win, you lose, it depends on many details but at least there is the possibility to be winning some races and afterwards you will see race by race. You never have any specific programme before the championship. You take it as it comes, later.
Q: (Jonathan Legard - BBC Sport) Question for Kimi: you talk about your options. I just wondered how important it would be if you decided to stay in Formula One, if you found another team, that you could do some rallying as well, like you did with Ferrari or whether that’s something of a stumbling block, wanting to do another form of motor sport as well as doing Formula One?
KR: It’s definitely going to be Formula One, it’s going to be in the contract that I’m allowed to do it (rallying). It’s not going to hurt you. Any kind of driving is always going to give you some experience, so I don’t see what’s the issue. It’s been working well this year, so as long as it doesn’t disturb what you’re doing in Formula One or whatever you do, I don’t see that there’s any problem.
Q: (Joris Fioriti - AFP) Both championships have been settled. Will this race be the last opportunity to show yourselves, the ones that don’t have a team for next year?
JT: I think we race for the team as well. We don’t only race for us. We always want to do our best and obviously this is the last race and we want to finish on a high, not just for us or the team. Basically we’re in the same boat.
KR: You always try to do your best - at least, I try and it’s the same story in the last race: we try to get back third place in the championship for the team. I think it’s a bit late if you only try to do your best in the last race to try to prove yourself to some other team, then you shouldn’t be there. It’s the same story as any race this year: we try to do the maximum.
AS: For me it makes no difference. I’m always trying to get the best out of the car and do my best. It’s the last race but there’s no difference for me.
Q: (Jonathan Legard - BBC Sport) Fernando, after you won the title in 2005, there were still two races to go. How did you approach those? Just thinking of Jenson Button’s approach; he’s done it now, is there a sense of release, any different approach to the race?
FA: I think he will be more relaxed because you did the job already, and they also won the constructors’ championship, so there is nothing really to fight for, so you approach the race relaxed and you enjoy the weekend, while in the last two or three races you maybe had some stress when you arrived at a race. For me, 2005 was different because we were fighting for the constructors’ championship until the last race, so there was still a little bit of stress in the weekend, but for him it will be quite a fun weekend.
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Todt wants harmony with F1's teams
Newly-elected FIA president Jean Todt says that he intends to work towards a harmonious relationship between the governing body and Formula 1's teams, but warned that they must drive down the cost of competing in the sport.
Todt, who replaces Max Mosley after his 16 years in power, landed an overwhelming victory over Ari Vatanen in Friday's FIA presidential election.
"It will be a harmonious relationship," the former Ferrari team principal told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, when asked about how he will work with FOTA. "That's necessary to improve everything.
"It will also be necessary to reduce costs: considering the time we live in, carrying on at these levels is absurd."
Todt added that he did not intend to instigate sweeping changes in the way the FIA is run, but said that his methods of governing would be different from Mosley's.
"I'm against who said we must change it at all cost," he said. "Not everything needs to be binned. We need constructive change. What was true ten years ago isn't true anymore now, for both road mobility and for the sport.
"I feel affection for Mosley, but we are different in our culture, studies, and nationalities. There are many things I see differently from him.
"I, as president, have to be content with indicating the path while being less present," he added, speaking of the role of commissioners to oversee individual areas of motorsport.
Asked about what new technologies he would like to see introduced into F1, Todt replied: "Mosley was right in defending KERS. The constructors will have to work hard to reduce the impact on the environment. They can't keep their eyes shut anymore."
Todt also said that Ferrari would be expected to tow the line along with all of F1 teams, despite revealing that he still considered himself a close friend of the Italian team's president Luca di Montezemolo.
"Our relationship will be excellent," said Todt, referring to speculation that the pair had fallen out. "I was sorry to read that my bond with Montezemolo has turned sour. That's all bullshit.
"In fact, the night before the election he sent me a very nice text message. I will never forget the 16 years spent in Maranello. But, even though it's the most famous and powerful team in F1, it will have to respect the rules."
Todt, who replaces Max Mosley after his 16 years in power, landed an overwhelming victory over Ari Vatanen in Friday's FIA presidential election.
"It will be a harmonious relationship," the former Ferrari team principal told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, when asked about how he will work with FOTA. "That's necessary to improve everything.
"It will also be necessary to reduce costs: considering the time we live in, carrying on at these levels is absurd."
Todt added that he did not intend to instigate sweeping changes in the way the FIA is run, but said that his methods of governing would be different from Mosley's.
"I'm against who said we must change it at all cost," he said. "Not everything needs to be binned. We need constructive change. What was true ten years ago isn't true anymore now, for both road mobility and for the sport.
"I feel affection for Mosley, but we are different in our culture, studies, and nationalities. There are many things I see differently from him.
"I, as president, have to be content with indicating the path while being less present," he added, speaking of the role of commissioners to oversee individual areas of motorsport.
Asked about what new technologies he would like to see introduced into F1, Todt replied: "Mosley was right in defending KERS. The constructors will have to work hard to reduce the impact on the environment. They can't keep their eyes shut anymore."
Todt also said that Ferrari would be expected to tow the line along with all of F1 teams, despite revealing that he still considered himself a close friend of the Italian team's president Luca di Montezemolo.
"Our relationship will be excellent," said Todt, referring to speculation that the pair had fallen out. "I was sorry to read that my bond with Montezemolo has turned sour. That's all bullshit.
"In fact, the night before the election he sent me a very nice text message. I will never forget the 16 years spent in Maranello. But, even though it's the most famous and powerful team in F1, it will have to respect the rules."
FIA Institute to launch environmental division
The FIA meetings in Paris have resulted in a significant expansion of the FIA Institute to include not just safety issues but also questions of motor sport sustainability as well. The Institute will now promote research into sustainability, providing information and guidance on the best environmental practices, procedures and technologies. The aim is for this programme to include aspects of vehicle design and technology, infrastructure management, emissions monitoring and control, environmental education, carbon offsetting programmes, energy optimisation and storage, and the preservation of the natural environment.
"There is no doubt that eco-technology and issues of sustainability have become an essential part of motor sport," says Professor Sid Watkins, the FIA Institute President. "In future, professional championships will embrace a more sustainable means of racing. This decision was unanimously adopted by the FIA Institute's General Assembly at our annual meeting today. It follows the unanimous recommendation made by the FIA Institute Executive in June to change its statutes to bring sustainability into its sphere of activity."
The FIA Institute will support the training of officials, circuit and race personnel in environmental procedures and practices. It will also encourage environmental education and awareness of participants, officials and members of the public at international motor sport events, and monitor motor sport and motoring environmental trends in order to identify research and regulation priorities.
Expanding its remit to investigate issues surrounding the environment is seen to be a natural progression for the FIA Institute. It is funded by an annual grant from the FIA Foundation, which already focuses on both safety and sustainability in mobility. The FIA recently created the Environmentally Sustainable Motor Sport Commission (ESMSC), specifically tasked with developing policy to promote sustainable motor sport.
The Institute has various heads of different research and educational programmes and its staff includes former F1 designer Peter Wright, who acts as a technical advisor.
"There is no doubt that eco-technology and issues of sustainability have become an essential part of motor sport," says Professor Sid Watkins, the FIA Institute President. "In future, professional championships will embrace a more sustainable means of racing. This decision was unanimously adopted by the FIA Institute's General Assembly at our annual meeting today. It follows the unanimous recommendation made by the FIA Institute Executive in June to change its statutes to bring sustainability into its sphere of activity."
The FIA Institute will support the training of officials, circuit and race personnel in environmental procedures and practices. It will also encourage environmental education and awareness of participants, officials and members of the public at international motor sport events, and monitor motor sport and motoring environmental trends in order to identify research and regulation priorities.
Expanding its remit to investigate issues surrounding the environment is seen to be a natural progression for the FIA Institute. It is funded by an annual grant from the FIA Foundation, which already focuses on both safety and sustainability in mobility. The FIA recently created the Environmentally Sustainable Motor Sport Commission (ESMSC), specifically tasked with developing policy to promote sustainable motor sport.
The Institute has various heads of different research and educational programmes and its staff includes former F1 designer Peter Wright, who acts as a technical advisor.
Vatanen surprised by scale of defeat
Saturday, 24 October 2009 17:14
Ari Vatanen has expressed his disappointment and surprise after Jean Todt's commanding victory in their race for the FIA president's role.
The former rally star had been thought to be gaining ground on the ex-Ferrari boss as the controversial campaign drew to a close, but Todt's winning margin was ultimately 135 votes to just 49 for Vatanen.
He had been strongly critical of Todt's campaign - and particularly the support he received from the previous FIA establishment, and reckoned that had proved crucial.
"I did not expect that such a vast majority would vote for Jean Todt," Vatanen was quoted as saying by Reuters.
"I thought that more people would vote for me but apparently the delegates felt the pressure."
Vatanen said he was frustrated because he did not think Todt would make the changes he believes the governing body desperately requires.
"It's very hard to renew this regime," he said.
"I hope that the FIA will become more democratic but so far it is just wishful thinking."
But at a press conference to celebrate his victory, Todt insisted his pledges of a more conciliatory future were not just election rhetoric - and called on both sides in the election battle to unite for the good of the FIA.
"The day the election is over everybody must share the same goals, including those who did not support me," Todt said.
"I am not closing the door to anybody."
Ari Vatanen has expressed his disappointment and surprise after Jean Todt's commanding victory in their race for the FIA president's role.
The former rally star had been thought to be gaining ground on the ex-Ferrari boss as the controversial campaign drew to a close, but Todt's winning margin was ultimately 135 votes to just 49 for Vatanen.
He had been strongly critical of Todt's campaign - and particularly the support he received from the previous FIA establishment, and reckoned that had proved crucial.
"I did not expect that such a vast majority would vote for Jean Todt," Vatanen was quoted as saying by Reuters.
"I thought that more people would vote for me but apparently the delegates felt the pressure."
Vatanen said he was frustrated because he did not think Todt would make the changes he believes the governing body desperately requires.
"It's very hard to renew this regime," he said.
"I hope that the FIA will become more democratic but so far it is just wishful thinking."
But at a press conference to celebrate his victory, Todt insisted his pledges of a more conciliatory future were not just election rhetoric - and called on both sides in the election battle to unite for the good of the FIA.
"The day the election is over everybody must share the same goals, including those who did not support me," Todt said.
"I am not closing the door to anybody."
Saturday, 24 October 2009
FIA Elects World Council Members
Following the election of the FIA President, the FIA General Assembly elected remaining members of the FIA World Councils to serve for the next four years.
The new composition of the World Council for Automobile Mobility & Tourism and the World Motor Sport Council is as follows:
FIA President
Jean Todt (France)
FIA Deputy President for Sport
Graham Stoker (United Kingdom)
Vice Presidents for Sport
Jose Abed (Mexico)
Michel Boeri (Monaco)
Morrie Chandler (New Zealand)
Enrico Gelpi (Italy)
Carlos Gracia Fuertes (Spain)
Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)
Surinder Thatthi (Tanzania)
Members
Shk Abdulla Bin Isa Alkhalifa (Bahrain)
Garry Connelly (Australia)
Vassilis Despotopoulos (Greece)
Luis Pinto de Freitas (Portugal)
Zrinko Gregurek (Croatia)
Wan Heping (China)
Victor Kiryanov (Russia)
Henry Krausz (Dominican Republic)
Vijay Mallya (India)
Hugo R. Mersan (Paraguay)
Radovan Novak (Czech Republic)
Lars Österlind (Sweden)
Vicenzo Spano (Venezuela)
Teng Lip Tan (Signapore)
President of the International Karting Commission
Nicolas Deschaux (France)
President of the FOM
Bernard Ecclestone (United Kingdom)
President of the FIA Manufacturers' Commission
François Cornelis (Belgium)
The new composition of the World Council for Automobile Mobility & Tourism and the World Motor Sport Council is as follows:
FIA President
Jean Todt (France)
FIA Deputy President for Sport
Graham Stoker (United Kingdom)
Vice Presidents for Sport
Jose Abed (Mexico)
Michel Boeri (Monaco)
Morrie Chandler (New Zealand)
Enrico Gelpi (Italy)
Carlos Gracia Fuertes (Spain)
Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE)
Surinder Thatthi (Tanzania)
Members
Shk Abdulla Bin Isa Alkhalifa (Bahrain)
Garry Connelly (Australia)
Vassilis Despotopoulos (Greece)
Luis Pinto de Freitas (Portugal)
Zrinko Gregurek (Croatia)
Wan Heping (China)
Victor Kiryanov (Russia)
Henry Krausz (Dominican Republic)
Vijay Mallya (India)
Hugo R. Mersan (Paraguay)
Radovan Novak (Czech Republic)
Lars Österlind (Sweden)
Vicenzo Spano (Venezuela)
Teng Lip Tan (Signapore)
President of the International Karting Commission
Nicolas Deschaux (France)
President of the FOM
Bernard Ecclestone (United Kingdom)
President of the FIA Manufacturers' Commission
François Cornelis (Belgium)
Friday, 23 October 2009
Mosley prepares to bow out as FIA President
Max Mosley has been an integral part of Formula One racing for as long as many people can remember. But on Friday, after a 16-year stint as FIA President, Mosley will look on as his successor in the role - either former world rally champion Ari Vatanen or ex-Ferrari team principal Jean Todt - is elected.
Before the 69 year-old finally bows out, we take a look back at the career and achievements of a man who has helped change the face not just of modern motorsport, but of modern motoring.
Englishman Mosley caught the motorsport bug in the early 1960s after a visit to Silverstone as an Oxford graduate. Although a barrister by training, he started out at the coalface as a racer, first in club events and then in Formula Two, most famously competing as Piers Courage’s team mate in Frank Williams’ F2 team.
In 1969 he decided to step back from driving and co-founded March Engineering, which quickly became a leading race car producer. As a respected member of the industry, in 1974 Mosley was appointed as a representative for the Formula One Constructors' Association (FOCA). It was his first official foray into sporting politics and one from which he didn’t look back.
After leaving March, his F1 involvement deepened and in 1981 he played a key role in the negotiations that eventually led to the creation of the Concorde Agreement, which governs Formula One racing. After a brief break from motorsport he returned in 1986 and was chosen to be President of the Manufacturers’ Commission of FISA (Federation Internationale du Sport Automobile), the then sporting division of the FIA.
Five years later he was elected FISA President and within two years, when the FIA and FISA merged, he became FIA President. He has occupied the role ever since. After his first four-year term he was re-elected in 1997, then again in 2001 and for a final fourth term in 2005.
Early in Mosley’s FIA leadership, Formula One racing was rocked by a two-fold tragedy during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend, when world champion Ayrton Senna and promising youngster Roland Ratzenberger were killed. Mosley’s career path was changed forever. Whatever objectives he had held dear before were pushed to one side, as he committed himself and the FIA to improving motorsport safety.
“Their deaths led to a fundamental re-evaluation of safety at all levels of motorsport,” said Mosley. “We established a research group charged with constant innovation and renewal of safety requirements. The result has been improved head and neck protection, the HANS system, better harnesses, crash helmets, wheel tethers, survival cell systems and many other innovations, all of which have contributed to a huge improvement in safety. The benefits can be seen every weekend in race meetings and rallies all over the world."
The Briton, however, didn’t restrict himself to improving the safety of racing drivers. He also dedicated himself - and the FIA - to improving worldwide road safety, and in 1996 led a successful campaign to modernise European Union (EU) crash test standards.
“I have always been concerned to try to make sure that improvements on the track are relevant to the road,” Mosley explained. “Prompted by our post-Imola response, we became aware that road vehicle test in Europe had not been updated since 1974. A major campaign was launched to change this. We succeeded in forcing legislative change in Europe to develop new front and side-impact crash tests.
“We then launched the European New car Assessment Programme (EuroNCAP), which I chaired for almost ten years. We also promoted so-called intelligent technologies like Electronic Stability Control and created the ‘eSafety Forum’. These initiatives spread beyond Europe and have transformed the level of safety of modern road cars, many thousands of deaths and injuries have been avoided. Lives continue to be saved every day.”
Under Mosley the FIA has also assumed a more international role and in 2001 established the FIA Foundation, which has pushed the FIA’s safety and environmental policies onto the global agenda. The Foundation also helped establish the FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety, which promotes improvements across all areas of racing from junior to top level championships.
Mosley has inevitably devoted a great deal of his time to regulating Formula One racing. A firm decision maker and a wily diplomat, he has overseen the resolution of endless disagreements over the years, balancing sporting and environmental concerns with the demands of big business and fans. F1 racing is now a very different beast to the one it was when Mosley became President in 1993 and he has been instrumental in that transformation. Needless to say the process has won him both friends and enemies.
“It is difficult to keep the costs of a very high-tech sport under control while preserving the FIA’s role as regulator and keeping interest in the championship growing,” he explained. “Despite the inevitable controversies, this has been achieved and Formula One continues to be one of the world’s greatest sporting contests.
“Being President of the FIA is a challenging role. The decisions that have been taken are never easy. A sport as competitive and commercially significant as ours needs to have a robust approach to governance. One cannot shy away from taking decisions that may be unpopular. And one must accept that, as President, one will get the blame for unpopular decisions, even those taken for purely legal reasons.
“Frequently, however, highly unpopular decisions have proved absolutely right over the longer term. Examples in Formula One are the elimination of qualifying cars, the imposition of a single engine for the entire race weekend and the engine freeze. At the time these changes provoked furious responses from many competing teams. Yet today, none would want to go back to the old ways.”
In recent years, the FIA and Mosley have increasingly found themselves under the media spotlight, thanks to a number of controversies - both inside and outside of the sport - that have captured the public’s imagination. Prime among them were the McLaren ‘spygate’ scandal in 2007 and Renault’s conspiracy to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
"In the last year or two, the degree of controversy about the FIA and my role as President reached new heights,” he explained. “It is always difficult, but these problems have to be tackled decisively if Formula One is to remain credible."
Mosley says he is pleased with what his 16-year Presidency has accomplished - a right few would deny him. One of his final acts will be overseeing Friday’s election process, and although he will retain a role within the FIA, he insists he will be offering only words of encouragement to whoever follows in his footsteps.
“I wish my successor and his entire team the very best for the future. I hope in a modest way through membership of the Senate and the Foundation to continue to stay in touch with the clubs and with the new leadership of the FIA. But I will only offer advice if specifically asked to do so. The time has come for me to step back and enjoy a quieter life.”
Before the 69 year-old finally bows out, we take a look back at the career and achievements of a man who has helped change the face not just of modern motorsport, but of modern motoring.
Englishman Mosley caught the motorsport bug in the early 1960s after a visit to Silverstone as an Oxford graduate. Although a barrister by training, he started out at the coalface as a racer, first in club events and then in Formula Two, most famously competing as Piers Courage’s team mate in Frank Williams’ F2 team.
In 1969 he decided to step back from driving and co-founded March Engineering, which quickly became a leading race car producer. As a respected member of the industry, in 1974 Mosley was appointed as a representative for the Formula One Constructors' Association (FOCA). It was his first official foray into sporting politics and one from which he didn’t look back.
After leaving March, his F1 involvement deepened and in 1981 he played a key role in the negotiations that eventually led to the creation of the Concorde Agreement, which governs Formula One racing. After a brief break from motorsport he returned in 1986 and was chosen to be President of the Manufacturers’ Commission of FISA (Federation Internationale du Sport Automobile), the then sporting division of the FIA.
Five years later he was elected FISA President and within two years, when the FIA and FISA merged, he became FIA President. He has occupied the role ever since. After his first four-year term he was re-elected in 1997, then again in 2001 and for a final fourth term in 2005.
Early in Mosley’s FIA leadership, Formula One racing was rocked by a two-fold tragedy during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend, when world champion Ayrton Senna and promising youngster Roland Ratzenberger were killed. Mosley’s career path was changed forever. Whatever objectives he had held dear before were pushed to one side, as he committed himself and the FIA to improving motorsport safety.
“Their deaths led to a fundamental re-evaluation of safety at all levels of motorsport,” said Mosley. “We established a research group charged with constant innovation and renewal of safety requirements. The result has been improved head and neck protection, the HANS system, better harnesses, crash helmets, wheel tethers, survival cell systems and many other innovations, all of which have contributed to a huge improvement in safety. The benefits can be seen every weekend in race meetings and rallies all over the world."
The Briton, however, didn’t restrict himself to improving the safety of racing drivers. He also dedicated himself - and the FIA - to improving worldwide road safety, and in 1996 led a successful campaign to modernise European Union (EU) crash test standards.
“I have always been concerned to try to make sure that improvements on the track are relevant to the road,” Mosley explained. “Prompted by our post-Imola response, we became aware that road vehicle test in Europe had not been updated since 1974. A major campaign was launched to change this. We succeeded in forcing legislative change in Europe to develop new front and side-impact crash tests.
“We then launched the European New car Assessment Programme (EuroNCAP), which I chaired for almost ten years. We also promoted so-called intelligent technologies like Electronic Stability Control and created the ‘eSafety Forum’. These initiatives spread beyond Europe and have transformed the level of safety of modern road cars, many thousands of deaths and injuries have been avoided. Lives continue to be saved every day.”
Under Mosley the FIA has also assumed a more international role and in 2001 established the FIA Foundation, which has pushed the FIA’s safety and environmental policies onto the global agenda. The Foundation also helped establish the FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety, which promotes improvements across all areas of racing from junior to top level championships.
Mosley has inevitably devoted a great deal of his time to regulating Formula One racing. A firm decision maker and a wily diplomat, he has overseen the resolution of endless disagreements over the years, balancing sporting and environmental concerns with the demands of big business and fans. F1 racing is now a very different beast to the one it was when Mosley became President in 1993 and he has been instrumental in that transformation. Needless to say the process has won him both friends and enemies.
“It is difficult to keep the costs of a very high-tech sport under control while preserving the FIA’s role as regulator and keeping interest in the championship growing,” he explained. “Despite the inevitable controversies, this has been achieved and Formula One continues to be one of the world’s greatest sporting contests.
“Being President of the FIA is a challenging role. The decisions that have been taken are never easy. A sport as competitive and commercially significant as ours needs to have a robust approach to governance. One cannot shy away from taking decisions that may be unpopular. And one must accept that, as President, one will get the blame for unpopular decisions, even those taken for purely legal reasons.
“Frequently, however, highly unpopular decisions have proved absolutely right over the longer term. Examples in Formula One are the elimination of qualifying cars, the imposition of a single engine for the entire race weekend and the engine freeze. At the time these changes provoked furious responses from many competing teams. Yet today, none would want to go back to the old ways.”
In recent years, the FIA and Mosley have increasingly found themselves under the media spotlight, thanks to a number of controversies - both inside and outside of the sport - that have captured the public’s imagination. Prime among them were the McLaren ‘spygate’ scandal in 2007 and Renault’s conspiracy to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
"In the last year or two, the degree of controversy about the FIA and my role as President reached new heights,” he explained. “It is always difficult, but these problems have to be tackled decisively if Formula One is to remain credible."
Mosley says he is pleased with what his 16-year Presidency has accomplished - a right few would deny him. One of his final acts will be overseeing Friday’s election process, and although he will retain a role within the FIA, he insists he will be offering only words of encouragement to whoever follows in his footsteps.
“I wish my successor and his entire team the very best for the future. I hope in a modest way through membership of the Senate and the Foundation to continue to stay in touch with the clubs and with the new leadership of the FIA. But I will only offer advice if specifically asked to do so. The time has come for me to step back and enjoy a quieter life.”
Todt wins FIA presidential election
Jean Todt has become the new most powerful man in world motorsport after triumphing in Friday’s FIA presidential election.
The former Ferrari team boss resoundingly defeated rival candidate Ari Vatanen in a vote of the FIA’s worldwide membership, Todt achieving over two thirds of the vote in the secret ballot at the governing body’s Paris headquarters.
The 63-year-old Frenchman received 135 votes to Vatanen's 49 with 12 abstentions and succeeds long-time incumbent Max Mosley with immediate effect, Mosley having decided not to seek a fifth term of office and instead throw his weight behind Todt as his successor.
"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.
Although his bid was publicly backed by Mosley, Todt has stressed he has his own ideas for the governing body and is keen to bring about measured change while building on the FIA’s current strengths.
His major election pledges for Formula 1 centered on the creation of an F1 Commissioner and an independent disciplinary panel.
Confirmation of Todt's victory brings to an end Mosley eventful, and often controversial, 16-year reign at the top of international motorsport.
The Englishman had been returned to office on three occasions since first becoming FIA president in 1993 following two years as head of the governing body’s FISA arm, which at the time oversaw FIA-sanctioned racing events including F1.
As a former president Mosley will retain an honorary seat on the FIA Senate, but he has insisted he will only play a small role at the governing body from now on.
The election battle between Todt and Vatanen had become increasingly bitter in the weeks leading up to Friday's vote, with the latter having expressed concerns about Mosley's public support of Todt and the way in which the vote was to be conducted.
Vatanen, a former rally champion and MEP, had campaigned on a 'change' ticket, presenting himself as the man to transform the FIA and take it into a new, more conciliatory, era after recent well-documented rows with F1 teams
The former Ferrari team boss resoundingly defeated rival candidate Ari Vatanen in a vote of the FIA’s worldwide membership, Todt achieving over two thirds of the vote in the secret ballot at the governing body’s Paris headquarters.
The 63-year-old Frenchman received 135 votes to Vatanen's 49 with 12 abstentions and succeeds long-time incumbent Max Mosley with immediate effect, Mosley having decided not to seek a fifth term of office and instead throw his weight behind Todt as his successor.
"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.
Although his bid was publicly backed by Mosley, Todt has stressed he has his own ideas for the governing body and is keen to bring about measured change while building on the FIA’s current strengths.
His major election pledges for Formula 1 centered on the creation of an F1 Commissioner and an independent disciplinary panel.
Confirmation of Todt's victory brings to an end Mosley eventful, and often controversial, 16-year reign at the top of international motorsport.
The Englishman had been returned to office on three occasions since first becoming FIA president in 1993 following two years as head of the governing body’s FISA arm, which at the time oversaw FIA-sanctioned racing events including F1.
As a former president Mosley will retain an honorary seat on the FIA Senate, but he has insisted he will only play a small role at the governing body from now on.
The election battle between Todt and Vatanen had become increasingly bitter in the weeks leading up to Friday's vote, with the latter having expressed concerns about Mosley's public support of Todt and the way in which the vote was to be conducted.
Vatanen, a former rally champion and MEP, had campaigned on a 'change' ticket, presenting himself as the man to transform the FIA and take it into a new, more conciliatory, era after recent well-documented rows with F1 teams
FIA Elects New President 23/10/2009
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.
The FIA membership voted as follows:
For Jean Todt: 135
For Ari Vatanen: 49
Abstentions/invalid votes: 12
Voting in the General Assembly was made by secret ballot. The votes were counted in private by the FIA legal department, under the supervision of scrutineers proposed by the two presidential candidates and designated by the General Assembly.
The entire voting procedure was supervised by an external Huissier de Justice (French state-appointed public witness).
The following were also elected as part of Mr Todt’s candidacy list:
President of the Senate
Nick Craw, President, Automobile Competition Committee for the US (USA)
Deputy President Automobile Mobility & Tourism
Brian Gibbons, Chief Executive, New Zealand Automobile Association (New Zealand)
Deputy President Sport
Graham Stoker, Council Chairman, Motor Sports Association (UK)
Senate Members
Hernan Gallegos Banderas, President, Automovil Club del Ecuador (Ecuador)
HH Tunku Mudzaffar bin Tunku Mustapha, Chairman, Automobile Association of Malaysia (Malaysia)
S.H. Rudolf Graf von der Schulenburg, President, Automobilclub von Deutschland (Germany)
Carlos Slim Domit, Patron, Asociación Mexicana Automovilistica (Mexico)
Jainchang Yan, Deputy President, Federation of Automobile Sports of China (China)
Mobility Vice Presidents
Carlos Barbosa, President, Automovel Club de Portugal (Portugal)
Victor Dumot, President, Touring and Automobile Club of Paraguay (Paraguay)
Ignacio Gonzalez Fausto, President, Asociación Mexicana Automovilistica (Mexico)
Gus Lagman, President, Automobile Association Philippines (Philippines)
Franco Lucchesi, Delegate to the FIA, Automobile Club d’Italia (Italy)
Jorge Rosales, President, Automobile Club of Argentina (Argentina)
Danijel Starman, President, Avto-moto zveza Slovenije (Slovenia)
Sport Vice Presidents
José Abed, President, Organizacion Mexicana del Deporte Automovilistico Internacional (Mexico)
Michel Boeri, President, Automobile Club de Monaco (Monaco)
Morrie Chandler, Honorary President, MotorSport New Zealand (New Zealand)
Enrico Gelpi, President, Automobile Club d'Italia (Italy)
Carlos Gracia, President, Real Federación Española de Automovilismo (Spain)
Mohamed ben Sulayem, President, Automobile and Touring Club for United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Surinder Thatthi, Automobile Association of Tanzania (Tanzania)
The FIA membership voted as follows:
For Jean Todt: 135
For Ari Vatanen: 49
Abstentions/invalid votes: 12
Voting in the General Assembly was made by secret ballot. The votes were counted in private by the FIA legal department, under the supervision of scrutineers proposed by the two presidential candidates and designated by the General Assembly.
The entire voting procedure was supervised by an external Huissier de Justice (French state-appointed public witness).
The following were also elected as part of Mr Todt’s candidacy list:
President of the Senate
Nick Craw, President, Automobile Competition Committee for the US (USA)
Deputy President Automobile Mobility & Tourism
Brian Gibbons, Chief Executive, New Zealand Automobile Association (New Zealand)
Deputy President Sport
Graham Stoker, Council Chairman, Motor Sports Association (UK)
Senate Members
Hernan Gallegos Banderas, President, Automovil Club del Ecuador (Ecuador)
HH Tunku Mudzaffar bin Tunku Mustapha, Chairman, Automobile Association of Malaysia (Malaysia)
S.H. Rudolf Graf von der Schulenburg, President, Automobilclub von Deutschland (Germany)
Carlos Slim Domit, Patron, Asociación Mexicana Automovilistica (Mexico)
Jainchang Yan, Deputy President, Federation of Automobile Sports of China (China)
Mobility Vice Presidents
Carlos Barbosa, President, Automovel Club de Portugal (Portugal)
Victor Dumot, President, Touring and Automobile Club of Paraguay (Paraguay)
Ignacio Gonzalez Fausto, President, Asociación Mexicana Automovilistica (Mexico)
Gus Lagman, President, Automobile Association Philippines (Philippines)
Franco Lucchesi, Delegate to the FIA, Automobile Club d’Italia (Italy)
Jorge Rosales, President, Automobile Club of Argentina (Argentina)
Danijel Starman, President, Avto-moto zveza Slovenije (Slovenia)
Sport Vice Presidents
José Abed, President, Organizacion Mexicana del Deporte Automovilistico Internacional (Mexico)
Michel Boeri, President, Automobile Club de Monaco (Monaco)
Morrie Chandler, Honorary President, MotorSport New Zealand (New Zealand)
Enrico Gelpi, President, Automobile Club d'Italia (Italy)
Carlos Gracia, President, Real Federación Española de Automovilismo (Spain)
Mohamed ben Sulayem, President, Automobile and Touring Club for United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Surinder Thatthi, Automobile Association of Tanzania (Tanzania)
Mosley prepares to bow out as FIA President
Max Mosley has been an integral part of Formula One racing for as long as many people can remember. But on Friday, after a 16-year stint as FIA President, Mosley will look on as his successor in the role - either former world rally champion Ari Vatanen or ex-Ferrari team principal Jean Todt - is elected.
Before the 69 year-old finally bows out, we take a look back at the career and achievements of a man who has helped change the face not just of modern motorsport, but of modern motoring.
Englishman Mosley caught the motorsport bug in the early 1960s after a visit to Silverstone as an Oxford graduate. Although a barrister by training, he started out at the coalface as a racer, first in club events and then in Formula Two, most famously competing as Piers Courage’s team mate in Frank Williams’ F2 team.
In 1969 he decided to step back from driving and co-founded March Engineering, which quickly became a leading race car producer. As a respected member of the industry, in 1974 Mosley was appointed as a representative for the Formula One Constructors' Association (FOCA). It was his first official foray into sporting politics and one from which he didn’t look back.
After leaving March, his F1 involvement deepened and in 1981 he played a key role in the negotiations that eventually led to the creation of the Concorde Agreement, which governs Formula One racing. After a brief break from motorsport he returned in 1986 and was chosen to be President of the Manufacturers’ Commission of FISA (Federation Internationale du Sport Automobile), the then sporting division of the FIA.
Five years later he was elected FISA President and within two years, when the FIA and FISA merged, he became FIA President. He has occupied the role ever since. After his first four-year term he was re-elected in 1997, then again in 2001 and for a final fourth term in 2005.
Early in Mosley’s FIA leadership, Formula One racing was rocked by a two-fold tragedy during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend, when world champion Ayrton Senna and promising youngster Roland Ratzenberger were killed. Mosley’s career path was changed forever. Whatever objectives he had held dear before were pushed to one side, as he committed himself and the FIA to improving motorsport safety.
“Their deaths led to a fundamental re-evaluation of safety at all levels of motorsport,” said Mosley. “We established a research group charged with constant innovation and renewal of safety requirements. The result has been improved head and neck protection, the HANS system, better harnesses, crash helmets, wheel tethers, survival cell systems and many other innovations, all of which have contributed to a huge improvement in safety. The benefits can be seen every weekend in race meetings and rallies all over the world."
The Briton, however, didn’t restrict himself to improving the safety of racing drivers. He also dedicated himself - and the FIA - to improving worldwide road safety, and in 1996 led a successful campaign to modernise European Union (EU) crash test standards.
“I have always been concerned to try to make sure that improvements on the track are relevant to the road,” Mosley explained. “Prompted by our post-Imola response, we became aware that road vehicle test in Europe had not been updated since 1974. A major campaign was launched to change this. We succeeded in forcing legislative change in Europe to develop new front and side-impact crash tests.
“We then launched the European New car Assessment Programme (EuroNCAP), which I chaired for almost ten years. We also promoted so-called intelligent technologies like Electronic Stability Control and created the ‘eSafety Forum’. These initiatives spread beyond Europe and have transformed the level of safety of modern road cars, many thousands of deaths and injuries have been avoided. Lives continue to be saved every day.”
Under Mosley the FIA has also assumed a more international role and in 2001 established the FIA Foundation, which has pushed the FIA’s safety and environmental policies onto the global agenda. The Foundation also helped establish the FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety, which promotes improvements across all areas of racing from junior to top level championships.
Mosley has inevitably devoted a great deal of his time to regulating Formula One racing. A firm decision maker and a wily diplomat, he has overseen the resolution of endless disagreements over the years, balancing sporting and environmental concerns with the demands of big business and fans. F1 racing is now a very different beast to the one it was when Mosley became President in 1993 and he has been instrumental in that transformation. Needless to say the process has won him both friends and enemies.
“It is difficult to keep the costs of a very high-tech sport under control while preserving the FIA’s role as regulator and keeping interest in the championship growing,” he explained. “Despite the inevitable controversies, this has been achieved and Formula One continues to be one of the world’s greatest sporting contests.
“Being President of the FIA is a challenging role. The decisions that have been taken are never easy. A sport as competitive and commercially significant as ours needs to have a robust approach to governance. One cannot shy away from taking decisions that may be unpopular. And one must accept that, as President, one will get the blame for unpopular decisions, even those taken for purely legal reasons.
“Frequently, however, highly unpopular decisions have proved absolutely right over the longer term. Examples in Formula One are the elimination of qualifying cars, the imposition of a single engine for the entire race weekend and the engine freeze. At the time these changes provoked furious responses from many competing teams. Yet today, none would want to go back to the old ways.”
In recent years, the FIA and Mosley have increasingly found themselves under the media spotlight, thanks to a number of controversies - both inside and outside of the sport - that have captured the public’s imagination. Prime among them were the McLaren ‘spygate’ scandal in 2007 and Renault’s conspiracy to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
"In the last year or two, the degree of controversy about the FIA and my role as President reached new heights,” he explained. “It is always difficult, but these problems have to be tackled decisively if Formula One is to remain credible."
Mosley says he is pleased with what his 16-year Presidency has accomplished - a right few would deny him. One of his final acts will be overseeing Friday’s election process, and although he will retain a role within the FIA, he insists he will be offering only words of encouragement to whoever follows in his footsteps.
“I wish my successor and his entire team the very best for the future. I hope in a modest way through membership of the Senate and the Foundation to continue to stay in touch with the clubs and with the new leadership of the FIA. But I will only offer advice if specifically asked to do so. The time has come for me to step back and enjoy a quieter life.”
Before the 69 year-old finally bows out, we take a look back at the career and achievements of a man who has helped change the face not just of modern motorsport, but of modern motoring.
Englishman Mosley caught the motorsport bug in the early 1960s after a visit to Silverstone as an Oxford graduate. Although a barrister by training, he started out at the coalface as a racer, first in club events and then in Formula Two, most famously competing as Piers Courage’s team mate in Frank Williams’ F2 team.
In 1969 he decided to step back from driving and co-founded March Engineering, which quickly became a leading race car producer. As a respected member of the industry, in 1974 Mosley was appointed as a representative for the Formula One Constructors' Association (FOCA). It was his first official foray into sporting politics and one from which he didn’t look back.
After leaving March, his F1 involvement deepened and in 1981 he played a key role in the negotiations that eventually led to the creation of the Concorde Agreement, which governs Formula One racing. After a brief break from motorsport he returned in 1986 and was chosen to be President of the Manufacturers’ Commission of FISA (Federation Internationale du Sport Automobile), the then sporting division of the FIA.
Five years later he was elected FISA President and within two years, when the FIA and FISA merged, he became FIA President. He has occupied the role ever since. After his first four-year term he was re-elected in 1997, then again in 2001 and for a final fourth term in 2005.
Early in Mosley’s FIA leadership, Formula One racing was rocked by a two-fold tragedy during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend, when world champion Ayrton Senna and promising youngster Roland Ratzenberger were killed. Mosley’s career path was changed forever. Whatever objectives he had held dear before were pushed to one side, as he committed himself and the FIA to improving motorsport safety.
“Their deaths led to a fundamental re-evaluation of safety at all levels of motorsport,” said Mosley. “We established a research group charged with constant innovation and renewal of safety requirements. The result has been improved head and neck protection, the HANS system, better harnesses, crash helmets, wheel tethers, survival cell systems and many other innovations, all of which have contributed to a huge improvement in safety. The benefits can be seen every weekend in race meetings and rallies all over the world."
The Briton, however, didn’t restrict himself to improving the safety of racing drivers. He also dedicated himself - and the FIA - to improving worldwide road safety, and in 1996 led a successful campaign to modernise European Union (EU) crash test standards.
“I have always been concerned to try to make sure that improvements on the track are relevant to the road,” Mosley explained. “Prompted by our post-Imola response, we became aware that road vehicle test in Europe had not been updated since 1974. A major campaign was launched to change this. We succeeded in forcing legislative change in Europe to develop new front and side-impact crash tests.
“We then launched the European New car Assessment Programme (EuroNCAP), which I chaired for almost ten years. We also promoted so-called intelligent technologies like Electronic Stability Control and created the ‘eSafety Forum’. These initiatives spread beyond Europe and have transformed the level of safety of modern road cars, many thousands of deaths and injuries have been avoided. Lives continue to be saved every day.”
Under Mosley the FIA has also assumed a more international role and in 2001 established the FIA Foundation, which has pushed the FIA’s safety and environmental policies onto the global agenda. The Foundation also helped establish the FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety, which promotes improvements across all areas of racing from junior to top level championships.
Mosley has inevitably devoted a great deal of his time to regulating Formula One racing. A firm decision maker and a wily diplomat, he has overseen the resolution of endless disagreements over the years, balancing sporting and environmental concerns with the demands of big business and fans. F1 racing is now a very different beast to the one it was when Mosley became President in 1993 and he has been instrumental in that transformation. Needless to say the process has won him both friends and enemies.
“It is difficult to keep the costs of a very high-tech sport under control while preserving the FIA’s role as regulator and keeping interest in the championship growing,” he explained. “Despite the inevitable controversies, this has been achieved and Formula One continues to be one of the world’s greatest sporting contests.
“Being President of the FIA is a challenging role. The decisions that have been taken are never easy. A sport as competitive and commercially significant as ours needs to have a robust approach to governance. One cannot shy away from taking decisions that may be unpopular. And one must accept that, as President, one will get the blame for unpopular decisions, even those taken for purely legal reasons.
“Frequently, however, highly unpopular decisions have proved absolutely right over the longer term. Examples in Formula One are the elimination of qualifying cars, the imposition of a single engine for the entire race weekend and the engine freeze. At the time these changes provoked furious responses from many competing teams. Yet today, none would want to go back to the old ways.”
In recent years, the FIA and Mosley have increasingly found themselves under the media spotlight, thanks to a number of controversies - both inside and outside of the sport - that have captured the public’s imagination. Prime among them were the McLaren ‘spygate’ scandal in 2007 and Renault’s conspiracy to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
"In the last year or two, the degree of controversy about the FIA and my role as President reached new heights,” he explained. “It is always difficult, but these problems have to be tackled decisively if Formula One is to remain credible."
Mosley says he is pleased with what his 16-year Presidency has accomplished - a right few would deny him. One of his final acts will be overseeing Friday’s election process, and although he will retain a role within the FIA, he insists he will be offering only words of encouragement to whoever follows in his footsteps.
“I wish my successor and his entire team the very best for the future. I hope in a modest way through membership of the Senate and the Foundation to continue to stay in touch with the clubs and with the new leadership of the FIA. But I will only offer advice if specifically asked to do so. The time has come for me to step back and enjoy a quieter life.”
FIA prepares to elect new leader
After a long, complicated and bitter battle between Jean Todt and Ari Vatanen, the FIA will vote for its new president in Paris today.
The election marks the end of Max Mosley's eventful 16-year tenure, as his successor will take over immediately.
The FIA is the governing body of mobility across the globe, not just a sporting authority, and oversees all international motorsport as well as Formula 1.
But it is undoubtedly best known for its involvement with the F1 world championship, and it will be the new president's approach to motorsport's premier series that gains the most attention.
Todt is well-known in F1 circles for his hugely successful period in charge at Ferrari.
The legendary team was something of a laughing stock when Todt was recruited from Peugeot - where he had been in charge of the French company's rallying and sportscar efforts - in the early 1990s.
He duly turned Ferrari's form around and laid the foundations for its crushingly dominant seasons at the turn of the century.
But his uncompromising style was not universally popular in the paddock.
His rival Vatanen has a background in rallying - where he was not only a world champion but also one of the most spectacular and popular drivers in the sport's history.
However after retiring from driving Vatanen showed a very different side to his character as he became a member of the European Parliament.
This combination of sporting and political nous always made him a likely candidate for the FIA role, and he was first to announce his candidacy.
However it was Todt who received current president Mosley's emphatic endorsement - even before he had confirmed he would stand! - and the Frenchman was installed as an early favourite.
Todt has the support of much of the current FIA establishment, his slick campaign being run by Mosley"s former PR guru, and has been able to reel off endless lists of high profile supporters including a host of sporting legends.
But while the FIA is best known for running F1, it is not the sport's participants who will decide the election, as the president is voted in by the world's automobile and motorsport clubs.
Both candidates have announced a host of supporters from around the globe, but the nature of the electoral process makes it very hard to predict where they stand - there is no such thing as an opinion poll in the FIA contest!
Vatanen has campaigned on a 'change' card, presenting himself as the man to transform the FIA and take it into a new, more conciliatory, era after recent well-documented rows with F1, in particular the disagreements that led to the breakaway threat earlier this year.
Mosley's strong support for Todt led to suggestions that electing the Frenchman would simply be a continuation of the current regime - for better or worse.
But Todt has worked hard to refute that impression, with his former driver Michael Schumacher recently writing to the FIA clubs declaring that Todt could also bring a totally fresh approach to the governing body and would make a firm break from the Mosley era.
Vatanen"s campaign hit some early stumbling blocks, particularly when he intimated that Todt was using an FIA-funded private jet for his canvassing efforts - when in fact he had been travelling with his partner, the actress Michelle Yeoh, who was working for an FIA safety initiative.
He has also been accused by the Todt camp of lacking detailed policies, and of bringing a negative tone to the campaign with his calls for changes to the current FIA working methods and his questioning of recent FIA decisions.
But it has not all been plain sailing for Todt and his team, particularly in recent weeks.
Vatanen's criticisms of the current FIA establishment's backing for Todt have become more pointed, and he has threatened legal action as he believes the process has not been sufficiently impartial to satisfy French law.
The FIA also agreed to amend elements of its voting procedures after a meeting with Vatanen.
With both candidates promising substantial changes and several big challenges ahead for the FIA - including Flavio Briatore's bid to have his lifetime ban from international motorsport overturned, ongoing issues over the 2010 F1 entry procedure and the continuing work to cut costs across motor racing - it is sure to be a fascinating few months ahead whoever triumphs in Paris.
Both candidates will be given the chance to address the FIA members before the vote takes place, with the result expected to be declared this afternoon.
The election marks the end of Max Mosley's eventful 16-year tenure, as his successor will take over immediately.
The FIA is the governing body of mobility across the globe, not just a sporting authority, and oversees all international motorsport as well as Formula 1.
But it is undoubtedly best known for its involvement with the F1 world championship, and it will be the new president's approach to motorsport's premier series that gains the most attention.
Todt is well-known in F1 circles for his hugely successful period in charge at Ferrari.
The legendary team was something of a laughing stock when Todt was recruited from Peugeot - where he had been in charge of the French company's rallying and sportscar efforts - in the early 1990s.
He duly turned Ferrari's form around and laid the foundations for its crushingly dominant seasons at the turn of the century.
But his uncompromising style was not universally popular in the paddock.
His rival Vatanen has a background in rallying - where he was not only a world champion but also one of the most spectacular and popular drivers in the sport's history.
However after retiring from driving Vatanen showed a very different side to his character as he became a member of the European Parliament.
This combination of sporting and political nous always made him a likely candidate for the FIA role, and he was first to announce his candidacy.
However it was Todt who received current president Mosley's emphatic endorsement - even before he had confirmed he would stand! - and the Frenchman was installed as an early favourite.
Todt has the support of much of the current FIA establishment, his slick campaign being run by Mosley"s former PR guru, and has been able to reel off endless lists of high profile supporters including a host of sporting legends.
But while the FIA is best known for running F1, it is not the sport's participants who will decide the election, as the president is voted in by the world's automobile and motorsport clubs.
Both candidates have announced a host of supporters from around the globe, but the nature of the electoral process makes it very hard to predict where they stand - there is no such thing as an opinion poll in the FIA contest!
Vatanen has campaigned on a 'change' card, presenting himself as the man to transform the FIA and take it into a new, more conciliatory, era after recent well-documented rows with F1, in particular the disagreements that led to the breakaway threat earlier this year.
Mosley's strong support for Todt led to suggestions that electing the Frenchman would simply be a continuation of the current regime - for better or worse.
But Todt has worked hard to refute that impression, with his former driver Michael Schumacher recently writing to the FIA clubs declaring that Todt could also bring a totally fresh approach to the governing body and would make a firm break from the Mosley era.
Vatanen"s campaign hit some early stumbling blocks, particularly when he intimated that Todt was using an FIA-funded private jet for his canvassing efforts - when in fact he had been travelling with his partner, the actress Michelle Yeoh, who was working for an FIA safety initiative.
He has also been accused by the Todt camp of lacking detailed policies, and of bringing a negative tone to the campaign with his calls for changes to the current FIA working methods and his questioning of recent FIA decisions.
But it has not all been plain sailing for Todt and his team, particularly in recent weeks.
Vatanen's criticisms of the current FIA establishment's backing for Todt have become more pointed, and he has threatened legal action as he believes the process has not been sufficiently impartial to satisfy French law.
The FIA also agreed to amend elements of its voting procedures after a meeting with Vatanen.
With both candidates promising substantial changes and several big challenges ahead for the FIA - including Flavio Briatore's bid to have his lifetime ban from international motorsport overturned, ongoing issues over the 2010 F1 entry procedure and the continuing work to cut costs across motor racing - it is sure to be a fascinating few months ahead whoever triumphs in Paris.
Both candidates will be given the chance to address the FIA members before the vote takes place, with the result expected to be declared this afternoon.
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