Comments on: Vatanen could keep F1 together

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:34:22 +0000

So we got the result today that I suspect most of us expected, but feared. Ultimately it is just another nail in the coffin of F1 and the FIA. But thanks for trying Ari, you gave us hope for a while.

I for one was in the camp that said it was time to do away with both and form a breakaway. CVC and Bernie have no interest in F1 as a sport beyond how it lines their pockets regardless of the damage it does to the *sport*. Whilst the powerful involved within the FIA have no interest in running it with the consistency, fairness and general good it should perform. They are only interested in holding onto and wielding that power.

No that either group gives a rats for what I or any other fan thinks. We are not even a blink on their radar because it doesn’t scan on any band we inhabit. We need to live in the rarefied atmosphere where emerging countries need to attract GPs or be able to play a part where personal vendettas can be played out from the offices of an international sporting association.

So F1 receives another cut to join the thousand it has endured since the rise of Max and Bernie and will continue to receive under Todt. So I shrug and feel sad that my interest continues to erode just a little bit more and hope that FOTA might grasp the nettle in 2012 and form that breakaway.

But in my heart I know that Max has done away with another enemy that might call for it. Whilst manipulating the rules to ensure less powerful new teams join the grid. After all you don’t want proven teams like Lola and Prodrive joining in. They might have strong opinions about the sport. They might even insist on choosing who supplies their engine. You don’t want people who don’t know their place.

So a breakaway in 2012 is probably just a mirage. It will be weird watching Todt plotting against Luca. Let’s just hope when we reach 2012 gasping for some good governance and great sport, the oasis proves to be real.

Sure a FOTA run championship will not be perfect but it will be a hundred times better than one run by these thieves and clowns.

By: David Drinkwater

David Drinkwater — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:24:10 +0000

Max Moseley made a fudamential error of judgment in his private life last year. If people who we rely on to make senisble decisions in business can have a character flaw like that – then he has to go.

We, the men in the street who pay money to watch Motor Sport can make little difference and it is up to you – the men of influence – to Moseley taht he has to go and we don’t want his chosen successor either.
We cannot do this – you have to – please.

By: Bill Dickens

Bill Dickens — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:22:03 +0000

Todt – aka Napoleon – is already up to his scurrilous games by denigrating Ari for supposedly – although I have never read anything in the media to support such claims – spreading comments about him treating his girlfriend to flights funded by the FIA . Todt belongs to the same Mafia which has spawned Mosley and Ecclestone, a nasty spiteful,conniving, unprincipled little man who will stop at nothing in his pursuit of power.

By: Istvan Simon (Hungary)

Istvan Simon (Hungary) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:51:09 +0000

Am I right or wrong to say that Jean Todt was (is) the most unpopular F1 team principal ever?

By: Istvan Simon (Hungary)

Istvan Simon (Hungary) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:45:02 +0000

Time and history can create strange circumstances. In 1988, it was Jean Todt who – as then boss of Peugeot’s Dakar operation – tossed a coin to decide who will be given his (or the team’s) support to win the Great Desert Race.
The lucky winner was Vatanen, the loser was Jacky Ickx who – despite some considerable efforts – was thus denied to win the Dakar Rally.
History shows that Msr. Todt has always followed this principle: select the ‘lucky guy’, give him all the support, same tiime break down the other guy (as he did to Barrichello while at Ferrari).
Everything for the company, nothing for the sport, the racing itself.
Let’s pray for this man (Todt) never gaining power in his hands again!

By: John L

John L — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:27:58 +0000

Ari would be a great choice. He is held in very high regard by fans “down under”, is a thoroughly decent bloke who impresses all who meet him and would be a great person to have at the top.

Pity it won’t happen……….

By: Pat O'Brien

Pat O'Brien — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:21:44 +0000

Max and Bernie’s imperious arrogance and indisguised spitefullness would be tolerated in few public positions. I wonder how I remain a fan of an organization run by these types? Then again, back a couple decades ago when “Dynasty” was a huge hit on TV Joan Collins, playing a spiteful, imperious and maipulative character was a big reason for the show’s success. Could the same be true of F1? Could Bernie/Max be the Joan Collins of motor racing?

By: David Fisher

David Fisher — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:07:10 +0000

Here in the real world of motor racing fans all that we want is for Formula 1 to be accessible at a reasonable price and for what we see on the track to be honest. Elect Jean Todt FIA delegates and that is precisely what we will NOT get, most emphatically. Instead I feel sure that we will get more and even more tortuous Byzantine politicking. So as NR writes of the current candiadtes Ari Vatenen seems the best bet. Fingers crossed so do you FIA delegates. But then again, I doubt that you read such a magazine as Motor Sport so I am just whistling in the wind. Pity

By: Bob Graham

Bob Graham — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:09:02 +0000

If MM needs a job to support his — er, habit, perhaps the Iran presidency would be suitable.

If JT needs a job, dress him in period costume and station him at the entrance to Les Invalides. Remind him to keep his hand in his breast pocket.

By: Bill Dickens

Bill Dickens — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:30:41 +0000

June Irvine, I agree, if Todt – aka Napoleon – takes over he would be far, far worse than Mosley !