70 replies to this topic

[owenmahamilton]

https://www.planetf1...-fia-president/

 

I don't think that the FIA should have another ex Ferrari man in charge of the FIA. I think it should be David Richards.

[Lights]

If it's true that Luca has support from Bernie, and I assume also from Jean, then the position of the next FIA president has already been settled.

 

I remember this discussion 10 years ago when it was about who'd replace Max Mosley. I believe Ari Vatanen was the only serious challenger for Jean Todt at some point and while there were also doubts about Todt's impartiality, Vatanen didn't stand a chance.

[Rocha46]

https://www.planetf1...-fia-president/

 

I don't think that the FIA should have another ex Ferrari man in charge of the FIA. I think it should be David Richards.

 

Yes then No

Edited by Rocha46, 07 May 2020 - 09:47.

[Risil]

Di Montezemolo would probably be OK. Not sure what influence Bernie has these days?

[Sterzo]

It's not a given that an ex-Ferrari man would be biased in favour of Ferrari. Jean Todt is eroding their favoured status, which was put in place by non-Ferrari people Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone. It's a risk, obviously, but de Montezemolo has a history of sound management and of coping with funadamental change.

 

It woud certainy be more comfortable to see someone from outside recent F1 in place. Also, someone younger, who could be around for a longer stint. Jonathan Palmer, Alan Gow, Nick Fry? Those are all UK-based people but that's only because of my ignorance of others. Wonder what Barak Obama is doing.

[Marklar]

I dont see why him being a ex-Ferrari man would be any problem (just like I dont get why a then-ex-Merc man would be a problem at Liberty btw): Most of the competent brains of motor racing have worked for a big team before, you cant just exclude everyone. that aside that it's not really a given that you will be biased anyway, often the opposite happens.

Would prefer a FIA president that isnt as deeply into F1 as Todt was though, since they are the FIA president, not the F1 president, but alas.

[Frood]

Something I've said before - I reckon Alex Wurz would be a good fit for it one day. Has been involved in different FIA championships. Has worked the political side of things with the GPDA and working for the FIA Young Driver development program and the road safety side of things. He's always come across as very intelligent in interviews. He's probably seen as too young for this election cycle though.

[Kalmake]

Alex Wurz once said F1 cars could do 400 km/h at Monaco if they keep adding safety devices like the halo. That's exactly the kind of nonsense statement one would expect to hear from a FIA president.

[Hakki069]

Again it would kinda show in many ways that ferrari hold too much power.

Can't be ok for ferrari to veto someone like toto wolff from the top F1 job then luca de Montezemolo becomes president of FIA. Lol.

To be fair jean todt has done a pretty good job during his time and shown he is fair. The only thing that's hurt him is the ferrari engine saga. That's a rather blatant cover up so ferrari isn't done for cheating.

Luca de Montezemolo is more ferrari than todt ever was. Being Italian and former president who lived and breathed Ferrari his whole life. It would kinda be the same if Dieter Zetsche was rumoured for the job the bias towards mercedes would be natural.

I personally don't have a problem with people like todt over wolff getting a top job in motor racing because they've been there and seen the other side of the coin.

But people like luca de montezemolo or dieter Zetsche for example who been right at the top of the tree at those car companies for a long time. how can you expect them in difficult times to not be tempted to favour there old employers who there have a passion for

[Requiem84]

What is the governance process to select a new FIA chairman?

[Clatter]

I dont see why him being a ex-Ferrari man would be any problem (just like I dont get why a then-ex-Merc man would be a problem at Liberty btw): Most of the competent brains of motor racing have worked for a big team before, you cant just exclude everyone. that aside that it's not really a given that you will be biased anyway, often the opposite happens.

Would prefer a FIA president that isnt as deeply into F1 as Todt was though, since they are the FIA president, not the F1 president, but alas.

 

Has Todt acted like the F1 president though? For the most part he has passed the running of F1 to others and concentrated on the political side of the FIA. Compared to Moseley he was been virtually invisible.

[F1matt]

Greta Thunberg for FIA president. 

[68targa]

I think Luca would probaby be okay. He has not been involved with F1 directly for some years now and being President of the FIA is a lot more than just F1 and racing. 

 

Dave Richards, yes, and what about Michele Mouton?

[KWSN - DSM]

Number of very qualified people around, in no particular order these would be good I think - I think Montezemolo at 72 is too old

 

Ross Brawn

Mauricio Arrivabene

Toto Wolff

Alejandro Agag

Alex Wurz

Franz Tost

 

And I am surely forgetting a lot, who I will be happy to see as the FIA President.

 

 

[H0R]

Just for shits and giggles I'd like to see Ron Dennis getting the job

[Hakki069]

Just for shits and giggles I'd like to see Ron Dennis getting the job

I would too! Haha

Being serious though I think Ross Brawn is a good pick as the next president

[Rocha46]

How many here are FIA/Motorsport UK licence holders?

The FIA isn't just about F1.

Edited by Rocha46, 07 May 2020 - 12:28.

[Lights]

What is the governance process to select a new FIA chairman?

 

Through an election process whereby the worldwide FIA member (country) organisations vote at a FIA meeting. With the usual amount of nepotism and extortion behind the curtains.

[New Britain]

Although it is true that Todt is ex-Ferrari, he is very much not a "Ferrari man' anymore and has not been for years.

Whilst he was F1 team principal, he was rabidly partisan and shamelessly acted against the best interests of the sport if he deemed it to be in Ferrari's own best interests to do so. After di Montezemolo left for his temporary stint at Confindustria, however, Todt became CEO of the whole shebang and did some things that did not endear him to the organisation. He left Ferrari under a cloud and some may remember that, when Todt was running for FIA president in 2009, Ferrari and di Montezemolo in particular were vociferously opposed to Todt's getting the job.

I think it's been pretty clear since he became FIA president that Todt is not out to do Ferrari any favours. What di Montezemolo might do in that job is another matter.

[KWSN - DSM]

Just for shits and giggles I'd like to see Ron Dennis getting the job

 

I thought of him, but since I disqualify Montezemelo for being too old, then can not include Ron who is also GASP!!!! 72.

 

[KWSN - DSM]

How many here are FIA/Motorsport UK licence holders?

The FIA isn't just about F1.

 

My list is people who have all done very well outside F1 as well, as have Todt...

 

[ARTGP]

Dave Richards? The Aston Martin man?

[Marklar]

Has Todt acted like the F1 president though? For the most part he has passed the running of F1 to others and concentrated on the political side of the FIA. Compared to Moseley he was been virtually invisible.

Well, Todt has generally been invisible though, safety stuff aside 

[PlatenGlass]

How do I put my name forward?

[KWSN - DSM]

How do I put my name forward?

 

Through your National association.

 

[Alan Lewis]

Dave Richards? The Aston Martin man?

And the current head of Motorsport UK.

Ironically (coincidentally? Pertinently? Some word ending in -ly), also the guy who defeated Jean Todt to become the 1981 World Rally Champion co-driver.

Edited by Alan Lewis, 07 May 2020 - 14:07.

[pdac]

What is the governance process to select a new FIA chairman?

 

Same as everywhere - you put your name down and then you bribe or blackmail everyone to vote for you.

[muramasa]

"Not likely to favour Ferrari or whatever" has zero relevance. Anyone who has obvious vested interest and obvious links to one or few particular entity should not work on organizer side. Todt, Mekies, Budkowski, Tombazis, Symonds, Brawn, now Wolff being talked about to work for FOM, etc are all joke and show exactly what's wrong about F1 and motorsport. How about Ito, Honda's ex president. Maybe he try too hard to not favour Honda to be seen he's acting fair, to the extent it causes unfair disadvantage and damage to Honda. Just basic that such appointment should be avoided.

 

Triangle independence/separation model is basic principle in liberal democratic society but there is nothing in motorsport. Sure in reality motorsport is small village where there is always lack of proper suitable human resource so using those people with records and reputation may be temporary necessary evil, but if so then at least there should be proper mechanism to prevent corruptions, favoritism and nepotism, like at least 10-15 years of completely away from the sport for important jobs and 5 years of complete buffer for official level people, but F1 has nothing or whatever F1 has is not functioning. Other major sports are not without problems but at least they have much more proper triangle structure, qualification process and transparency.

[KWSN - DSM]

A shame how the world in general have stopped thinking the best of people, now looking for ulterior motives with anyone regardless of anything.

 

[PayasYouRace]

"Not likely to favour Ferrari or whatever" has zero relevance. Anyone who has obvious vested interest and obvious links to one or few particular entity should not work on organizer side. Todt, Mekies, Budkowski, Tombazis, Symonds, Brawn, now Wolff being talked about to work for FOM, etc are all joke and show exactly what's wrong about F1 and motorsport. How about Ito, Honda's ex president. Maybe he try too hard to not favour Honda to be seen he's acting fair, to the extent it causes unfair disadvantage and damage to Honda. Just basic that such appointment should be avoided.

 

Triangle independence/separation model is basic principle in liberal democratic society but there is nothing in motorsport. Sure in reality motorsport is small village where there is always lack of proper suitable human resource so using those people with records and reputation may be temporary necessary evil, but if so then at least there should be proper mechanism to prevent corruptions, favoritism and nepotism, like at least 10-15 years of completely away from the sport for important jobs and 5 years of complete buffer for official level people, but F1 has nothing or whatever F1 has is not functioning. Other major sports are not without problems but at least they have much more proper triangle structure, qualification process and transparency.

If you disqualified anyone with motoring background because they’d be subject to favouritism you’d have nobody left. You also need to have someone who is well versed in the current affairs of the sport and motoring in general. So someone who hasn’t worked in the industry for over a decade would be less than useless.

[William Hunt]

Please not an ex key executive from one of the big teams or manufacturers. Someone like di Montezemolo would always favour Ferrari. Get someone with a lot of experience working within the FIA already and has displayed political and diplomatic skills (since a FIA president would have to deal with politicians and goverments, the FIA is not just responsible for autosport but also for things like car road safety worldwide) but it also has to be someone who won't be pushed around by the big players, someone who can keep an independent stance and at the same time look at the long term health for autoracing as a sport and that would include getting a (much more) level playing field and making autosport as a sport within reach from those who are not born in millionaire families thus karting and lower level single seaters racing classes also would have to become cheaper but also more profitable for the teams involved without the need to constantly look for drivers with a big budget. Getting new sponsors and a new fanbase in is also key priority, idem for gaining new marketing territory (Africa, Russia with for example a Russian F1 team, etc...).
For many companies, the ones that are not multinationals with a huge marketing budget, sponsoring an F1 or even a WEC, F2 or F3 team is still way too expensive but it wasn't always like that. In the '80s & '90s companies who weren't that huge could still sponsor and gain marketing advantages because of that because the budgets needed were still do-able and they had the opportunity to invite their key cliënts to events with hospitality. Autosport has lost those kind of sponsors to sports like soccer (business seats are a very cheap investment with high return if you use it well as a tool to keep key accounts as customer) or even cycling (where VIP cars can be rented and they have hospitality for a very small price).

For a sport it's always less risky to depend on many sponsors / companies that provide finance instead of depending on a couple of sponsors, a business is also more vulnerable with just a couple of big key accounts compared to a business with many but smaller companies as their customers. When one of the key accounts drops out the business becomes in danger because that's not easy to replace.
 

Edited by William Hunt, 07 May 2020 - 14:51.

[Myrvold]

Dave Richards? The Aston Martin man?

As Alan Lewis touched, also co-driver for the WRC title in 1981 (Only time a privateer driver have won the title, as Loeb's title for Kronos wasn't a pure privateer effort).
But I would've thought he would've been more known for being "The Prodrive man", the ones who ran the Rothmans Porsche Rally Team, worked with BMW in Gr.A times to win three BTCC titles in a row(one being an overall as well - classes and overall point standings in those days), dominating tarmac rallying and convincing Fuji to create Subaru WRT.
Richards kept on running Prodrive who ran the Subaru WRC effort, with the Legacy and on to the Impreza with solid programmes in the UK, WRC and Asia Pacific!
They returned to BTCC with Alfa in 1995, then with Honda, before reengineering the Mondeo and taking the title.
They then designed and ran Ferrari in FIA GT, even winning the GT1 class at Le Mans. It was a completely independent programme. With only private backing, nothing from Ferrari. That's when Prodrive got the Aston-gig, some years before Richards was part of the consortium that bought Aston. They still run the Aston factory teams in WEC.
They also got the Ford Performance Racing in V8 Supercars going, before selling it in 2012.

Richards took over for Flavio Briatore in Benetton in 97, but didn't agree with Benetton for the future, and left. Richards became Team Principal for BAR in 2001 when Prodrive was brought in to run the team. This was going until the end of the very successful 2004-season.
Richards and Prodrive tried to enter F1 on their own in 2008, but had to pull out due to the whole "customer cars, yes or no?". They tried to enter for 2010 again, but as we know, the teams chosen ran Cosworth-engines. Prodrive had a deal with Mercedes. 

They've also taken MINI back to WRC, but only part-time and for a short time (but with a 2nd place as best!), made an RX version of the same car, and made the GCK Meganes that run in WRX today.

 

Actually, when writing all this, I feel that Richards might actually be a very good man for this role, he certainly has been involved in very much different motorsport over the years, and from what I can remember, not really alienated too many on the way either.

[Requiem84]

Through an election process whereby the worldwide FIA member (country) organisations vote at a FIA meeting. With the usual amount of nepotism and extortion behind the curtains.

 

Sounds like the FIFA. Well, it's only 1 letter difference anyway .

 

I see people shouting names and then discussing names. I think that is not so relevant, as everybody will have a different opinion on which name should be best fit. 

 

More important is the governance process. This should be a thorough process which safeguards that an objective choice will be made without manipulation. Based on what @Lights is saying, this looks like a 1980's process which is not transparent and does not safeguard that no manipulation etc takes place....

[PayasYouRace]

Richards certainly has the CV for it, and he's not been too tied down to a single manufacturer over his career.

[pdac]

A shame how the world in general have stopped thinking the best of people, now looking for ulterior motives with anyone regardless of anything.

 

 

Do you mean it's a shame that the world has woken up to reality.

[Risil]

Brian France!

[PlatenGlass]

If you disqualified anyone with motoring background because they’d be subject to favouritism you’d have nobody left. You also need to have someone who is well versed in the current affairs of the sport and motoring in general. So someone who hasn’t worked in the industry for over a decade would be less than useless.

Do you think so though? What does the job involve that an intelligent person with a general interest in the subject couldn't pick up on the job? I think I could do the job. I think you could too.

 

It's like when people criticise the prime minister and someone comes back and says "Well I wouldn't want to be doing their job." As long as you're not too put off by speaking in public, I don't think the job's probably that hard even if it is stressful and comes with responsibility. Anyway, I'm going off topic.

[ArnageWRC]

I think Todt has been a disappointment, which isn't a total surprise. Would Vatanen have done any better? Sadly, I don't think he ever stood a chance. One can't help but thinking, that any potential FiA President needs to have some F1 background/ connections, and Ari didn't.

How many times have we seen reports about 'F1 Boss' or 'Boss of F1' when they really mean FiA President.

[PayasYouRace]

Do you think so though? What does the job involve that an intelligent person with a general interest in the subject couldn't pick up on the job? I think I could do the job. I think you could too.

 

It's like when people criticise the prime minister and someone comes back and says "Well I wouldn't want to be doing their job." As long as you're not too put off by speaking in public, I don't think the job's probably that hard even if it is stressful and comes with responsibility. Anyway, I'm going off topic.

 

I don't think I could do the job.

 

I think to do the job you need someone who has a full career in the industry and understands aspects of it that outsiders simply don't have experience of. I think that applies to any top level job in any field.

[BRG]

This thread makes me despair.  It is the post of President of the FIA, not of F1.  F1 is just one minor bit of the whole job. Todt has done an excellent job by mostly leaving others to do the work of looking after race & rally championships, instead of sticking his nose in all the time like Mosley and Balestre did.  He has been a proper FIA President, rather than an interfering, corrupt dictator.  

 

The post should not be open to ANYONE with current or recent links to any race team in F1 or any other FIA championship.  It should be a genuinely neutral individual with no axes to grind.

 

And leave Dave Richards out of it,as he is doing a good job of reforming the UK MSA and making it a positive force for motorsport for the first time in decades.  Under him, MSA no longer stands for Must Stop Autosport.

[Mohican]

Gerhard Berger for FIA president.

[Rocha46]

This thread makes me despair.  It is the post of President of the FIA, not of F1.  F1 is just one minor bit of the whole job. Todt has done an excellent job by mostly leaving others to do the work of looking after race & rally championships, instead of sticking his nose in all the time like Mosley and Balestre did.  He has been a proper FIA President, rather than an interfering, corrupt dictator.  

 

The post should not be open to ANYONE with current or recent links to any race team in F1 or any other FIA championship.  It should be a genuinely neutral individual with no axes to grind.

 

And leave Dave Richards out of it,as he is doing a good job of reforming the UK MSA and making it a positive force for motorsport for the first time in decades.  Under him, MSA no longer stands for Must Stop Autosport.

you did see the fall out from the licence fee increase right?

[BRG]

you did see the fall out from the licence fee increase right?

No but I have seen their active and positive support for closed road rallies, which the old MSA made sure weren't going to happen on their watch.  The MSA is also moving away from London (well, Colnbrook in fact) where very little motorsport actually happens.  People always moan when prices go up.

[BobbyRicky]

Someone should ask that Roger Penske-dude if he wants the job.

[Garndell]

Nigel Mansell obviously should be FIA president, maybe Jacques Villeneuve (if we can pry the Xbox controller out of his hands), Damon Hill or Carlos Sainz Sr.  It's a shame but someone like Sir Stirling Moss would be good, someone who cares less about personal success and more about the integrity of the sport.

 

There's always the nuclear option, Flavio "he wears a thong(NO PICTURES PLEASE!!!)" Briatore.

[William Hunt]

  It's a shame but someone like Sir Stirling Moss would be good, someone who cares less about personal success and more about the integrity of the sport.

 

Again: the FIA is not just responsible for autoracing, they're an Autombile Federation so cars in general.
Smart cities, the environment, road safety, sustainable mobility etc... are all important topics for the FIA and the FIA president would need to be able to negotiate with goverments or even the EU and he would need to be able to delegate very well, it would need to be a person with highly developed politicial & diplomatic skills and someone who knows the difficulties car manufacturers are facing today.

Stirling Moss does not fit that profile at all, he was one of the greatest drivers ever but also a conservative nationalist who openly supported UKIP & Brexit. He was one of the people who officially endorsed UKIP, that is something that would fall very bad with multiple people he would have to negotiate with. Also you would need someone who can think out of the box and have a progressive vision on sustainability, the environment and how to modernise cities so cars could have a function in it with the least amount of environment damage, Moss' profile totally doesn't fit that.

An experienced lobyist with lots of political and industrial contacts who also has an open mind and can negotiate well would be an ideal candidate. And that person would need to have a vision on road safety and a vision of how to switch to different technologies in the future. A lawyer with political experience or a former diplomat would be a much better candidate as Moss.

Edited by William Hunt, 07 May 2020 - 20:21.

[Fastcake]

Through an election process whereby the worldwide FIA member (country) organisations vote at a FIA meeting. With the usual amount of nepotism and extortion behind the curtains.

 

And the most effective play behind the curtains, fixing the nominating process so no one can run against you. The FIA haven't actually held an election since Todt first got in...

 

I think Todt has been a disappointment, which isn't a total surprise. Would Vatanen have done any better? Sadly, I don't think he ever stood a chance. One can't help but thinking, that any potential FiA President needs to have some F1 background/ connections, and Ari didn't.

How many times have we seen reports about 'F1 Boss' or 'Boss of F1' when they really mean FiA President.

Yes, the reality is the FIA president has to know F1. It's the biggest championship the FIA has by far, the only sport at the top tier, what gives the FIA and its president access to the corridors of power. Which is of a dubious benefit to motorsport fans of course, but hobnobbing with the great and the good is what these types live for.

 

And to be even more pragmatic, F1 is where the money comes from. Without it, the FIA is broke in a week.

[Spillage]

I guess Luca would be OK. It's hard to say, really, without knowing his platform. I get the sense it's something Ross Brawn would do a good job at.

[SuperSwede]

It seems to me as Jean Todt has spent most of his time as President on traffic safety to build his "legacy" and way too less time on sorting the problems that F1 (and other motorsports) has. His latest idea of Super Formula 2 is absurd IMHO, and I would gladly see someone like Luca di Montezemolo, who really knows F1, and more importantly a man who most likely would not spend most of his time at the helm to build his "legacy" with things that has absolutely nothing to do with motorsport as Jean Todt has done.

Edited by SuperSwede, 08 May 2020 - 08:22.

[Chillimeister]

Gerhard Berger. I think he'll be looking for a new role soon.