861 replies to this topic

[Fastcake]

Chillimeister, on 17 Dec 2021 - 14:03, said:

Indeed. Interesting that his priority is to enable 'better and more affordable pathways for young drivers'. Maybe he's not as wealthy as it appears on the face of it.

No he's definitely filthy rich. Which is useful as the job of FIA president is officially unpaid.

[Chillimeister]

Fastcake, on 17 Dec 2021 - 15:38, said:

No he's definitely filthy rich. Which is useful as the job of FIA president is officially unpaid.

 

As I thought. He'll probably need some help with his making racing more affordable objectives then. Anyway, a fresh face from a different power base and Todt hasn't set the bar too high for him.

[ArnageWRC]

BRG, on 17 Dec 2021 - 13:37, said:

I said 'immersed in F1 politics' which isn't the same thing.  He has no connections with any of the players AFAIK, hasn't worked in F1 and doesn't seem to have ever pontificated on it?  He can set things in F1 to rights without fear or favour.  Hopefully....

 

The 'non F1' background is really confusing a lot of people; who don't think he has the right qualifications to be President. Some of the comments on social media are so depressing, and too many are racist.

 

For those who are unaware of him, Google him, look him up on Wikipedia, etc  He's more than qualified for the top job.

[Timstr11]

This new FIA president coming from a country with an authoritarian tradition is already pissing me off massively.

Edited by Timstr11, 17 December 2021 - 16:53.

[HerbieMcQueen]

Timstr11, on 17 Dec 2021 - 16:46, said:

This new FIA president coming from a country with an autharitarian tradition is already pissing me off massively.

 

Why?

[Risil]

Timstr11, on 17 Dec 2021 - 16:46, said:

This new FIA president coming from a country with an autharitarian tradition is already pissing me off massively.

 

Tbf you could say the same about any FIA president

[Timstr11]

HerbieMcQueen, on 17 Dec 2021 - 16:47, said:

Why?

https://www.motorspo...-rules/6886489/

[HerbieMcQueen]

Timstr11, on 17 Dec 2021 - 16:50, said:

https://www.motorspo...-rules/6886489/

 

Again, what does it matter what country he is from?

[FLB]

aportinga, on 17 Dec 2021 - 15:20, said:

Okay - proof?

Any sort of outgoing leader would leave it to the coming team. There's a transition period, but the article I linked makes it clear that Robert Reid thinks it's *his* dossier now.

 

 

Which is what Todt has essentially done.

[Brackets]

ensign14, on 17 Dec 2021 - 14:05, said:

A futile gesture when there is Rich Energy.

No there isn't.

 

(It is also no coincidence that Dan hasn't been seen again on the forum after having claimed to treasure a can)

[AlexPrime]

It is not bad that he comes from a country with different cultural tradition. I hope for more Asian participants in the sport

[FLB]

aportinga, on 17 Dec 2021 - 15:29, said:

There was a good deal of speculation prior to the race that Todt would be going back to Ferrari. If that comes to fruition I would say that his departure is not linked to Abu Dhabi. The FIA is standing behind MM and there is no reason for anyone at the FIA to baulk. They have control of the sport - full stop. Last weekends issue is essentially done - Mercedes withrew and now it's on to 2022. So I am not sure why anyone would think JT would be concerned enough to depart his role prematurely. That's speculation that boarders on conspiracy as far as I am concerned.

Of course his departure is NOT linked to Abu Dhabi! The election is set by the FIA's Statutes, for Heaven's sake! His departure in December 2021 has been known since the beginning of the last mandate! 

 

His response to the Abu Dhabi events has been the right one in the circumstances, IMHO.

[mtknot]

Timstr11, on 17 Dec 2021 - 16:46, said:

This new FIA president coming from a country with an authoritarian tradition is already pissing me off massively.

What's this got to do with him? 

[Spillage]

No wonder Abu Dhabi just got the season finale contract extension! As ever with an incoming president, wish him well and will give him time to see how he gets on before forming a judgement. Wish Jean Todt all the best too.

Edited by Spillage, 17 December 2021 - 17:35.

[Timstr11]

HerbieMcQueen, on 17 Dec 2021 - 17:00, said:

Again, what does it matter what country he is from?

I just don't have a lot of trust in these plutocratic figures. Don't like the language And the language he uses in the quotes I read. Maybe he'll surprise me and he will drive reforms where needed.

[mtknot]

Timstr11, on 17 Dec 2021 - 17:51, said:

I just don't have a lot of trust in these plutocratic figures. Don't like the language And the language he uses in the quotes I read. Maybe he'll surprise me and he will drive reforms where needed.

How does he coming from the UAE make him a plutocrat/authoritarian when he's not even a politician nor part of the aristocracy? 

[AlexPrime]

Timstr11, on 17 Dec 2021 - 17:51, said:

I just don't have a lot of trust in these plutocratic figures. Don't like the language And the language he uses in the quotes I read. Maybe he'll surprise me and he will drive reforms where needed.

Mr Stoker who was his rival seemed to stress that he would ally with Lewis over human rights issues. While I respect such commitment, I believe that the fundamental root of inequality in motorsport is dependent on class and not identity, which Mr Sulaim seemed to understand. So I expect big change! Cheaper and more competitive series and stronger local championships.

[piszkosfred]

I guess Vince MacMahon wasn't available. 

[hansmann]

AlexPrime, on 17 Dec 2021 - 17:22, said:

It is not bad that he comes from a country with different cultural tradition. I hope for more Asian participants in the sport

 

Yeah, it's a shame the candidate from North Korea never gained any traction ; but we got the next best thing now .

 

Seriously now, is this a joke ? 

Right after the F1 fiasko cost the FIA a ton of credibility, they elect as their president some guy from a powerful UAE family - what a freak show this has become .

[AlexPrime]

To compare UAE with DPRK is laughable.

[hansmann]

mtknot, on 17 Dec 2021 - 17:56, said:

How does he coming from the UAE make him a plutocrat/authoritarian when he's not even a politician nor part of the aristocracy? 

 

Because he is part of the ruling class of an authoritarian plutocratic country, which is highly corrupt and has a very poor human rights record .

His family is deeply invloved in regional politics, and so is he .

[mclarensmps]

Quite a bit of prejudice around here. 

[ajcrean]

He's clearly not wasting any time: his first press conference and he's looking into whether or not Hamilton defied the Sporting Regs in refusing to attend last night's gala.

"At the end of the day, rules are rules.", he says...  (He might not be aware of the concept of irony...)

If he's starting as he means to go on, he's going to make Jean-Marie Balestre look reasonable.

[AlexPrime]

Actually I respect a lot UAE and its leader MBZ, but focusing on motorsport I must say that they have very good experience, I remember seeing them organizing first races for F1 powerboats, great events, they developed in a very impressive way to reach F1 level and now to have a FIA President is a recognition of that.

[Myrvold]

AlexPrime, on 17 Dec 2021 - 17:57, said:

Mr Stoker who was his rival seemed to stress that he would ally with Lewis over human rights issues. While I respect such commitment, I believe that the fundamental root of inequality in motorsport is dependent on class and not identity, which Mr Sulaim seemed to understand. So I expect big change! Cheaper and more competitive series and stronger local championships.

 

However, someone who is involved in politics in a region which is filled with "different class" of humans is not someone I would expect to actually work actively towards the removal of such.

 

I'm happy to be proven wrong and to be surprised though. Nothing better than that!

 

Also worth noting, I'm not sure the other candidate would've been much better in total. I would have somewhat more belief in him when it comes to human rights, but not necessarily better in other issues.

[Izzyeviel]

Well his first day on the job is get tough on people who miss a fancy dinner. Imagine how tough he's going to be on the people who broke the rules at the last race...

[ezequiel]

Timstr11, on 17 Dec 2021 - 16:46, said:

This new FIA president coming from a country with an authoritarian tradition is already pissing me off massively.

You mean France or the UK?

[DeKnyff]

Myrvold, on 17 Dec 2021 - 18:34, said:

However, someone who is involved in politics in a region which is filled with "different class" of humans is not someone I would expect to actually work actively towards the removal of such.

 

Has he been involved in politics?

[AlexPrime]

https://www.motorspo...6886752/?nrt=54

 

Sulayem eyes changes to stop Abu Dhabi F1 controversy repeat

[Spyker]

Something makes me think Lewis has made some enemies inadvertently.

 

I think there will be a show of power.

[Bloggsworth]

Some people will buy any organisation if the money's right, while others will sell it...

[Cirio]

AlexPrime, on 17 Dec 2021 - 18:30, said:

Actually I respect a lot UAE and its leader MBZ, but focusing on motorsport I must say that they have very good experience, I remember seeing them organizing first races for F1 powerboats, great events, they developed in a very impressive way to reach F1 level and now to have a FIA President is a recognition of that.

Take a look at this:

https://en.wikipedia...es#Human_rights

Human rights

Main article: Human rights in the United Arab Emirates

Flogging and stoning are legal punishments in the UAE. The requirement is derived from Sharia law, and has been federal law since 2005.^[262] Some domestic workers in the UAE are victims of the country's interpretations of Sharia judicial punishments such as flogging and stoning.^[197] The annual Freedom House report on Freedom in the World has listed the United Arab Emirates as "Not Free" every year since 1999, the first year for which records are available on their website.^[133]

 

Protest against the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen, March 2018

The UAE has escaped the Arab Spring; however, more than 100 Emirati activists were jailed and tortured because they sought reforms.^{[86][263][264]} Since 2011, the UAE government has increasingly carried out forced disappearances.^{[265][266][267][268][269][270]} Many foreign nationals and Emirati citizens have been arrested and abducted by the state. The UAE government denies these people are being held (to conceal their whereabouts), placing these people outside the protection of the law.^{[264][266][271]} According to Human Rights Watch, the reports of forced disappearance and torture in the UAE are of grave concern.^[267]

The Arab Organization for Human Rights has obtained testimonies from many defendants, for its report on "Forced Disappearance and Torture in the UAE", who reported that they had been kidnapped, tortured and abused in detention centres.^[266][271] The report included 16 different methods of torture including severe beatings, threats with electrocution and denying access to medical care.^[266][271]

In 2013, 94 Emirati activists were held in secret detention centres and put on trial for allegedly attempting to overthrow the government.^[272] Human rights organizations have spoken out against the secrecy of the trial. An Emirati, whose father is among the defendants, was arrested for tweeting about the trial. In April 2013, he was sentenced to 10 months in jail.^[273] The latest forced disappearance involves three sisters from Abu Dhabi.^[274]

[FLB]

Spyker, on 17 Dec 2021 - 19:08, said:

Something makes me think Lewis has made some enemies inadvertently.

 

I think there will be a show of power.

So do I.

[AllanL]

First statement from new President, "No forgiveness ....[for Lewis not turning up at the party]" Looks like we have a worthy successor to Max Mosley.

[PayasYouRace]

Cirio, on 17 Dec 2021 - 19:31, said:

Take a look at this:

https://en.wikipedia...es#Human_rights

Human rights

Main article: Human rights in the United Arab Emirates

[snip]

 

 

The UAE is not the president of the FIA. Mohammed Ben Sulayem is.

 

Let's focus on his career and what he can do for motoring and motorsport.

[PayasYouRace]

AllanL, on 17 Dec 2021 - 19:36, said:

First statement from new President, "No forgiveness ....[for Lewis not turning up at the party]" Looks like we have a worthy successor to Max Mosley.

 

I really don't understand what everyone is expecting here.

 

FIA didn't follow rules.

 

New FIA president: "Rules must be followed".

 

That's a good thing.

[P123]

Yes, I think we need to give him a bit of time.  He has been around motorsport and the FIA for a while.  

 

 

PayasYouRace, on 17 Dec 2021 - 19:49, said:

I really don't understand what everyone is expecting here.

 

FIA didn't follow rules.

 

New FIA president: "Rules must be followed".

 

That's a good thing.

 

In isolation, it is, but not when the rules were not followed, leading to a bit of a mess and contributing towards the loss of a championship, and then against the driver who paid that price, wishing to hold him strictly to rules relating to not attending a shindig which was in part to celebrate the outcome of that snafu...

[Ross Stonefeld]

He wasn't President when Lewis committed his crime. If he has retroactive powers, then Abu Dhabi and possibly Spa need to be investigated too.

[AlexPrime]

The past should be analyzed for the future, but not investigated for changes of the outcome.

Edited by AlexPrime, 17 December 2021 - 20:01.

[Ross Stonefeld]

I don't think the outcome changes, but I think they really need to clarify wtf went on.

[AlexPrime]

I think already the President said he is going to do that and do it carefully, not hurrying things up.

[alframsey]

I know nothing about him other than he was a pretty good rally driver. I hope he is good for all motorsport and I hope he is less meddling in F1 than previous presidents.

[Ross Stonefeld]

They're going to do a report on what happened, that's not the same. I think Lewis/Toto should use Abu Dhabi as evidence that rules aren't followed and that was 'okay' so them not attending the Gala is nothing special. If the FIA tries to argue back "the rulebook is clear and must always be enforced" well...

[AlexPrime]

I actually believe the report and a small fine for Lewis is what will happen and is the best outcome.

Toto sent Allison so Merc were represented.

[sabjit]

He's already said some idiotic stuff that undermine confidence in him.

 

He should let the Gala boycott go.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Is Lewis at any risk of points on his license that lead to grid penalties? If so I'd defend defend defend, using my suggestion above. Make this ugly. 

[PlatenGlass]

PayasYouRace, on 17 Dec 2021 - 19:49, said:

I really don't understand what everyone is expecting here.

 

FIA didn't follow rules.

 

New FIA president: "Rules must be followed".

 

That's a good thing.

 

Hamilton not following the rules was a direct consequence of the FIA not following rules. It's not that two wrongs make a right, but Hamilton's position is quite understandable and they should probably be cutting him some slack. Obviously it would be nothing more than a slap on the wrist anyway, because any more than that and Hamilton could well be telling them to eff off and F1 would lose out badly.

[PlatenGlass]

Ross Stonefeld, on 17 Dec 2021 - 20:24, said:

Is Lewis at any risk of points on his license that lead to grid penalties? If so I'd defend defend defend, using my suggestion above. Make this ugly. 

In that case, I don't think we'd see him back.

 

I remember Alain Prost saying things Mosley didn't like at the start of 1993 and when he got into "trouble" about it, he said that if they banned him from a single race, he'd immediately quit. And that was without thinking he'd just been robbed of a championship.

 

I don't know what Hamilton is thinking or what other people would do, but if it was me, I might not be quitting over what happened in Abu Dhabi, but if there were any material consequences from skipping the party (ban, grid drop, anything that would affect the next championship), with seven titles already, that would be it.

[Gary Davies]

AllanL, on 17 Dec 2021 - 19:36, said:

First statement from new President, "No forgiveness ....[for Lewis not turning up at the party]" Looks like we have a worthy successor to Max Mosley.

First up, I wish Mohammed Ben Sulayem well.

 

And let's see how 'no forgiveness...' plays out. That said, if the FIA seeks to hector or even punish Sir Lewis over his not complying with the book of rules, it would be perfectly reasonable to point out a certain irony would exist since this whole unfortunate barney arose because an FIA employee elected not to comply with the book of rules in the dying minutes of the Abu Dhabi race.

[Muzzyf1]

Good to see Todt go worst in recent memory for me

Edited by Muzzyf1, 18 December 2021 - 02:36.