Formula One news

Vatanen critical of FIA favouritism

Ari Vatanen has spoken out over FIA president Max Mosley's decision to pinpoint Jean Todt as his preferred successor. Vatanen, World Rally Champion of 1981, will be pitting against the former Ferrari team principal for elections in October although the Finn stresses that the federation must remain a neutral and democratic body.         

Ari Vatanen, FIA presidential candidate

With Mosley set to leave after 16 years in the job and having listed the credentials of Todt in his letter to FIA member groups, Vatanen has expressed his disappointment over the approach. "Although I have strongly criticised the FIA, I have never personally done so towards Mosley," Vatanen told Spain's AS. "It is not too good when a leader stays in office for so long and, when he leaves, it's best to make a change; I represent that change - a new phase of greater freshness.

"By contrast, Jean Todt is 'old school' and it is wrong that Max wants to impose a new leader and also give him the support of the federation to sway opinions; the FIA is not a kingdom - it's a republic which should have democratically elected leaders."

Jean Todt worked as Ferrari team principal for 14 years

Does Vatanen feel that Todt's potential presidency would feature a favouring of Ferrari? "Ferrari have said that they do not want Todt to be president because they believe in the sport's credibility," he responded. "The same would happen if Ross Brawn or Flavio Briatore became president. The president of the FIA must be neutral."

The Spanish newspaper went on to highlight Vatenen's own connections in the motoring world with the FIA-backed World Rally Championship (WRC). "I will not deny that I carry rallying in my heart but that does not mean that they will be prioritized," he stressed. "The main focus point is F1 and rallies complement that but we must also give importance to other formulae and we must not forget the trillion motorists who've been trying to help in my ten years as an MEP (Member of European Parliament).

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