The notion that former rally world champion Ari Vatanen has suggested he may oppose current FIA President Max Mosley, should the latter decide against stepping down at the end of his current term in October, would be welcome news to FOTA, the formula 1 teams association.
“I am considering it. I think it is time for a change,” said Vatanen. “At the moment I am consulting the member clubs and am already seeing positive feedback. I would go for it, even if not sure of winning.”
Former Ferrari boss, Frenchman Jean Todt, is also reported to be a potential candidate.
Vatanen would arguably be the favourite for the role, given Mosley’s sharp decline in popularity following the political rows that have engulfed Formula 1 this season. It had appeared that Mosley had agreed to stand down as part of the agreement with FOTA, in order to prevent a breakaway rival championship series.
However, Mosley has now issued conflicting statements: “I am under pressure now from all over the world to stand for re-election. I do genuinely want to stop, but if there is going to be a big conflict with the car industry, for example with the FOTA teams, then I won’t stop.”
A powerful figure in Formula 1 he may be, but the validity of this claim is certainly debatable, and one fears whether Mosley may have slightly lost touch with the issues at hand.
Mosley, never a figure to shy away from controversy, has riled FOTA on many occasions by trying to introduce budgetary caps and new regulations for next year, which lead to the breakaway threats, and has been accused of wanting too much control in the sport.
However, one man who will remain loyal to him is F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone. In an ill-advised interview with the Times on July 4th, the 78 year old said he admired Adolf Hitler for his ability to “get things done” and praised Mosley’s preference for authoritarianism, although he has now retracted this comparison and will stay away from Sunday’s German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.
The figureheads at the top Formula 1 are, frankly, an embarrassment. The soap opera continues…
[...] Indeed, Formula 1 is a sport long associated with scandals. The figureheads at the top of Formula 1 have often caused public embarrassment and this year is no exception. Even after the well documented affair of Mosely’s Nazi-themed orgy, F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone unfortunately told The Times on July 4th that he admired Adolf Hitler for his ability to “get things done” and praised Mosley’s preference for authoritarianism when the 79 year old suggested he may renegade on his decision to stand down. [...]