FIA president Jean Todt has revealed a “great admiration” for Red Bull’s Dietrich Mateschitz.
Although with a relatively hands-off role personally, Austrian billionaire Mateschitz’s main F1 team secured the drivers’ and constructors’ titles last season, just six years after taking over struggling Jaguar.

At the pinnacle of motor racing and against industry stalwarts including Ferrari and McLaren, and after carmaker giants including BMW and Toyota gave up on the road to success, energy drink Red Bull’s 2010 achievement was unique.

“I have great admiration for him,” Todt said when asked about Mateschitz on a visit to Vienna.

“He is a sports fanatic, especially motor sports,” the Frenchman told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper.

“When he started (in F1), many didn’t think he could be so successful, but he has shown what can be done with enthusiasm, energy and dedication,” added Todt.

When asked about the forthcoming 2011 season, the FIA president summarised: “We will have the longest ever season with new rules and tyres and a grand prix in India.

“It is all very open and interesting, but I won’t talk about the favourites,” smiled Todt.

According to Adrian Sutil, Red Bull is leading the pace with its 2010 car because the team is “smarter than everyone else”.

Although driving for the rival Force India team, and not enjoying the benefits of a legally flexing front wing, the German driver is open in his admiration for the championship-leading outfit.

“You have to push the rules as far as you can,” he said in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport.  “And Red Bull have been smarter than everyone else.

“Somehow they manage to do everything a little better,” added the 27-year-old German.

Sutil acknowledged that while Red Bull’s spending is more powerful than Force India’s, the old formula of a whopping budget does not explain their success.

“I think Herr Newey has very special skills,” he said.

“For me, the Red Bull is an incredible car,” added Sutil, also refusing to criticise the Milton Keynes based team for passing the flexibility tests whilst clearly enjoying the benefits of a flexing front wing.

“If you notice nothing in the tests, then they have done nothing wrong.  That’s just clever,” he said.

A Mercedes spokesman on Friday said quotes attributed to Nico Rosberg by a German tabloid newspaper were taken out of context.

25-year-old Mercedes GP driver Rosberg reportedly said the 2010 car was a “disaster”, while he is “angry” about the “backwards” development of the W01.

But the spokesman, revealing that he has spoken to Rosberg who is upset about the newspaper’s sensationalism, insisted that the German has “nothing but admiration” for both Mercedes and team boss Ross Brawn.

Rosberg, currently seventh in the drivers’ world championship, is also “completely happy with the Silver Arrows team”, the Mercedes-Benz Motorsport spokesman added.

Apr.29 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve says he is happy for his former teammate Jenson Button, as the reigning world champion continues to lead the world of formula one.

The pair had an initially acrimonious relationship as BAR teammates in 2003, but Villeneuve has since declared his admiration for the Briton’s talents.

French Canadian Villeneuve, 39, said he has been particularly impressed this year with Button’s driving in the wet, including wins in Australia and China that have given him the world championship lead.

“Jenson was always quick in the rain but now he’s becoming increasingly recognised as the best in the field,” he told Canada’s Rue Frontenac.

“Michael always had that reputation in the past but I think Jenson has passed him now in the minds of observers,” added Villeneuve.

“But I also don’t forget about Alonso, who did an exceptional race on the wet track of Shanghai,” he said.

Villeneuve said Button’s “really great start” to 2010 with McLaren proves his world championship was well deserved.

“To change teams and stay among the best shows that it was no fluke,” said the winner of 11 grands prix. “I am really happy for him.”

As for his former nemesis Schumacher, Villeneuve thinks the seven time world champion’s comeback so far has been “disappointing”.

“This is his first big disappointment. He did well at first for a guy who has not raced for three years, but then the results were disappointing.”

But he still thinks Mercedes was right to entice the 41-year-old German out of retirement.

“Michael is useful even if he’s not winning, and nobody can take away his seven titles or that he is one of the best in history.

“And when Rosberg beats him with the same equipment, it cements Nico’s reputation much more than if he were beating someone else,” added Villeneuve.