Bernie Ecclestone has risked triggering speculation about FIA president Jean Todt’s future.
In an interview with Germany’s Die Welt, the F1 chief executive looked ruefully back on the infamous era alongside Todt’s predecessor Max Mosley.

Ecclestone, who turns 81 on Friday, admitted recently he does not always see eye-to-eye with Frenchman Todt.

“It’s a shame these days how democratic formula one is now. Max and I were able to solve issues and problems in most cases very quickly, a few days or weeks, where now we sometimes need years.

“That (the past era) benefitted everyone — the teams, the audience, everybody,” said Ecclestone.

Referring then to Todt, he said: “I think he went into the job not knowing what to expect. Max helped Jean to become president.

“But I suspect that if he was true to himself and he could choose again between the presidency and Ferrari, he would return to Maranello,” added the Briton.

Fascinatingly, Ecclestone’s comments coincided with Todt telling the Italian-language goalcity.com: “I am still in love with Ferrari.

“The ‘Rosso’ will always have a special place in my heart.”

Ecclestone agrees that – operationally – F1′s past is better than its present.

“It’s tempting to talk about the good old days,” he said. “Maybe it wasn’t like that really but I get the impression that it was much, much better than it is now.

“I tell you: if Max wanted to be re-elected as president, he would go through with ease. He is supported by 90 per cent of the teams.”

 Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he would welcome Max Mosley back to the FIA presidency.
The F1 chief executive told Germany’s Welt am Sonntag newspaper that coming out in opposition to his long-time fellow F1 powerbroker amid the 2008 scandal ranks among his biggest ever regrets.

“One of the worst things I’ve done in my life – and for which I am ashamed – is to not defend Max Mosley when he had his big problems. There’s no excuse,” said Ecclestone.

The 80-year-old is referring to his call for Mosley to step down as pressure rose in the wake of the then FIA president’s sex scandal involving sadomasochism and prostitutes.

“I made the mistake because so many people – executives and decision-makers from big companies and banks – convinced me that Max must go in the circumstances,” Ecclestone explained.

He said his own opinion of the sex affair was that it was “purely private” and “nothing to do with formula one”.

“But I was influenced very strongly and badly not to support him. I have apologised personally to Max and also publicly before the FIA World Council,” added the Briton.

The FIA is now headed by former Ferrari boss Jean Todt, and it is known that Ecclestone is not a fan.

“I have nothing against the present incumbent, Jean Todt, but I would welcome Max’s return,” insisted Ecclestone.

Jean Todt has hinted that F1′s team orders ban will be reconsidered in order to make the sport more “transparent”.

But the FIA president denied he is bowing to the pressure and ideals of Ferrari, the famous Italian team he led to enormous success last decade.

Maranello based Ferrari recently and controversially escaped additional penalties for switching the places of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso at Hockenheim.

Instead, the World Motor Sport Council ruled that the ban on team orders, installed after Todt ordered Rubens Barrichello to let Michael Schumacher win the 2002 Austrian grand prix, be reconsidered.

“I’m not for or against team orders; it depends on the situation,” Todt told the Clarin daily whilst visiting Argentina.

“It’s as old as racing,” the Frenchman insisted. “After what happened with Alonso and Massa in Germany, the issue was reopened and passed to a committee to make the rules clear.

“The idea is to find out what is most healthy and transparent,” said Todt.

He denied that the FIA’s apparently new approach to team orders demonstrates a link between his new presidency and Ferrari.

Asked what his response to those types of critics is, Todt answered: “They are fools.

“It is the same as when I was with Peugeot, and also Ferrari. Now as president of the FIA, I do my best for the organisation, regardless of the particular interests of others,” he explained.

F1′s governing body is not expected to take action against Fernando Alonso or Ferrari.

The Italian team’s response to the outcome of the Valencia race has been incandescent, including Fernando Alonso saying Lewis Hamilton’s meagre treatment by the stewards amounted to “manipulation”.

Ferrari vice-president Piero Ferrari said the mere drive-through penalty for McLaren driver Hamilton’s overtaking of the safety car made the European GP a “false race”.

And reports on the team’s official website have quoted fans as saying Hamilton is a liar and a cheat, McLaren “thieves”, and the FIA a “Federation of clowns”.

British newspaper The Mirror correspondent Byron Young wrote on Twitter that in “Max Mosley’s day”, sanctions would now be likely, adding: “Are the FIA going to act or will Jean Todt dodge the first big F1 test of his presidency?”

According to sources on Monday, the FIA is not considering action.

Ferrari’s rage against the outcome of the European grand prix went from bad to worse on Monday.

With Fernando Alonso having accused the stewards of manipulating the Valencia race, the Italian team echoed the apparent view of some fans that Lewis Hamilton’s drive-through penalty for overtaking the safety car was a “scandal”.

But in another website report on Monday, Ferrari stepped up its attack, repeating the view of one fan that had hit out at “McLaren thieves” who were “up to their usual dirty tricks”.

Another fan said: “The FIA at Valencia showed it’s not entirely in charge of the events that it’s organising”, and yet another added: “Is this the latest version of Jean Todt?  Those who order and manipulate are always the same.”

Ferrari quoted another fan as saying: “Federation of clowns!  What help is a five-second penalty?  Useless and the usual English mafia!”

And another: “Enough with the help for Hamilton.  How can he lie and cheat and still get away scot-free?”

Mirror correspondent Byron Young wrote on Twitter that in “Max Mosley’s day”, there would be “sanctions” for accusing the FIA of fixing races.

When the rage intensified on Monday, he added: “Are the FIA going to act or will Jean Todt dodge the first big F1 test of his presidency?”

(GMM)

Apr.23 (GMM)  Max Mosley was relieved at the outcome of last year’s FIA presidency elections, because he thinks the job was “completely beyond” Ari Vatanen.

After his long reign, Mosley’s preferred successor Jean Todt was voted in, in the wake of a bitter campaign against the former world rally champion Vatanen.

Asked by a reader how he would have felt had Vatanen won office, Mosley told the latest edition of the British magazine F1 Racing: “I’d have been very worried, because I think Jean, with all his ability, is finding it quite a struggle.

“It’s so much more complex than when I took over (in 1993), and I think it would’ve been completely beyond Ari.”

In the same feature, 70-year-old Mosley also renewed his attack on Ferrari and its president Luca di Montezemolo, who were at the centre of last year’s political war over control of the sport.

The Briton described Montezemolo as a “very weak character” who is “easily led”, and said Ferrari objected to his budget cap proposal because the team would “fail” if forced to spend the same money as its rivals.

“If the fans really understood the issues, I don’t think they would be against me, because everything I’ve ever done has always been done with a view to keeping formula one going and stopping it collapsing,” said Mosley.

Apr.21 (GMM)  Flavio Briatore has revealed he has no intention of attempting to reconcile his broken relationship with former F1 colleague Max Mosley.

In his last year of FIA presidency in 2009, Mosley oversaw the imposition of ousted Renault team boss Briatore’s lifetime ban over the crashgate scandal.

But Mosley has since turned 70 and is now effectively retired, replaced by Jean Todt who has halted crashgate by agreeing to end Briatore’s ban in 2013.

Italian Briatore, now 60, also celebrated a birthday this month, and is currently at home with his model wife Elisabetta and their newly born son Falco.

But he told the Italian magazine Chi that he is not interested in making up with Mosley.

“He sent me a text message to congratulate us on the birth of Falco, but Mosley is part of my former life.  In my future there will be no place for him,” said Briatore.

“I’m happy for Jean (Todt),” the Italian added, “my friend of 20 years.  Thanks to him, the FIA can now quietly and serenely breathe new air.”

Briatore, who has always maintained his innocence despite conspirators Pat Symonds and Nelson Piquet admitting to plotting the deliberate crash of Singapore 2008, said he is not about to forgive the stain on his reputation.

“It was very bad for my story.  I suffered an injustice.  But the truth, the power of the truth, wins every time,” he insisted.