Jean Todt: "Formula 1 is already great"

  • Published on 01 Feb 2017 13:31
  • comments 4
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Jean Todt has denied that formula one needs to make radical changes in the new Liberty Media era. The headline news of Liberty having completed its takeover of the sport is that F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone was ousted. Frenchman Todt, the president of the governing FIA, said: "He (Ecclestone) did a lot for formula one -- and he also got a lot from formula one."

"Bernie is Bernie," he said at the Spobis sport business congress in Dusseldorf. "Sometimes you love him, sometimes you love him less, but his achievements are unique. I hope for him that he will have the opportunity to do other great things. I managed to do something different, and I hope that Bernie still has the fitness and the passion to do the same," Todt added.

However, Todt denied that in Ecclestone's wake, Liberty now needs to make radical changes. "I think formula one is already great," Todt insisted. "The sport must be unpredictable, and the title fight (in 2016) went to the last corner. I'm sure Liberty Media will give us different insights for other forms of communication that are likely to bring new fans to formula one," he said.

Todt denied that Mercedes' dominance since 2014 shows that something is fundamentally wrong with the structure of the sport. "At the moment it is Mercedes," he said, "but before it was Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Williams, which also happens in other sports like athletics and football. So we should congratulate Mercedes for its successes and hope the others work even better now."

As for the radically different 2017 technical regulations, Todt said: "Expectations are high, but we will have to wait for the first race." (GMM)

Replies (4)

Login to reply
  • Kevin

    Posts: 5,299

    Todt needs a reality check. F1 hasn't been as boring for a long time.

    • + 0
    • Feb 1 2017 - 16:12
  • Todt has done something? I agree with him that the sport is great, however it is not perfect, a whole lot can be done to improve it.

    • + 0
    • Feb 1 2017 - 20:30
  • bremgarten

    Posts: 38

    So Todt believes, “F1 is great.”

    It’s all a question of your point of view.
    From the windswept stands of Hockenheim it’s a pain in the arse.

    But then from a plush office in the Place de la Concorde everything is, “impeccable”.

    • + 0
    • Feb 2 2017 - 06:14
  • Todt needs to visit to the psychiatrist.

    • + 0
    • Feb 2 2017 - 06:31

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar