Ferrari F1 politics: Todt vs. Montezemolo | FerrariChat

Ferrari F1 politics: Todt vs. Montezemolo

Discussion in 'F1' started by GordonC, Sep 11, 2007.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. GordonC

    GordonC F1 Rookie
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 28, 2005
    4,163
    Calgary, AB, Canada
    Full Name:
    Gordon
    We know that the Ferrari management have had some discord recently, and that Todt and Montezemolo have been at odds for a while. Go back to 2005, and it was Luca who pushed to sign Kimi, Todt was against signing him at that time. Go back to 2006, and it was Montezemolo who ordered Schumacher to decide his future by the Monza deadline, leaving Schumacher little choice but to retire (as he saw it, anyway, since Luca wouldn't let him have guaranteed No. 1 status with Kimi as a teammate). Then, Jean Todt was promoted by Montezemolo to head all Ferrari operations, and left as F1 team boss on an interim basis.

    Now, rumours are starting that Todt doesn't want to give up the F1 team position, and is fighting Luca in that regard. It's already been published that Ross Brawn wants to return to Ferrari in the Team Manager role that Todt currently holds, and that Todt has said that he is not ready to give that up. However, de Montezemolo has other plans, and may be pushing for the Ferrari board to remove Todt as F1 team manager. There's an interesting analysis in the latest column by the Mole on the GrandPrix.com web site: http://www.grandprix.com/mole/mole19614.html .

    Thoughts?
     
  2. BIGHORN

    BIGHORN In Memoriam

    Sep 18, 2006
    733
    FLORIDA/NEW MEXICO
    Full Name:
    JOHN F KELLY
    This stuff has been happening throughout the entire history of Ferrari, back to the Alfa days. I hate to generalize, but is appears to be integral to the Italian national character.
     
  3. kraftwerk

    kraftwerk Two Time F1 World Champ

    May 12, 2007
    26,826
    England North West
    Full Name:
    Steve
    It maybe since MS departed there has been infighting, as we have seen what can happen with disgruntled staff.
    The FS ship does look a bit rocky at the min.
    But could Ross Brawn now steady it or make it worse, things change fast in this sport..
     
  4. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Oct 3, 2002
    49,624
    @ the wheel
    Full Name:
    Andreas
    The BusinessF1 magazine continues to report about the big fight going on behind the scenes at Ferrari: A year ago Montezemolo was trying to get Todt fired. That didn't pan out because of the great success the roadcars have under his management. For now the guns stay quiet, but BusinessF1 speculates, that Montezemolo hasn't given up and will try again to get rid of Todt.

    A year ago, they clashed over sponsorship: A replacement for Marlboro should have come, but the deal went sour because of the difference of opinion between Montezemolo and Todt. It would be funny, if it wasn't affecting things as much. The whole Stepneygate desaster is just another sign that house keeping is taking a toll.
     
  5. Senna3xWC

    Senna3xWC F1 Rookie

    Nov 30, 2006
    3,152
    NYC
    +1


    I think if it comes down to Ferrari needing to decide between Todt and Brawn, I would go with Brawn. I can't see this type of infighting happening under his watch.

    I think that Ferrari is missing Schumacher for much more than just his driving ability, he really seems to have been the glue that kept that place together.
     
  6. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Oct 3, 2002
    49,624
    @ the wheel
    Full Name:
    Andreas
    Actually I think the best of both worlds would be Brawn running the F1 team and Todt focusing solely on car production, where he is doing a stellar job.
     
  7. Senna1994

    Senna1994 F1 World Champ

    Nov 11, 2003
    13,192
    Orange County
    Full Name:
    Anthony T
    Steve, I think Brawn's return would have a calming effect on the team. But as Ted stated, I think MS was really the glue that kept everything together.
     
  8. Senna3xWC

    Senna3xWC F1 Rookie

    Nov 30, 2006
    3,152
    NYC
    That seems to be Brawn's expectation but if reports are to be believed, Todt doesn't want to relinquish stewardship of the F1 operation.
     
  9. senna21

    senna21 F1 Rookie

    Jul 2, 2004
    3,334
    Los Angeles, CA
    Full Name:
    Charles W
    IMO Todt needs to step aside. If he doesn't Brawn will certainly go to a different team say, Toyota or Honda where he'll have an open check book and free reign. While either of those teams wouldn't be a threat in the immediate future to Ferrari they certainly would under Brawn's guidance within a couple of years.
     
  10. Tifoso1

    Tifoso1 F1 Rookie

    Nov 18, 2003
    2,602
    Pacific NW
    Full Name:
    Anthony C.
    +1.

    +1, which just shows another aspect of Michael Schumacher's remarkable career as a F1 driver.
     
  11. 1_can_dream

    1_can_dream F1 Veteran

    Jan 7, 2006
    8,051
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Kyle
    Very good point. I don't think Brawn would want to come back to Ferrari in the same role that he left. He deserves the promotion and hopefully Todt will realize that he's had a hell of a run as the principal and now decide to take a load off of his schedule to just run the production car line in Maranello. He can be just like Schumi for the first year of his F1 retirement if he really can't stay away from the tracks.
     
  12. Formula 1

    Formula 1 Formula 3

    Feb 20, 2005
    1,525
    Then you must be a poor judge of character.
     
  13. TopElement

    TopElement Formula 3

    May 14, 2005
    1,540
    OC & Vegas
    Full Name:
    A Montoya
    From my experience with them around the world, I think that's not too far off.
     
  14. kirill

    kirill Formula Junior

    Jul 8, 2004
    584
    Illinois
    Full Name:
    Kirill
    Don't forget - Todd dates Asian actress - she likes to go to the races. Probably in private jet and surrounded by other celebrities.

    Do you think she will be exited going to assembly line on the factory ?
     
  15. ingegnere

    ingegnere F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 12, 2004
    5,566
    Montreal
    Nice racial profiling! Especially as we are talking about 1 Italian, 1 Frenchman and 1 Englishman (plus 1 German, if we include MS).
     
  16. SRT Mike

    SRT Mike Two Time F1 World Champ

    Oct 31, 2003
    23,343
    Taxachusetts
    Full Name:
    Raymond Luxury Yacht
    Wow, Italians are a race now too?

    Here I was thinking it was things like black, white, asian, hispanic, etc... come to find out Italians are a race too! I am sooooo dumb! ;)
     
  17. GordonC

    GordonC F1 Rookie
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 28, 2005
    4,163
    Calgary, AB, Canada
    Full Name:
    Gordon
    You forgot the Asian woman! We have the makings of a great joke here... ;) Throw in an Irishman (Eddie Jordan) and an Australian (Paul Stoddart), and it could turn into a movie!
     
  18. ingegnere

    ingegnere F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 12, 2004
    5,566
    Montreal
    Maybe should have said ethnic profiling, cultural profiling or racism. We're not that familiar with term "racial profiling" as it's not engrained in our culture as it is in some other parts of the globe. I just didn't realize we had anthropology or sociology professors scouring this thread looking for errors, and completely missing the point of my post.

     
  19. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

    Dec 4, 2004
    14,436
    FL
    hahah, wow...
     
  20. Remy Zero

    Remy Zero Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2005
    23,476
    KL, Malaysia
    Full Name:
    MC Cool Breeze
    i'd go for brawn i think. look at Ferrari this year. cocking up like no one's business.
     
  21. Remy Zero

    Remy Zero Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2005
    23,476
    KL, Malaysia
    Full Name:
    MC Cool Breeze
    bleh! i can't stand the look on her face in the pit garage, staring at the monitor like she knows what the bloody hell is going on.
     
  22. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Oct 3, 2002
    49,624
    @ the wheel
    Full Name:
    Andreas
    Ever heard the expression "Italian ape" in regards to Ferraris?

    Sorry, not being judgemental here, just passing along another bad joke.
     
  23. Formula 1

    Formula 1 Formula 3

    Feb 20, 2005
    1,525
    Next time we go karting I'll bring along some swiss jokes ;)
     
  24. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Oct 3, 2002
    49,624
    @ the wheel
    Full Name:
    Andreas
    There aren't any. They're all truths. :)
     
  25. Formula 1

    Formula 1 Formula 3

    Feb 20, 2005
    1,525
    LOL ! and that's why I enjoy karting with you guys.
     

Share This Page