Rumor: Todt being fired at Ferrari?

Just read this . .

Ferrari: Todt on the way out ?
Rumors again?

F1i.com

With Ferrari presenting its 2008 car today in Fiorano, rumours that President Luca di Montezemolo and CEO Jean Todt are increasingly at odds with each other appear to be gaining momentum. As the Scuderia's sporting management has now been entrusted to Stefano Domenicali, one must wonder what role - if any - Todt will assume this season at the races... But the French manager's CEO status and overall implication with Ferrari may also be called into question in the near future.
Apparently, the Montezemolo-Todt relationship recently took a turn for the worse when several severe conflicts of interest involving the Todt family, and relating to Ferrari brand management, were recently brought to the Ferrari President's attention.
In the Middle-East, it is rumoured that Jean Todt is associated with an offshore company set up by businessman Luciano Secchi and linked to the Abu Dhabi Ferrari theme park currently under construction for an estimated $ 900 million !
On a second front, according to an article just published in the reputed french monthly F1 Magazine, a subsidiary of ART Grand Prix (the GP2 team partly owned by Ferrari CEO's son Nicolas Todt) tried to position itself as a de facto intermediary to co-ordinate the recently signed partnership between Ferrari and A1 GP, but without Luca di Montezemolo's consent...
No comments have yet emerged out of Maranello, but difficult times may lie ahead for Jean Todt in the coming months, or indeed the coming weeks...

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Carol

 

Seems Martin's sources were correct. Not good news, not at all...

 

Was not Todt rumored to replace Mosley at FIA?

 

It'd really be a shame if true. Sounds like LdM found the excuse to clean house if there is fact to this rumor.

 

If true, then where does that leave Nicolas Todt? Massa has a contract until 2010, but without protection...

 

Depends on if he's clean or not, which I doubt. Maybe they'd insist Massa get a new agent??

 

Performance. Actual performance is all that counts at Ferrari. Irrespective of contracts.

And Massa has performed and endeared himself at the Scuderia. He is not going ahywhere.

 

If the Todt-name is tainted within Ferrari, Massa will drop Nicolas like a hot potato.

 

Sounds like he is a perfect money is everything rat to replace Bernie NOT Mosley.

What a pity ... still think he over played the McLaren scandle to the detriment of motorsport, so please close the door on the way out.
Pete

 

Nobody gets a job as a F1 driver on only their performance ... it's all about deals ... and thus $'s.

Pete

 

Must be big. Posts are being removed.

 

Martin thanks for the heads up. This will be something.

 

I just watched the Italian news, which is about six hours old, and called relatives in Italy, and so far, not a word has been said.
Tomorrow, i'll call a freind of mine, and see what he has to say.

 

You guys hear the moon is made of cheese?




Best,
Jon

 

haven't heard the slight rumour here in Italy.I will watch the news and if I see anything will post!

 

Yes I did,and its parmigiano reggiano.

 

Pass the Wheat Thins...

 

Tell that to Alain Prost.

 

I find the calls for patience until the facts are known to be slightly ridiculous around here. Substitue the name Ron Dennis for Jean Todt and see how many folks here wouldn't rush to judgement.

I don't know if any of this is true but I suspect this could be a move by LdM to push Todt out. I seriously doubt Todt was actually involved in anything underhanded. It is no secret that the two did not see eye to eye and Luca is probably using this as an excuse, assuming Todt does get fired. If so, then LdM made a foolish move by not signing Ross Brawn, I can think of no one better to lead Ferrari.

The loser in all of this is Massa. If Todt goes, Massa will go shortly thereafter (taking his "3 year" contract with him).

 

Yes, the Italian press never publishes false reports...

 

Where do you get these ideas? Let's see, Ross Brawn was chief engineer when Ferrari produced two of its worst cars in 10 years, 2005 and 2006. Seems in 2007 Ferrari did just fine without Brawn. It also appears that Ferrari will even better in 2008 without Brawn. Ferrari's current Italian leadership is exactly what the doctor ordered. Brawn outlived his usefulness, let's see if he can do something, anything, with Honda. I am guessing his result there will be mediocre. At best.

As for Massa, get over this, he is not driving a Ferrari strictly because of Todt. He earned his seat. Besides, who would replace him? Alonso? Stop being so funny. Oh, I know, you somehow have forgotten the consequences of what having two drivers that think they are #1 on the same team can do to team morale. All this talk about easy going Kimi not caring who his teammate is amounts to a hill of rubbish. If he were to find himself feeling in second place on the team he would be gone by the end of the season, he is not stupid nor without an ego.

If Todt goes, nothing on the Ferrari F1 team changes. Somebody new will run the factory. And hopefully I know them and they will put me on "the list".

 

Ahem...they won 5 WORLD DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS AND 6 WORLD CONSTRUCTORS TITLES IN A ROW with Brawn at the helm.

In 2005, as so many like to point out, tire regulations were changed to reduce Ferrari's competitiveness.

In 2006, the team hired Massa...case closed on that year.

In 2007, it took a miracle (i.e. stupidity at McLaren both within the team management and between its two drivers) for Ferrari to win either title.

By the way, Stepneygate would NEVER have happened under Brawn's leadership.

And, for the record, Schumacher was #1 driver during those 2005 and 2006 seasons, are you suggesting that he must have sucked as adriver since the team's performance declined so markedly?!?

Ahem...I thought Ferrari had two #1 drivers this season?

Or are you finally coming to your senses enough to acknowledge what the rest of us already know, that Massa is (and will always be) #2 wherever he drives.

 

He EARNED his seat? How'd he do that? By finishing behind his teammate his entire career?!? Sounds to me like Ferrari would have been better served by signing his teammates, don't you think?

Oh, right. None of them were represented by Todt, Jr.