Mosley Bows out of FIA Presidency
Max Mosely, formerly a barrister and F2 racer in the 1960s in Frank Williams’ team, has been the driving force and an instrumental figure in F1 and other motorsports.
After sixteen years as FIA President, he is standing down after a good stint at the top of the motorsport governing body. The 69 year old will step aside for Jean Todt, ex Ferrari team manager and rally driver. Todt was given the post ahead of another rallying legend Ari Vatanen who worked under Todt in the 1980s.
Todt has been given the nod from Mosley and indeed F1 boss Bernie Eccelston and has a vision of where he will lead the sport, “Affordable yet competitive, innovative and excellent.” This fresh look in to the sport might just bring back the lost fans of recent years.
Max Mosley was the cornerstone in implementing new safety features into F1, at the beginning of his career, when in 1994 Ayrton Senna was tragically killed in San Marino. He is famed for introducing wheel tethers, harnesses, HANS systems and more life saving features. Not only was motorsport in his mindset, he pressed the EU to take on similar safety devices for road cars.
“I have always had in my mind, motorsport filters down to public road users, and therefore if we have a life saving feature, I’ve tried to entice manufacturers to use them”.
Jean Todt will officially start in the 2010 F1 season.
