Could Todt be shocked for Ferrari F1 return?

But after a career of successes in rally, sports car and Formula 1 sport, as well as three terms at the top of the motorsport umbrella organization, it was unlikely that he would simply leave the sport.

However, a report in Corriere della Sera on Wednesday pointed to a potential path that could be Todt’s focus for the next few years: a sensational return to Ferrari in a super advisory role once his FIA successor is declared on December 17th.

History suggests that Todt was in constant contact with Ferrari President John Elkann about the idea of ​​taking on an advisory role with his former team.

It may not be a coincidence that Todt was in Maranello a few days ago to support the second edition of the FIA-funded “Girls on Track – Rising Stars” initiative.

Any role for Todt at Ferrari would tie the team to his successful past, with the Frenchman earning a total of 14 driver and designer titles during his tenure as team boss and then CEO of the team from 1993 to 2009.

It is suggested that Todt could take on a role that would enable Elkann to delegate certain political functions in the Scuderia’s management, such as the discussion of the 2026 regulations, without taking away responsibility for team boss Mattia Binotto.

In fact, it could help Binotto focus on a more immediate performance as Scuderia seeks to get back on the road to success in 2022.

Jean Todt, Ferrari Sports Director

Photo by: Sutton Images

It was noteworthy that after Louis Camilleri’s departure last year, Elkann didn’t consider Todt for the role of Ferrari boss, as he might feel that a 75-year-old character wasn’t the right person to look to the future to manage the brand in a delicate phase in the middle of the automotive industry to switch to electric.

Todt’s potential role would now be different, however, with a more external but politically relevant role in Maranello’s organizational chart, at a time when getting the right result in shaping the 2026 engine rules will be crucial.

Proponents of Todt’s return to Maranello acknowledge that the Frenchman holds great political power in the world of motorsport and has extensive knowledge of how the sport works.

The friendship that links him with Stefano Domenicali, the current F1 CEO who replaced him as Ferrari team boss, has not changed. In addition, Todt’s son Nicolas is Charles Leclerc’s manager.

Some compare Todt’s possible role at Ferrari with the one the late Niki Lauda went through twice in his career – once at Maranello and once at Mercedes.

The first term in office was Luca di Montezemolo’s right-hand man in the restructuring of Ferrari in the early 1990s. At this point in 1993 Todt’s own cycle of commands began. Lauda had no operational role at the time and the initiative proved to be a failure.

But Lauda’s later experience at Mercedes was different. He was named the non-executive chairman of the F1 team and was a brilliant right-hand man to Toto Wolff. His involvement was secured by participating in the squad.

But could Todt bring in enough Ferrari to justify a commitment? Those who shake their heads at the idea think it makes no sense to remember a former team boss from an era from which the team evolved.

Ultimately, however, bringing Todt back to Ferrari is a decision that only Elkann will know whether it makes sense or not.