Jean Todt, who oversaw Ferrari’s then unprecedented domination of Formula 1 in the 2000s, could return to the team next week after his tenure as FIA president, according to reports in Italy.
The 75-year-old will step down as chairman of the World Motorsport Federation after the elections on December 17th.
Corriere della Serra newspaper claimed that Todt had spoken several times with Ferrari chairman John Elkann about the possibility of returning to the Scuderia. The talks are said to have started at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in August, when Elkann gave the starting signal.
The report claims Todt would return in a similar advisory role that the late Niki Lauda previously held at Mercedes.
Such a move would strengthen the political clout of the most famous F1 team and bring the extremely experienced Todt back into his ranks alongside – and not instead of – team boss Mattia Binotto. Todt maintains close ties to his former Ferrari colleagues Stefano Domenicali and Ross Brawn, who as President and Motorsport Director of Formula 1 hold leading positions in the sports administration.
However, a Ferrari spokesman told RaceFans that they had no plans for Todt to return.
As team boss, Todt led Ferrari to six consecutive constructors ‘championships between 1999 and 2004, during which time Michael Schumacher won the drivers’ title for five years in a row. Ferrari won its last championship trophies in 2007 and 2008, after which Todt joined the FIA.
Todt’s Vice President Graham Stoker and his rival Mohamed Ben Sulayem are running in next week’s FIA presidential election.
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