Jean Todt
Jean Todt ( born February 26, 1946 in Pierre Fort ) is a French former racing driver, former Formula 1 team boss, was from October 2006 to March 2008 Managing Director (CEO) of Ferrari and since October 2009, President of the World Automobile Federation FIA.
Career
Life before Motorsport
Jean Todt is a son of Polish immigrants. His father was a doctor. Todt studied at a Paris business school.
Rally
Todt began his motorsport career in 1966 and internationally as a passenger in the World Rally Championship, in 1969. First, he was co-driver Guy Chasseuil before Todt himself tried some races ( unsuccessfully ) in person to drive. In 1971 he won as the Portuguese Rally. He was a representative of the 1975-1981 rally driver until 1993, the manufacturer within the Federation Internationale du Sport Automobile ( FISA ). After retiring as a player in 1981, he was responsible for the racing sector of the French manufacturer Peugeot. There he founded the Talbot sports team. Under his leadership, the team dominated in 1985 and 1986, a total he won with the team's two drivers 'titles, two constructors' titles and four victories at the Dakar Rally. After the end of his career in 1990 he was clerk of the course of his team, which won the 1992 and 1993 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Formula 1 with Ferrari
In the season 1993 Peugeot rejected a Formula 1 entry from ( the then in 1994, however, but was, at first with McLaren and later with Jordan and Prost ), and Jean Todt received an offer from Ferrari, Team Principal of the then unsuccessful tradition teams to become. From the French Grand Prix in 1993 was Jean Todt at the helm. His first act was to ban the team members, the race weekend of red wine to consume while.
After Michael Schumacher in 1994 and 1995 for Benetton Formula 1 world champion twice, Todt took him to the Scuderia, the end of 1996 Ross Brawn, two years later, the Benetton aerodynamics Rory Byrne came about. 1996, the first common year, was relatively unsuccessful. Only three wins could win Michael Schumacher in Barcelona, Spa -Francorchamps and Monza, the championship decided between the Williams driver Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve. Only in 1997 was Michael Schumacher again fight for the world championship. In the last race there was an accident with Villeneuve, who won the title, and led to the disqualification of Schumacher's World Championship. Also in 1998, when it looked first for a dominance of McLaren -Mercedes, Ferrari was able to catch up after a mid-season for the championship fight, but the Scuderia in Japanese Suzuka again lost both titles.
1999 then saw different: Although Michael Schumacher Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone suffered a broken leg and failed for several races, Ferrari was with Eddie Irvine ( become the almost world champion would be ) and the Finn Mika Salo win the Constructors' title.
After Michael Schumacher had recovered and came a new team-mate with the Brazilian Rubens Barrichello into the team, the tide turned: From 2000 to 2004 Ferrari won ten world titles: five drivers 'titles for Michael Schumacher and five constructors' titles. During the years were marked 2001, 2002 and 2004 by a dominance of the Red, the World Championships were in 2000 and 2003 already somewhat scarce. Jean Todt led the traditional Italian team through the most successful period in its history.
In 2005, but Ferrari was also placed just behind Renault and McLaren - Mercedes. With the exception of a victory in the controversial U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis Ferrari reached only a few second places.
In 2007, he won again with Kimi Raikkonen the Drivers 'World Championship and the Constructors' Championship for Ferrari. 2008 Todt handed over his duties as team principal Stefano Domenicali at the Scuderia.
According to the formula 1
In July 2009, Todt announced to contest in October of the same year as the successor to Max Mosley for the FIA presidency. Since October 2009 he is the new president of the FIA and Max Mosley triggers from. He sat there with a clear majority against Ari Vatanen by and received 135 votes, only 49 Vatanen (with twelve abstentions).
Private
Jean Todt is currently in a relationship with the Malay- Chinese actress Michelle Yeoh.
Nicolas Todt, his son from his first marriage, is also in motorsport and worked, among other things, the manager of Felipe Massa, who drove for the Ferrari team.
2008 Jean Todt was seen in the film Asterix at the Olympic Games, among others, alongside Michael Schumacher.