Welcome Jean Todt [updated]

iSport's Motorsport Editor Kunal Shah wishes to discuss Jean Todt's appointment as the President of the FIA with our readers. Have a say? or even better, a suggestion? Read on...

Earlier this week, Max Mosley’s successor was chosen. As expected, Ferrari’s ex-CEO, Frenchman Jean Todt was elected as the President of the FIA. After months of lobbying, he beat his opponent Ari Vatanen with similar ease as he beat his rival teams during his famous Ferrari days.

While many are claiming that Todt’s rule might just be the start of the anti-Ferrari days of the FIA, the two bigwigs Luca and Jean have publicly denied any such possibility. Whether this is just another PR trick or really the decline in Ferrari favouritism by the FIA, only time will tell.

However, iSport wishes to take a different look at his appointment. Jean Todt’s appointment has come at a crucial juncture – a time when Formula1 has become increasingly expensive and has lost 2 manufacturers in just one year. Also, a time when not only the new regulations seem to be working, but there are plenty more needed, not only bring the cost of operations down, but also bring some much needed stability. And here, we’re only talking about Formula1. The other formulae and racing categories are in equal need of attention to save them from either downsizing or dying altogether. The World Rally Championships have their own set of problems and the junior racing categories are only getting more expensive!

Todt was Luca’s first senior Ferrari appointment when he took charge of affairs for the Italian team in 1995. What Todt has gone to build on from there is no secret to the world of motorsport – but can he do the same with Formula1?

iSport invites you to share what are the 3 most important changes that you think Jean Todt and his team should bring about to stabilize and grow Formula1.

Please write into This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or share your ideas in the comments section below.

Keep Vroooming! iSport, do you?

So we've had a few good responses and they are pouring in. We certainly do see interested individuals and companies who wish to improve Formula1.

1. Wil Joosen wrote in an entirely different idea. Don't yet know if changing the product entirely would be feasible, but I'd like to share the details with our readers.

" The FIA should introduce Tracksplit Car Racing.

Tracksplit car racing is a new and spectacular way of car racing to make car motorsport more attractive for the spectators. Tracksplit car racing takes place on a circuit with a Tracksplit and can be combined with the race formula Ra4Do (Race for Dots (points)).

The picture of a race driven on a Tracksplit circuit following the Ra4Do race formula.

The best drivers in the championship start from the back of the starting grid and they have to prepare a strategy coming from this new situation. The fastest drivers coming all from the back of the grid have to overtake many slower competitors, but also have to overtake many good and strong competitors to be able to win. The winners are the ones who use the Tracksplit best in their advantage: positioning before the Tracksplit, overtake competitors in or directly after the Tracksplit and who takes care best of the tires, brakes and possibly fuel strategy to finally finish on the podium.

The difference in speed between the top teams and the slower teams is often that big, that the faster drivers are half way the race already in the top 10. Due to the starting grid with the slower drivers at the front of the field at the beginning of the race many drivers will be busy with trying to overtake the slower drivers in front of them. The driver field will stay close together and the lap times are pre-dominated by the slowest drivers in the front of the race.

Half way a race overtaking will become more difficult because the speed differences between two following drivers will become less. In the last part of the race the drivers that are close to each other, also have nearly the same speed and overtaking will become harder. There is always a good option at the Tracksplit but the tire and brake performance of the car will play a big role at the end of the race, especially because blocking a driver doesn’t work anymore.

The expected results of Tracksplit car racing.

With a tracksplit the frequency of overtaking or attempts to overtake during car motor sport races will increase significantly. During the race all drivers will be fighting for the best position. The more equal the cars and drivers, the more fights, close racing and overtaking actions and the bigger the show will be.

A Tracksplit car race will show a different picture then in the last decades. The faster cars and the better drivers will always be able to drive to the top positions of the race, sub top drivers will be in the mid field and the slower drivers will be at the back of the field, independent from the starting position. But all drivers will have to fight for there position with the competition on the same level.

The beauty and magnificence about the races with a Tracksplit; the better teams and drivers will nearly always have to fight with their biggest competitor for the victory. This is the same for the sub top teams for a positions in the top 10. The whole race is more attractive with fights for nearly every position.

Very good drivers and new talents can proof their qualities by finishing better then their competitors in equal or better cars. Two fighting drivers can both take at the same moment a different but equal fast ideal line. This way they drive next to each other, brake, make turns and accelerate on their own ideal line without any risk. The quality of the driver is what matters: the tuning of the car, the driving style, the effort of the driver and the cautiousness use of brakes and tires."

2. Nicholas Morse simply advises 'Cap on the budget of F1 teams'.