Todt: FIA Has been Marginalized

Ferrari boss Jean Todt believes the FIA has been marginalized by the nine Formula One teams who voted in favour of radical changes for the 2005 season.

The sport's governing body announced on Friday several regulations changes to be introduced in 2005, aimed at reducing costs and performance. However, all teams except Ferrari, issued on Saturday a different proposal after a meeting to which the FIA was not invited.

Todt, who has been vocal in supporting his team's decision not to agree with the proposals, claimed he was surprised the ruling body had been marginalized.

"Life is a compromise, but it must be fair and sensible," Todt told Gazzetta dello Sport. "The role of the FIA must be re-established: for many it's an entity that should get involved only when it's convenient.

"I'll speak as a spectator, admittedly a privileged one: from one day to the next I saw the FIA first legislating, then be marginalized hours later. I'm surprised.

"There's a need to clarify the different roles and problems, financial ones too, of the teams that don't design and build engines, from the other ones that have very different dimensions both in finances and in staff.

"Above all, let's never forget the show. I don't like regulations that keep the car in the garages to preserve the engines. Finally, we are not arrogant. We respect everyone's ideas, but we demand clarity and farsightedness."

Todt also reiterated his disagreement with the proposed rule of having just one tyre manufacturer.

"There are contracts in place and scientists working on development," he said. "There are two world colossus interested in F1, which is lucky. I find the announcement of a single tyre manufacturer from 2005 too off-hand.

"At the end of the day I don't want us to all end up without tyres. In life a bit of fairness is required, but in motor racing it isn't always like that."