Todt linked to FIA role

The F1 Racing story suggests that Todt will assume the deputy presidency in 2007, as a Max Mosley (the current president) appointee.

"Jean Todt is one of several people who would make an excellent FIA president, but as far as I know he is as happy as he is successful in his present position," Mosley told F1 Racing. We need not point out that this statement is very far from being a refutation of F1 Racing's story.

"It seems plausible," team principal Eddie Jordan told F1 Racing, "but it's still only a rumour. But Jean is very experienced in this area, and the fact that he is on the FIA World Motorsport Council shines more light on him. I'm sure it's a reasonable rumour, to be honest."

Would Todt do a good job? Jordan reckoned: "Jean is a highly professional person - as evidenced clearly by the upturn in performance at Ferrari upon the arrival of him, Michael [Schumacher], Ross [Brawn], Rory [Byrne] and others. That's enough proof that he's more than capable of pulling the FIA around."

Todt declined to comment.