10/09/2006
NEWS STORY
Jean Todt: So I will first tell you what are my emotions and then you can ask me questions. We would say, we had one appointment today to speak about who will drive next year. We have maintained this appointment and Kimi and Felipe will be the 2007 Ferrari Formula One drivers. Michael has decided to stop at the end of the season. He will still be involved with some responsibilities with Ferrari, the detail of his responsibilities will be specified after the end of the season. From now until the end of the season, particularly after this outstanding result of Michael, of the team today, where, three races before the end of the championship we are three points ahead in the Manufacturers, two points behind in the Drivers' championship and five points ahead for Felipe for third position. We have a good car, Bridgestone has done outstanding work by producing, supplying us with very good tyres, so the team is very motivated, very motivated to do the best possible, to achieve what we want for the championship. Knowing the decision of Michael, having made that official, will be a further motivation to allow him to leave with a new Drivers' title but we definitely know it won't be easy. Our competitors are very strong but we will do our best.
Can we ask when the decision was made by Michael, that he would step down at the end of the year?
JT: It was made a while ago.
Are you relieved now that that decision is out in the open and the speculation can stop?
JT: Speculation, they were becoming more and more intense, because if I read the press, which fortunately I don't do too much in detail but what I have seen, it was quite clear who was going to drive for the team and what was going to be Michael's decision, but let's say now, I can share the point that between even strong speculation and announced decision there is a difference so let's say, one of the reasons we wanted to do it now was to be able to focus, knowing everybody what was the situation and to focus 100 percent on the end of the championship.
After forming such a strong bond with Michael, how do you feel about him stepping down.
JT: It's a mixed feeling. Number one, my final feeling I will tell after Brazil, because at the moment, Michael is very strong, among the strongest drivers in the history of motor racing, of Formula One. There are still three races to go, so that's what I have in my mind. When the last race will have happened, I will comment on that.
Does it make you feel harder about your future as well?
JT: My future is quite clear in my head since a while. Michael and myself, we are very close, we have a common friendship, affection, respect, we see a lot of things in a common way and we are professional as well. Definitely, with Michael, we will spend a lot of time together in the future as we have been doing since the last eleven years, but it doesn't mean that we need to work together.
Do you think Michael's decision was the right time?
JT: I knew the decision already since a certain time and, as I said just now, for some aspects I'm said, for some aspects I'm happy, but at the moment we are focussed on the next race testing next week, China, Japan, Brazil and that's what matters at the present.
Jean, do you think it's going to be easier for everybody now that it's out in the open, now you can work one aim of the two titles?
JT: I think we have demonstrated that nevertheless, whatever was the speculation we were concentrating on the work, so we will still concentrate on the work.
You are good at keeping secrets, how difficult has it been for the last few weeks that people have told you he is stopping, continuing…
JT: Honestly, I don't care so much. You know that. It's maybe a good thing or a bad thing but for me, I do care what are important things inside of the team and I knew that Michael needs support, he deserves support. It is important for him to have this support. Speculation, as I've said very often, is part of our world and I accept it. The day I will not accept that any more I will go because the only reason why I'm still in this business is because I enjoy being with the team and I enjoy the people around me and fortunately it's my choice so my choice is that it's more positive than more negative.
When was the contract with Kimi fixed, it was an open secret?
JT: Honestly, I want to concentrate on what is important. What is the important thing is that we never had any kind of pre-contract, we had a signed contract, that's all, so sometimes I was smiling a bit when I saw those speculations or that private meetings to try to get Kimi, but the important thing is that we feel Kimi is a very strong driver, very talented driver. I like him as a person and he's committed for the next years with Ferrari.
As a man who loves to come racing, as a team that's born to race, how do you feel when Fernando Alonso turns round and says he no longer considers Formula One to be a sport, following the stewards' decision yesterday?
JT: I don't want to get into that because I feel it's so unfair to make these kind of comments. I felt bad today having Felipe not even able to score one point because he had to start in fourth position rather than probably on pole, probably, we will never know. We have accepted that, that's racing. If we go back, it's a lot of time I have been unhappy, not sharing some decisions, not happy about the final result but we have always said that we do accept it, because as long as you are in this business, you must accept that you have a governing body, that you have people judging, that you have stewards and you have that in all sports. In other sports, if you make a replay of football again, you will have a different result so again, we did not complain about Felipe being in such a position, but you can be sure if you will have been more in front during the race, as I said before, the race would have been difficult, maybe Michael would not have won, I don't know. If some people are tired of being in this business, it's our choice, you don't have to be in the business if you aren't happy to do it.
It's just sad if the World Championship thinks that, isn't it?
JT: I will stop commenting about that.
Do you think it's possible to have the same kind of relationship with another driver as you've enjoyed with Michael?
JT: The answer is No, it's always different. With Michael, we have some special relationship and I also I have a very strong relationship with Felipe which are different and I'm sure we will have a very strong relationship with Kimi which will be different because… You know the good thing with human beings, it's not like a car, where you have the same specifications, each human being has individual specifications which is probably something I enjoy a lot.
Do you think Kimi can attain the same level of success as Michael has had?
JT: The same is difficult. I would say, depending on the time and all that. Kimi has been very competitive and it's up to us to try to deliver him the best support, the best car. We've already said so many times as well that wherever you are… look at Michael, Michael last year accepted a given race, a gift. He did not win one single race so we need to deliver a good car, reliable, they are forming and I'm sure that Kimi will be able to use it well.
Do you expect Kimi in his first year at Ferrari to drive for the Championship?
JT: If he has a good car, I hope so.
Jean, you're always very careful of your choice of teammate with Michael. Do you really think Kimi and Michael could have worked as a combination?
JT: It will not happen, so, again, it's a good thing for you. You do your job, I will do my job. My job is done, we will have Kimi and Felipe.
But it had no affect on Michael's decision?
JT: Some people, who would speculate that Michael decided because he did not want to compete with Kimi, they are simply stupid.
What qualities did you identify in Kimi that made you want him as a driver?
JT: First, you must see the market so who is available and who you would like among the available people. Maybe it's a bit unfair because we have new young drivers arriving who are doing very well. Felipe, Kubica today did a very strong race, you have some drivers coming from GP2 maybe very talented but let's say when we are in position to make a choice, the three quickest drivers available: one was already with us, one was our favourite and we have him, so honestly, it was an easy choice, the choice was easy and fortunately it was an easy discussion because he wanted to join Ferrari and we wanted him to join Ferrari so it was easy.
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