Although the FOTA recently issued a statement welcoming the Frenchman at the helm of the FIA, one cannot forget the fact that Todt was actually Max Mosley's preferred candidate for the job. Given the recent clash between the F1 teams' alliance and the 69-year old Englishman over the expenditure policy in the sport, the media in both Italy and the UK started projecting a continuance of that tensed relationship between the FIA and the FOTA.
In addition, recent reports in Italy showed that FOTA's CEO and Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo did not part ways with his former employee (namely Todt) amicably, adding to a potentially awkward situation between the two in the future.
The 63-year old Frenchman wanted however to keep the records straight from day one, insisting that he wants nothing but peace and harmony between the two bodies. In addition, he told Italy's Tuttosport that his relationship with Di Montezemolo can't be better, as the Italian was in fact the first man who congratulated him after winning the FIA elections.
“It is not true that I have had problems with Montezemolo. Actually he was the first person I heard from after the election and also the previous evening he sent me a very nice message,” Todt told the aforementioned publication.
Di Montezemolo also denied the allegations, insisting that he and Ferrari are very glad that one of their former employees is now leading the FIA.
“I'm very happy that Todt, a person who worked so well over 16 years here in Maranello and with whom I have a very amicable relationship, has been elected into such an important and crucial position for formula one's future,” said the Italian boss.
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