Todt Refuses to Hit Back at Vatanen's Critics

Although he insisted he will not take on a dirty approach on the battle for the FIA presidency this October against new candidate Jean Todt, the Finn issued no less than two public attacks on the former Ferrari manager during the past week. The latter happened yesterday, when Vatanen accused Todt for campaigning on FIA's money.

“Jean goes with a private plane with his girlfriend, supposedly as a FIA representative, to various parts of the world. In fact, he is doing a campaign totally supported and paid of FIA,” had stated Vatanen in an interview with Italian 422race.com.

Apparently though, it's Todt who doesn't want to get into a whole argument with the former European parliamentarian, as the Frenchman decided not to hit back at Vatanen's criticism. A spokesman for the aforementioned candidate did insist, however, that the Finn's comments on Todt and his girlfriend Michelle Yeoh were totally uncalled for.

“As (Vatanan) is a trustee of the (FIA) foundation, it's unclear why Ari has misrepresented the campaign's achievements and Michelle's participation in this way," the spokesman said in an interview with Britain's Daily Telegraph.

The spokesman also made it very clear that Todt latest trip to Africa, while joined by his girlfriend, was not paid from FIA's funds. In addition, he reminded the 57-year old Finn that Yeoh is a global ambassador for FIA campaigns and her international visits in that role are only logical to be paid by the FIA.