In praise of … Jean Todt
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/16/in-praise-of-jean-todt-formula-one Version 0 of 1. It's hard to imagine a bigger challenge than weaning the Formula One petrolheads off their roaring V8 engines and persuading them to go green. It's on a par with, say, converting Ukip to the merits of the EU, a project that effectively defies its reason to exist. The man who talked motorsport's governing body, the FIA, into a complete redesign of both the engine and the body of F1 cars this season is its boss, the Frenchman Jean Todt. Cannily, he dismissed any namby-pamby chat about benefit to the environment of a read-across from the racetrack to the family saloon, preferring to stress the need for his sport to stay at the forefront of technological innovation. The outcome, at least if this weekend's first race of the season at Melbourne's Albert Park is any indicator, suggests a bonus to add to lighter, less thirsty engines. With the defending champion Sebastian Vettel one of several to exit early, uncertainty is back in F1. |