After his election as FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem criticized his predecessor Jean Todt. Specifically, it was about the FIA’s $20 million debt, and the Halo lawsuit. In an interview with the French L’Equipe, Todt responded to this criticism.
Jean Todt: “When I left, there was still more than 250 million euros in reserve. Every year has been profitable, except the last two years with Covid-19.
When I arrived in 2009, there were less than 40 million euros in the accounts, although a few years ago the FIA ceded the commercial rights to Formula 1 for a hundred years. When I left, the budget was almost tripled and many new competitions and sources of income appeared, such as Formula E, the World Endurance Championship or the Cross-Country Rally Championship.
As for the claim of possible infringement by the FIA of patent rights on the Halo system. proposed by Jens HS Nygaard, we weren’t really done with this argument at that point. But they didn’t hide anything. The problem was well documented and monitored by our services; we submitted it to the Senate and the World Council before I left, and the current President was present.
It was a lawsuit filed in Texas by an engineer who owned a patent valid only in the United States. So when I left, there was nothing secret. But I wasn’t surprised, I knew who my successor was. I know this character. But there is no point in making accusations when they are clearly false.”
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
