“Schumacher? Anyone who says he knows something knows nothing. Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar? Emotions like with Michael»- Corriere.it

Sunday will see the Australian GP
(HERE the times), «but life is made up of chapters. In mine there have been those with Peugeot, with Ferrari, and with the Fia. And now I’m dedicating myself to road safety as a special envoy of the United Nations, we need to fight the “silent pandemic” on the roads. I travel the world in search of solutions. And I celebrate the new world champion I have at home: my partner». Jean Todt smiles talking about the Oscar to Michelle Yeoh, best actress in the film «Everything Everywhere All at Once». But my thoughts return to the agenda, where in one part there is a space for the International Peace Institute of New York of which he is president.

Many accidents are caused by distraction, by using the phone behind the wheel. How do you get the message across?

«We will launch a global campaign, in a thousand cities: Leclerc, Mick Schumacher, Marc Marquez, Patrick Dempsey, Michael Fassbender, the Nobel prize winner Malala will appear. We will use influencers to educate young people in the car».

He could enjoy his retirement and instead works full time for social work. Why?

“Because now I have much more free time, I consider myself a lucky man and it’s nice to give something back. With a group of friends we created the Research Institute for the Brain and Spinal Cord in Paris. We are number two in the world, we have a thousand researchers in our field. Health and safety are priorities for me, racing has served as a laboratory for the road. After leaving the FIA, I found myself at a crossroads».

Which crossroads?

«I felt the need to win other races, in other terrains».

Are you aware that many in F1 regret you?

“I hear few people in there. Stefano Domenicali: after being my collaborator for 16 years he has become a friend. My son Nicolas (manager of Leclerc, ed), I’m glad I’m no longer a shadow to him. I was more of a nuisance than a help. Life is a succession of chapters, I told it in a documentary and then a book will also come out».

Will it also include Oscar night?

“It was like winning a World Cup. Arriving in Los Angeles we thought we had a chance, but you don’t know until you open the envelope. When they mentioned the name, I was delighted. I know the efforts of Michelle, the first Asian actress then…».

When did he experience such joy?

“I whispered in her ear: ‘I feel the same feeling as when I brought Michael (Schumacher ed) in 2000 at Suzuka”. She was writing history. So I say we have a new world champion in the family.”

She always goes to see Michael. So many voices are heard, how can so many talk who have never seen him after the accident?

«Let’s leave him alone, we respect the privacy wishes of Corinna and her children, we know that that accident had consequences. Anyone who says she knows something, he knows nothing. I always go to see him. He and his family are my family.”

Do you still follow the GPs on TV?

“Of everything. Rally, endurance, Formula E. I talk to Domenicali before and after the races, I’ve seen Bahrain and Jeddah: when there’s the GP, I don’t make any commitments».

Maybe your friend Domenicali is worried. Red Bull seems unbeatable…

“It is very strong, but there is also Aston Martin: it has grown the most from one year to the next”.

Aston Martin has shown that the jump is possible, what is it for?

«Time and good decisions to get the right people and put them in the right place».

When she arrived at Ferrari she took on the best technicians.

Not just technicians. It is imperative to have the best in every area. A company is judged by the front door. By the way an operator answers the phone. You have to take the best ones and then coordinate them by creating a fertile environment».

Shouldn’t Ferrari do it?

“It’s not for me to judge. I’m just saying that I wish Ferrari the best.”

Do you know Vasseur?

«Little. My son knows him better, they worked together».

Verstappen reminds many of Schumacher. To her?

«Quick, he misses very little. He is a fighter like Michael. But on a human level I know Max too little to judge him. Michael when he ran could seem a bit cocky and obnoxious, but it was an attitude that served to hide his shyness of him. He was humble, he always questioned himself. He never accused the team, not even when the brakes failed at Silverstone because of us. I don’t make comparisons but he and Max have a point in common».

Which?

“They drive for the best team and that helps.”

Would Leclerc be able to do what Verstappen does if he were in the best team?

“Safe. In F1 there are the good ones, and then a very small group of very good ones of which Leclerc is a part”.

Abu Dhabi 2021, final amidst controversy. If you could go back would you act differently?

«I didn’t do anything, it’s not the role of the president of the FIA. Referees must be autonomous, have you ever heard Infantino say “Here there was a penalty, but not here”? In the documentary (Jean Todt, la méthode ed) you can see I’m watching that race in the country house with the crew. They call me Horner and Wolff and I answer them: “I can’t interfere, it’s the responsibility of the marshals and the race director”».

Ferrari, sixteen years without winning. Did he expect it?

«Without winning a title, but he won races. Ferrari remains, since I left, one of the best teams in F1. Something is missing, he is the protagonist but not yet for the championship. Let’s give him time to demonstrate that he is capable of taking the last step».

What did he give Michelle for the Oscar?

“I did it to him before, I felt like he was going to win.”