Is such a situation not somewhat akin to that of Flavio Briatore as manager of drivers and simultaneously their team principal?

Should the mere possibility of possible implications of future bias in rulings or decision making not be sufficient to disqualify Jean Todt from seeking the FIA presidency?

I have met him twice: at Goodwood, when drove the Lotus 79 and at Donington a couple of years back when he drove a Lotus 49. Both were demonstration runs but were pretty close to the limit, which we discussed. He strikes me as a man who likes to push he envelope but not break it, which is possibly how he perceives Todt.

Todt is difficult to like and his background does indeed show a ruthless imperialism but his management abilities coupled with an understanding of how the FIA really works (which is not to say the way it works is at all laudable) should lead to some changes being made for the better. I fear Vatanen’s approach is likely to be overly idealistic (which is not to criticise those ideals in any way) and could result in him being an isolated president forever at probably futile war with the FIA’s partners. Sometimes, pragmatism works best.

I must admit, I’d love to be proved wrong, though!

In this case rotary knobs on Max’s and Bernie’s chests with settings ranging through Normal,-tense,-paranoid, -outspoken, -aggressive, -full crazy,-Psycho.

Imagine – from fans and knowledgeable followers of F1 just 1 wholesale endorsement!

What I have come to detest about F1 is the clear presence of the fear factor that dominates the governing and administration of this sport. It appears that people are just plain scared excrementless of the power at the top. The parallels to A.K. Rowlings fictitious and fabulous “He who must not be named” character are fascinating. Everyone it seems connected with F1 in some way, whether as journalists, team members or principals has to stay on the right side of the behavioural equation – or I guess they will find themselves being marginalised ever further out of the loop. No wonder Bernie had good things to say about Hitler.

Ari Vatanen regrettably has no chance in this contest for the FIA Presidency. Those that run things – or see which side their bread is buttered on – will do whatever it takes to preserve and stay well-in with the status quo.

Actually I would say that F1 and motorsports in general need almost anyone NOT endorsed by the current powers that be.

So, we’ll end up having F1 run by a puppet of another puppet? Will the puppet’s puppet also have a puppet?