Todt backs Mercedes, criticises Di Montezemolo
FIA president Jean Todt has thrown his support behind Mercedes and, at the same time, criticised his former boss at Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo. Di Montezemolo is due to hold a meeting with Todt and Bernie Ecclestone on race day in Bahrain to try and persuade the FIA to back urgent regulation changes. Some believe these changes are motivated by Mercedes’ dominance in the opening two races, but Di Montezemolo insists it’s to increase the spectacle after two “boring” races. Todt however says Ferrari and its rivals simply haven’t done a good enough job when compared to Mercedes and they should focus on catching up, rather than changing the goalposts. “Making a judgement after two races is like George Lucas or Brad Pitt speaking ill of their next film - [as if to say] ‘don’t come to the movie!,” Todt told Auto Motor und Sport. “Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari knew for five years what engines they would need to use this year,” he added. “Mercedes has simply done a better job. Such is motor sport.” With regards mid-season changes, he said: “Everyone would have to agree, but why should the Mercedes teams do that?” The Frenchman does however sympathise with fans over the power unit’s sound, which he says is being looked at. “I can understand if people think the sound is too quiet. So we will look at ways we can make them a little louder.” Todt then went on to criticise his former boss who claims F1 is now about “economy runs” and is like “taxi-cab racing”. “Luca should first talk with his engineers and then he would be better informed,” said Todt. “There has always been fuel saving, even with the V8 engines of last year. How many times did we hear on the radio ‘you have to save fuel’?”
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