Bernie Ecclestone is a relatively old man

November 10, 2011 12:00 AM

You are at the head of the international automobile Federation for seven months after a busy sports career. Do not lack you competition

I think I can say that I have fulfilled my passion for the competition. In my sports career, which will be spread on nearly forty years, I had the chance to win everything. Or rally in formula 1. I think that it was time to repay my debt to society. And then Chair an institution as the FIA it is discovering a new form of competition.

What perspective do you wear this institution

When we talk about of FIA, we often think first to Formula 1. But it should be recalled that formula 1 is only a minor part of the FIA. The FIA is also many motor-clubs around the world. We have 226 clubs and federations sports members, including 166 clubs whose vocation is automobile mobility. We are organized into two sites, the seat of the place de la Concorde, where works 20 people, and Geneva, where some 60 persons involved especially in motor sport. Mobility and sport are governed by a specific World Council. The FIA has the particularity to be an International Federation which is carrying not itself these competitions.

Will you govern differently from Max Mosley, your predecessor

Each has his style, but I respect his loyalty and his sense of duty. I think that Max Mosley had to respond to inappropriate provocations. I am, a man of compromise and dialogue. In terms of organization, I intend to review the articles and appoint a Director General. I consider myself, me, as a CEO.

FIA sold the commercial rights of its competitions in 2001. Regret not it you not today, especially when you see the resource that provides the Fifa football World Cup

I the idea to criticize what has been done before me. The decision to transfer these rights is mainly problems related to the European Commission to avoid conflicts of interest between the technical and the commercial part. When the FIA has sold its commercial rights under a "hundred years agreement", entered into force in January 2001, they all passed under the aegis of Bernie Ecclestone and the "private equity" Fund CVC for $ 300 million. This amount was placed in a charitable association based in Britain, the FIA Foundation, which contributed to the creation of another entity, FIA Institute, which mainly handles actions related to development and improvement of the safety of motor sport in the world.

Bernie Ecclestone is a relatively old man. Worry you already the future of these rights

Bernie Ecclestone has done an outstanding job for formula 1 there where it is today. You doubt that an HVAC investment fund has an interest very much on the subject. When a change occur, I have no concern for the management and the Organization of the F1 commercially. As the FIA has a right of veto over the identity of the purchaser for resale.

Is formula 1 not more disconnected from the concerns affecting the automobile in General, including in terms of the environment

It is currently at the crossroads of roads, both in terms of automobile competition and in terms of mobility. An example, all the manufacturers speak that new technologies, hybrid or electric engines. It is unacceptable that a constructor which spreads its technology in automobile Salon Geneva, Frankfurt or Paris, refuses to install it on to Formula 1. For example, Max Mosley imposed the KERS (the brake energy recovery system). Some stables adopted it, until the Fota (organization which brings together the teams) decided that no one does it use in 2010. But, for the year next, and although that is not mandatory, I am confident that most of the cars will adopt this device. It has to be responsible.

What are your priorities for the very media sport

Reduction of costs (for F1 but for all other disciplines) also, the improvement of the performance, the implementation of new technologies and achieve stronger synergies between sport and mobility, in General, in order to promote road safety in the world. Motor champions are ambassadors, their message is stronger than that of a Minister of transport.

It is often said that there is too much money in F1. Is the real problem not rather the huge gap of budgets between large and small stables

I am often impressed to see that arrive to pick up as money to those that you call the "small stables". Find sponsors today, in an economic crisis

world, it is very difficult. My message must therefore give desire the sponsors to engage in sports disciplines. As the gap between stables, this has always been the case. More generally, since the creation of the Fota, the teams agreed a number of agreements. The budgets of large teams that became ridiculously high, was lowered by about 30 over a period of three years. So far, everyone seems satisfied. I would be inappropriate to make an additional action.

Is there nothing to be done to limit the race for technology

From January 2013, it will be fundamentally different regulations. Including at the level of the engines, which will take account of the evolution of the technology. It will probably pass a 2.4-litre V8 engine sucked in a 1.6 litre four-cylinder turbocharged direct injection engine, with recovery system to braking. This is the project on which we work. Today, there is a disproportionate role in my eyes of aerodynamics, it should be moved elsewhere, costs in other areas of research, closer to what is needed. Today, the sophistication is such that it adapts cars at each corner of each circuit. It happen to have something more general, which would give a role more important to the driver, a car more unpredictable. And it would be less expensive.

On the calendar of events, there has been a delocalization of the Grands Prix, particularly to Asia. Is - this an inevitable movement

In most developing countries, the automobile arouses passion and, a fortiori, the formula 1. Moreover, which relativizes the idea that the car itself is rejected in the world. But, today, it remains still, ten Grands Prix, in Europe and nine elsewhere. It seems not be a problem for a global Championship. Which is a pity, however, is that there is not a race in the United States.

Are you in favour of a return of the Grand Prize of France, as already suggested by François Fillon

There is vigorous actions to implement if that this be done. As the French, I would love that there is a Grand Prix in France. Unfortunately, the rules of the game are clear: in order to submit a nomination, must be that the French Federation of automobile sport (FFSA), with local authorities and a promoter, spend an agreement with the representative of the commercial rights to F1, namely Bernie Ecclestone. If such a project were to exist, it is clear that the FIA it would encourage wherever possible. But there are many elements together before.

Money is a great place in automotive competition. It is you it not a problem

On the matter, which me shocks that are the wages of company bosses rows. As these amounts are honestly gained through an open market, I do not see the problem. The issue does seem no different for a very well paid driver. On the other hand, I am more embarrassed by the fact that a great teacher of medicine be so paid. This is the meaning of my voluntary commitment in ICM (Institute of the brain and spinal cord) to raise funds to support medical research effort.

The FIA is concerned also road safety issues. Is this a subject important to you

Today, the sport pole me is much more than mobility, even if the FIA manages only the sporting regulations. But my priority is road safety. It is in does more necessarily account in Europe, but road accidents are one of the great plagues of the 21st century with malaria and AIDS. In 2009, there has been worldwide 1.3 million people were killed in accidents involving cars, which, moreover, many pedestrians. If we do nothing, in 2030, there will be more than doubled. It is important to act.

As the FIA to stem this scourge

The FIA has committed very strongly on this subject. It is our initiative that the United Nations proclaimed the period 2011-2020 "Decade for road safety", with aims to save 5 million lives of here. Well, we contribute to it by the action of automobile clubs, education or improvement of road infrastructure. This is the meaning of our operation "Make Roads Safe", a slogan that appears on the security in formula 1 car. I also think that the F1 drivers can be excellent ambassadors for traffic safety. In many countries, they have a significant impact. My own wife is involved in this action. A large part of the budgets of the FIA Foundation, which received capital the money from the sale of rights of formula 1, are invested in these actions.