Wolff and Horner received zero response from Todt: 'Cannot intervene'

During the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi, Jean Todt tried to keep himself distant as much as possible. The former FIA president, who was in his final weeks at the time, was asked by Red Bull Racing and Mercedes to have their say, but Todt refused to voice his opinion.

Todt said this a little over a year and a half later in conversation with Corriere della Sera. There was an awful lot of ambiguity in the final minutes of the Grand Prix and the hours that followed. Todt, with his years of experience, might have been able to shed more light, but he did not run afoul of Michael Masi and the stewards.

"I did nothing, that is also not the role of the FIA president," Todt said. "Referees have to be autonomous, did you ever hear [Gianni] Infantino (president of the FIA, ed.) say: 'This was a penalty, but here it was not'? The documentary (by Jean Todt himself, ed.) shows me watching the race with the crew from a country house." Horner and Wolff asked for a response from Todt:"But I cannot intervene, it is the responsibility of the marshals and the race director."

Mohammed Ben Sulayem was appointed as Todt's successor as FIA president. Under Ben Sulayem's leadership, reforms in the field of race control in Formula 1 will follow. Last season, two race directors were appointed to ensure "consistent decisions". Meanwhile, Eduardo Freitas left and Niels Wittich stands alone.