Jean Todt said he was called by both Toto Wolff and Christian Horner in the aftermath of the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix title decider – and he told both of them the same thing.
The conclusion of that Formula 1 season marked the end of an era. Todt was first elected as president of the FIA in 2009 and had gone on to earn two more full terms in charge of the organisation, before announcing he would step down at the end of 2021.
Mohammed ben Sulayem would take over as the head of the FIA. But, in the final days of Todt's presidency, one of F1's most controversial-ever finishes to a title race occurred when Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton on the final lap – after race director Michael Masi's botched handling of a late safety car period.
Mercedes protested the result, but to no avail. It remains a very sore point with fans of Hamilton, who feel he was unfairly denied what would have been a record-breaking eighth world title.
Speaking to Italian publication Corriere della Sera, Todt recalled that both Mercedes chief Wolff and Red Bull boss Horner had called him in the aftermath of the race. Asked if he would go back and handle the situation differently if he could, the former Ferrari leader simply said: "I didn't do anything."
Comparing his role at the time to that of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, he expanded: "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 it can be seen that I am watching that race in the country house together with the crew. They call me, Horner and Wolff, and I answer to them, 'I can't interfere, it's the responsibility of the marshals and the race director'."
Todt, 77, is married to actress Michelle Yeoh who won the Best Actress gong at the 95th Academy Awards last month. Watching his beloved wife become the first Asian actress to ever win that award gave him the same thrill as seeing Michael Schumacher win his first Ferrari championship.
He said: "I celebrate the new world champion I have at home – my partner. It was like winning a championship. When we got to 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 overjoyed. I know the efforts of Michelle, the first Asian actress... I said in her ear, 'I have the same feeling as when I took Michael in 2000 to Suzuka'. He was writing history. So I say we have a new world champion in the family."
