Ferrari hasn't held talks with Todt amid F1 return 'speculation'

Todt has spent three terms in office as president but will step down from the role next week as the FIA's 245 member clubs will elect either Mohammed Ben Sulayem of the United Arab Emirates or Britain’s Graham Stoker as the Frenchman’s replacement.

Reports earlier in the Italian media suggested that Todt - who was Ferrari team principal during its years of domination in the early 2000s with Michael Schumacher - will return to the team as a ‘super-consultant’, similar to the role Niki Lauda held at Mercedes before his death in 2019.

After its worst season in over 40 years in 2020, Ferrari has enjoyed a respectable recovery with it on course to finish third in the constructors’ championship ahead of McLaren.

Speaking during this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Binotto denied that Ferrari has held talks with Todt already.

“I heard and I read about some speculations in that respect,” Binotto said. “What I can say is that so far they are only speculations.

“Personally, I worked with Jean Todt, he has been my boss. I think I learned a lot from him. It has been an honour to work with him and I would say that, as well, whatever would be the future, it will still be an honour for me to work together with him because I still believe that, as Mattia and as a team, there’s still much to learn.”