FIA Formula One World Championship – Entry List

Now, 2010 is full of changes around the Formula 1 world, Jean Todt is now the president of the FIA, and I hope that this change can bring positive changes and ideas to the sport.

New teams are set to enter the grid, the return of the Lotus team to the tracks, a new venture from a United States team, and the evolution of the Campos and Manor teams from GP2 to Formula 1.

The future of the Sauber team remains unclear. Qadbak has purchased the team after BMW has dropped the Formula 1 program, but as it stands, they cannot compete as 14 teams in Formula One are not permitted.

Now, the bright light for Sauber is that Toyota has anounced that they are out of Formula 1, these can give Qadback/Sauber a position in the grid for next year.

Update: Sauber has been confirmed a spot for 2010, great news!!
Update: Manor team will be renamed to Virgin Racing.
Update: Schumacher is back!, I think that he must leave the opportunity to someone else.  :p
Update: Stefan GP is ready to send their cars to Bahrain and take the spot of any new team that fails to show.
Update: Campos will be renamed Hispania Racing F1 Team

The Drivers are yet to be confirmed in almost all the teams, but we bring you the latest rumors and confirmations:

Mercedes (Brawn):  Schumacher - Rosberg
Red Bull: Vettel – Webber
Mclaren: Hamilton – Button
Ferrari: Alonso – Massa
Williams: Barrichelo – Hulkenberg
Renault: Kubika – Petrov
Toro Rosso: Buemi – Alguersuari
Force India: Sutil – Liuzzi
Lotus: Trulli – Kovalainen
Hispania Racing: Senna – Chandhok
Virgin Racing: Glock – Di Grassi
Sauber: De la Rosa – Kobayashi
USF1: Lopez -  Villeneuve?  Summerton?
Stefan GP: Villeneuve – Nakajima

Confirmed

Jean Todt - New FIA President

Todt, the former Ferrari sporting director – and outgoing president Max Mosley’s preferred candidate – defeated former rally champion Ari Vatanen by 135 votes to 49. The Frenchman now holds a four-year mandate at the head of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile.

Also elected were Todt’s list of candidates: among the major nominations, Nick Craw (Automobile Competition Committee for the US) becomes President of the Senate, Brian Gibbons (Chief Executive, New Zealand Automobile Association) is named Deputy President Automobile Mobility & Tourism, and Graham Stoker (Council Chairman, Motor Sports Association UK) takes over the Deputy President Sport duties.

“I wish to acknowledge the extraordinary achievements of Max Mosley’s 16 years as President of the FIA in both sport and mobility,” Todt said during his campaign. “Under his leadership the sport has experienced unprecedented growth and global popularity. He has worked tirelessly to promote the FIA‘s major championships, and to make the sport as competitive, safe and affordable as possible. At all times he has strongly defended the independence and integrity of the Federation as the sport’s governing body.”

After graduating from the School of Economics and Business in Paris, Todt had a successful career as a rally co-driver from 1966 to 1981, culminating in championship success with Talbot Lotus.

He retired from competition and was appointed director of racing activities for Peugeot, where he founded the Peugeot Talbot Sport team. His team went on to win two rally constructors’ world championships, two rally drivers’ world championships and four victories at Paris-Dakar. Interestingly, Todt also managed Peugeot during Vatanen’s time with the team.

In 1990, Todt became director of racing activities at PSA Peugeot-Citroen Group, which won the Sportscar in 1992.

Todt joined Ferrari in 1993 as General Manager of its Racing Division. 
 
By 2001, he was General Manager of all Sporting Activities of the Ferrari-Maserati Group and in 2006, he became Chief Executive Officer of Ferrari SpA. During Todt’s time with Ferrari, the team recorded 98 Grand Prix victories and 13 world titles.

From 1975 to 1981, Todt acted as representative of rally drivers to the rally commission and from 1981 to 1993, he represented the constructors. From 1993 to 2009, he acted as the Ferrari representative to the FIA World Council. In his final year with Ferrari, Todt worked as special advisor to the Ferrari Board chairman before retiring from the company in March 2009.

He has since continued his work in many capacities with the FIA and FIA Foundation, and in February 2007 was awarded the Grand Officier of the Légion d’Honneur, France’s second-highest honour.

“It is my intention to offer continuity but also to encourage change to meet the new challenges facing the sport and motoring in the years ahead,” 63-year-old Todt said. “We are living through a time of unprecedented change set against a hard economic environment. Despite the global recession the world’s automobile population is forecast to triple by 2050. New generations across the world will have the opportunity to enjoy the freedom of mobility that the car offers and it is the FIA’s responsibility to defend their right to safe, sustainable and affordable mobility.

“We must also make it easier for them to experience the passion and thrill of motorsport. Building on our experience and traditions, the FIA must be ready to shape and encourage this new era of global mobility and global motorsport.”

Earl ALEXANDER/D.B.
© CAPSIS International

— Great News! —

Every change is welcome, we hope that Todt can bring new and fresh ideas and eliminate all the problems and frictions that Mosley bring to Formula 1.

Congratulations to Jean Todt and to all Formula 1 Fans