Jean Todt
Published : Jul 19, 2003 00:00 IST
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER has insisted that most of the credit for Ferrari's recent domination of Formula One must go to team boss Jean Todt. Todt is celebrating 10 years as sporting director at Ferrari. And Schumacher says the Frenchman has been instrumental in transforming the team's fortunes.
"The way Jean works is absolutely incredible and I don't know where he finds the energy," said Schumacher. "I could never imagine spending 15 or 16 hours in the office every day. Jean dedicates all his energies to the team and gets involved in every single detail. He is never distracted and is always 100% motivated, ready to urge everyone on to reach our objectives." Todt lured Schumacher to Ferrari in 1996 after he had won the drivers' crown with Benetton in 1994 and 1995, building a dream team of technical director Ross Brawn and chief designer Rory Byrne around him. Schumacher repaid the faith when Ferrari won the constructors'' championship for the first time in 16 years in 1999, a title they have held ever since.