Ron Dennis, with characteristic good sense and honesty, has declared himself not interested in the position of FIA President should Max Mosley step down as promised this year. In fact, Ron thinks that anyone with a link as strong to a particular team as team managers are bound to have should be automatically excluded from the job. Whether this is a sly dig at Jean Todt's chances is a moot point but it is obvious that the possibility of bias in any new president should be avoided by seeking candidates elsewhere.
The man who should be king...
Sir Jackie Stewart is of the opinion that a "captain of industry" would be more in keeping with the responsibilities of FIA President but Sir Fred Goodwin's recent example reminds us that such figures have a tendency towards feet of clay. Mosley has demonstrated that lawyers are not a good choice either. So just what sort of person would make the ideal president?
I would suggest that, regardless of present occupation, a good candidate should have qualities of honesty that are beyond question. The sport is heartily sick of the political shenanigans and cynical U-turns of the last few years and is crying out for someone it can trust. An understanding of F1 must also be required, it being a complex sport without easy answers to the problems confronting it in the modern era. And there should be no suspicions of bias towards any team - we have seen our fill of that sort of thing over several decades.
We might add to that the quality of high intelligence but I think this is not entirely necessary; common sense and the ability to express ideas clearly are more important, especially as any new incumbent should recognize his own limitations and depend on a strong team of advisers and experts to assist him. The Presidency has been a dictatorship for too long and it is time the sport had a more democratic form of government. We need someone who knows how to listen.
It would be possible to think of many more desirable qualities but our list is a pretty tall order already; what are the chances of finding such a paragon of virtue?
Well, I have said it before but it bears repeating since Big Ron and Sir Jackie have brought the matter to our attention again: the most suitable and non-controversial candidate is everyone's old friend, Alex Wurz. I challenge you to think of anyone with fewer enemies and detractors.
Now I know that Alex has not been mentioned in this context except by myself and that he would probably be horrified by the idea. But, if I just accept that he has no chance (and I know he doesn't since it is more or less guaranteed that the FIA delegates will pick someone to look after their own interests), I would be resigning myself to a strife-torn future for the sport such as we have witnessed for too long. Allow me to retain some hope, at least.
If there were any justice in the world, Alex would be the favorite for the presidency. Not only does he have all the qualities I have specified, the demise of Honda F1 means that his testing role for them no longer exists; he is unemployed and I have the perfect job for him.
Many might consider Alex too young for the post - I say we have let the old farts control the sport for too long and it is time to give the young a chance. Doubts could be expressed on his ability to handle the political side but who better to clean up the FIA's act than someone who has made clear his dislike of political maneuverings? Some would say that Alex is too nice a guy to run such a show but I suggest that the sport has been damaged enough by the antics of the bad guys.
Whichever way you look at it, Alex Wurz is the ideal candidate for FIA President. All things considered, he has everything the sport is crying out for. The problem is that he has never expressed any interest in applying for the job. That could be from modesty, however, and we should at least put the question to him. With a little persuasion, I think he might take it on...
Alex for President!