Ex‑Ferrari boss Jean Todt says daily commute is more dangerous than his motorsport career

Jean Todt, a veteran of the sport most often described as the world’s deadliest motorsport, has spent more than four decades in roles that have shaped modern racing. Beginning as a rally co‑driver in the 1970s, he later managed Scuderia Ferrari’s Formula One team to multiple championships before assuming the presidency of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) in 2009, where he oversaw the sport’s global governance.

During Todt’s early years, fatalities on the track received limited media coverage, reflecting a period when safety standards were minimal and driver deaths were often treated as routine. Under his leadership at the FIA, systematic safety reforms were introduced, including the development of the Halo cockpit protection system and stricter circuit regulations, contributing to a significant decline in serious injuries and fatalities. Todt’s tenure is widely recognized for advancing motorsport safety, leaving a lasting impact on the sport’s evolution and its perception by the public.