By Greig Murray
September 21 2002

Eddie Irvine has spoken in high praise of Ferrari’s Sporting Director Jean Todt. Irvine who spent four years with the Scuderia believes that the strength behind Ferrari comes from Todt and when he leaves Ferrari could find it very hard to replace him.

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Eddie Irvine left Ferrari just when things began to fall into place, after spending four years alongside Michael Schumacher he left to join the Jaguar team and since then Ferrari have taken a clean sweep of the titles. Many say Michael Schumacher is the reason for the Ferrari dominance but although Eddie admits Michael is the best in the world he puts the dominance on the shoulders of Jean Todt.

Todt was the man responsible for bringing the current team together and Irvine feels that he is still a vital element to the team. If Todt was to leave then Irvine feels that his replacement will have to be very good or those other key people will also walk away. Eddie praises Todt for the way he put the team together and also how he has stood firm when under pressure from FIAT and from Luca di Montezemolo. It was said that when Rory Byrne first penned the F2002 and took the plans to Montezemolo he was told to think again and be less innovative, but Todt stood behind his designer and the F2002 was born.

“They’ve got the money, they got the driver, they’ve got the personal, they’ve got the stability. Once Todt goes, unless they pick the right replacement, the whole thing will fall apart,” says Irvine.

“Todt is the reason that made it has happened, cause he’s the man who put Michael in there. He’s the man that then brought in Ross Brawn. He’s the man that brought in Rory Byrne. He’s the man who brought in stability, he’s the man who protected Ferrari from Fiat. He’s the man that protected Ferrari from Luca di Montezemolo’s interference to a certain extent. So, if he goes it will take a very very shrewd choice of replacement to keep that going because if they replace him someone who is not up to spec, Ross will leave, Rory will leave then it will become a mess.”

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