Page 18 - Monaco Economy 122
P. 18

LEADER



                      “… with the             we found ways to negotiate with and once the   could have penalized Monaco and its sports

          combined live and                   conflict was over, we became thick as thieves.   interests. It was better to refuse. On the other
                                              In hindsight, I regret it, the excitement of the
                                                                                   hand, I could not refuse the presidency of the
      repeat transmission,                    intense negotiation. With his successors, Max   Senate, of which I am now Honorary President.
                                              Mosley and Jean Todt, everything went well.
                                                                                   It was a different position.. To be president
           there are a billion                Jean Todt was a connoisseur of motorsport   of the FIA with all the work involved would
                        viewers…”             and an extremely hard worker and Max a fine   have been underestimating the quantity and
                                              diplomat. Going forward, for the next four years,
                                                                                   time necessary to manage the ACM correctly.
                                              it is the turn of Dubai's Mohammed Ben Sulayem   Moreover, there is a great project underway
          allowed us to associate positive images of   to preside over the FIA. He has announced that   for my successors by the architect, Deverini,
          the Principality alongside the Formula 1. With   he wants to modernise the FIA, including an   which would consist of moving the ACM to
          the combined live and repeat transmission,   external audit on governance. Why not ? It all   the location of the current swimming pool and
          there are a billion viewers – which explains   remains to be seen.       integrating a permanent race management and
          why advertising is so interesting along the                              other structures. It will be a great adventure if
          circuit racetrack.                  Is that how you see the role of leader?  this project is approved.
                                              A leader does not know and do everything:
          Did the tension reach its climax with the FIA   they must delegate, the key being not to make   Can we have confidence in the future of the
          when Balestre was President? The Monaco   mistakes with the people you choose. The   Monaco Grand Prix? It's not in danger of
          Grand Prix was even removed from the   period of Mussolini, Stalin and others is over,   disappearing?
          calendar for a time                 despite all the talk about Putin. The FIA has   If it were to disappear, I've always thought the
          Balestre was an unpredictable character. With   also decided to join the crack-down club, by   danger would not come from outside but from
          him, it was “yes” at 2 pm, “no” at 4 pm and   penalising Russian circuits, drivers and teams   within, from Monaco itself – because of the
          “maybe” three hours later. We had difficult times   – they are authorized to participate under very   different real estate projects that would be in
          because he simply wanted to be rid of the Rally   strict conditions. Is this really the way to save   the area necessary for the Grand Prix. Of course,
          and the Monaco Grand Prix because we refused   Ukraine… for each of us to decide.   if three F1 cars crashed into a grandstand
          to give up the television rights. It was a long   You could have taken the presidency of the   with many dead or wounded, the Monaco
          and arduous fight. At one point, he wanted to   FIA when Max Mosley was dismissed in June   Grand Prix would be called into question but
          come to Monaco to meet Prince Rainier with   2009. Why did you refuse?   everything is perfectly arranged to avoid that.
          a motorbike police escort because he was   That's true. At one point, they all asked me but   The Monaco Grand Prix is a thriving business
          afraid that someone would plan an unpleasant   I thought that certain decisions that I would   despite the unknowns with the current crisis,
          surprise…. It was a great battle, very violent; but   have had to make on an international scale   like difficulties in getting around and the cost of
                                                                                                                                      1992 - SENNA Ayrton aux côtés du Président de l’ACM, BOERI Michel




































           1994 - BOERI Michel, Président de l’ACM, MOSLEY Max, Président de la FISA et ECCLESTONE Bernie, Vice-Président de la FISA



    18
   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23