Planet-F1

Chandhok not interested in FIA presidency

Saturday 18th July 2009

The former president of India's motorsport federation, Vicky Chandhok, insists he is not interested in running for the FIA presidency.

There had been some speculation that Chandhok could join Jean Todt and Ari Vatanen in putting his name forward for the job when Max Mosley steps down in October.

Chandhok, though, has ruled himself out of the running.

"Of course I would like the challenge of being FIA president, and if someone asked me to do it I would readily accept it," he told Autosport.

"However, I have said several times that I would only do so if I had the full support of Bernie Ecclestone, the F1 teams and the current president, which is Max Mosley.

"I have no interest in getting involved in a big election battle with Ari Vatanen and Jean Todt, so I would like to clarify once and for all that I shall not be throwing my hat into the ring this time."

As for which candidate he believes he will win the election, Chandhok said: "It is too close to call. We heard what Vatanen had to say recently, and he has come across as a neutral candidate, who would bring change to the FIA.

"But Todt has great experience of motorsport and from within the FIA, having sat on the World Motor Sport Council, and providing he can show that he is untied from the past, then he would be a worthy president too."