Jean Todt has disclosed that he no longer maintains any communication with Ferrari, his former Formula 1 employer.
The 78-year-old Frenchman joined F1 in the early 1990s to lead the struggling Maranello-based team, later serving as FIA president until 2021.
After Todt's complete departure from Ferrari in 2008, the team has been led by Stefano Domenicali, Marco Mattiacci, Maurizio Arrivabene, Mattia Binotto, and current team principal Frederic Vasseur.
"Since I left, I've heard from some members of the team," Todt shared in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica. "But since I stepped down from the FIA, I've had no contact with Ferrari at all."
"I must admit, this surprises me, given the years I dedicated to this extraordinary company and the success we achieved together," he said.
"When I arrived in 1993, it was like a crumbling castle. Some designers were based in England, and our wind tunnel was outdated and barely functional. Gradually, we turned it into something extraordinary."
During Todt's tenure, Michael Schumacher secured five consecutive championships, and Kimi Raikkonen claimed the drivers' title in 2007.
Since then, no Ferrari driver has won a championship.
Todt revealed he remains in regular contact with Schumacher, despite the F1 legend's ongoing health struggles - believed to be serious and ongoing brain injuries. "I see Michael often," Todt said. "He's a part of me."
He credited Schumacher, along with a talented group of managers and engineers, for Ferrari's golden era.
"I couldn't have done it alone, but I was able to build a team and keep these talented individuals together for years, creating a dream team," he explained.
"The 14 world championships we won are etched in history – it was Ferrari's most successful period in Formula 1," Todt concluded.
