Few figures in Formula 1 history are more closely associated with Ferrari’s modern golden era than Jean Todt. The Frenchman helped transform the Scuderia from a team struggling to end a lengthy title drought into one of the most dominant forces the sport has ever seen.
More than two decades later, however, Ferrari is still searching for the sustained success that defined the early 2000s. Despite the arrival of Lewis Hamilton, the continued development of Charles Leclerc and the leadership of Fred Vasseur, the team remains determined to bring a drivers’ championship back to Maranello for the first time since 2007.
Yet when asked to compare Ferrari’s current project with the legendary operation he helped create, Jean Todt made it clear that he had no intention of entering that discussion.
The former Ferrari boss preferred to avoid direct comparisons altogether, choosing instead to express his continued affection for the team and his hope that the Scuderia can once again return to the top of Formula 1.
Jean Todt refuses to compare eras at Ferrari
Throughout Formula 1 history, comparisons between different Ferrari generations have been inevitable. The team led by Jean Todt, Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher became synonymous with excellence, winning multiple drivers’ and constructors’ championships while establishing one of the sport’s greatest dynasties.
By contrast, modern Ferrari has experienced flashes of competitiveness but has struggled to sustain a title challenge over an entire season.
Charles Leclerc came closest to ending the drought in 2022 before Ferrari’s championship campaign faded as the season progressed. More recently, Lewis Hamilton joined the team with the ambition of helping Ferrari return to championship-winning form, while Fred Vasseur has continued working to reshape the culture and operating philosophy inside Maranello.
Despite those efforts, Jean Todt indicated that evaluating one Ferrari generation against another serves little purpose.
The Frenchman explained that he preferred not to discuss comparisons because every era operates under different circumstances, different regulations and different competitive environments. Instead, he emphasized that he will always support Ferrari and hope for the team’s success. According to Jean Todt, seeing members of the current Ferrari organization still greet him warmly in the paddock remains a special experience and shows the deep connection he continues to share with the Scuderia.
Ferrari remains the defining chapter of his career
While Jean Todt has enjoyed success in multiple areas of motorsport and later served as FIA president, he acknowledged that his years at Ferrari remain the most important period of his professional life.
The Frenchman reflected on the extraordinary commitment required to rebuild Ferrari into a championship-winning organization, recalling the demanding workload and relentless dedication that characterized those years.
He noted that he spent 16 years at Ferrari, often working extremely long days without interruption. Although the process was challenging, the achievements that followed made every sacrifice worthwhile. Jean Todt also highlighted what makes Ferrari unique compared to any other team in Formula 1.
In his view, winning with Ferrari carries a different weight. The expectations are higher, the pressure is greater and the scrutiny is constant. Yet those same challenges make success with the Scuderia particularly meaningful.
That perspective is especially relevant today as Fred Vasseur attempts to guide Ferrari through one of the most competitive periods in modern Formula 1. With Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull all fighting for victories, the task facing the current leadership group is arguably as complex as ever.
The Ferrari legacy that spread across Formula 1
One aspect of his Ferrari tenure that continues to give Jean Todt particular satisfaction is seeing so many former colleagues now occupying influential positions throughout Formula 1.
During the years when Ferrari dominated the sport, numerous future team principals, executives and leaders gained valuable experience within the Maranello organization.
Today, many of those individuals sit at the heart of Formula 1’s decision-making structure.
Jean Todt pointed to Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali as one of the strongest examples. Having worked closely with Domenicali during Ferrari’s championship-winning years, the Frenchman expressed pride at seeing him now lead the sport globally. He also highlighted the careers of Laurent Mekies, now leading Red Bull, Mattia Binotto at Audi and Andrea Stella at McLaren, all of whom spent important periods of their development within the Ferrari environment.
According to Jean Todt, he does not claim responsibility for their success. However, he takes satisfaction in knowing that he played a role in helping them grow during the early stages of their careers.
Seeing those former Ferrari figures now competing at the highest levels of Formula 1 highlights the long-term impact the Scuderia had during its most successful era.
Can Ferrari finally end its title drought?
The question that continues to surround Ferrari is whether the current generation can finally replicate the achievements of the past.
Fred Vasseur has openly spoken about changing the team’s mindset since taking charge, encouraging a more aggressive approach and reducing the caution that he felt had become embedded within the organization.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc form one of the strongest driver pairings on the Formula 1 grid, giving Ferrari the talent necessary to challenge for championships if the SF-26 continues to develop in the right direction. Jean Todt may have declined to compare today’s Ferrari with the team that dominated Formula 1 alongside Michael Schumacher, but his message was unmistakable. Despite the passing of time and the many changes within the sport, his desire to see Ferrari return to championship-winning ways remains as strong as ever.
For a team still chasing its first drivers’ title in nearly two decades, that support from one of the architects of Ferrari’s greatest era carries considerable significance.
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