F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Lucas di Grassi for President? It could happen...

Reigning Formula E champion Lucas di Grassi could run for office at the FIA once he hangs up his helmet.

The 33 year-old Audi Sport ABT driver, who competed in 18 Grands Prix with Virgin Racing in 2010, has no intention of retiring from racing anytime soon.

But as someone who never hesitates to voice a constructive and often singular opinion on racing's issues, whether they pertain to safety, track designs or the development of the sport in general, di Grassi could fit the bill as the FIA's highest ranking representative.

A big fan of autonomous driving, the Brazilian was also named the CEO of driverless racing series Roborace last September.

"I love my sport. I have sometimes a very different view from other people," di Grassi told Motorsport.com.

"That showed up when we started Formula E, that showed up a bit with my views on the WEC when I said that LMP1 was not sustainable the way it was going - five years ago when I joined WEC, actually - and with Roborace.

"I would love to help the sport, I'd love to make it more exciting, make races better, make everything safer and at the same time, fight this wave that is pushing motorsport backwards with less categories, more financial problems, less sponsors."

Current FIA president Jean Todt was recently re-elected to a third and final term at the helm of motorsport's governing body. Could di Grassi take over as soon as 2021, when the Frenchman retires at the end of 2021.

"I'm still young. I have a lot of time in front of me, but why not think big and why not think about the FIA presidency in the future?

"If I think it's the correct way, and if people would like to share my ideas, I'm more than happy to do so."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

 

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Alpine keeps faith with Colapinto as 2027 line-up takes shape

Alpine has put an end to any lingering uncertainty over its 2027 driver line-up, confirming…

9 hours ago

McNish hails Hulkenberg’s 'bloody good save' in Dutch GP

Allan McNish has revealed just how close Audi came to a nightmare scenario at Zandvoort,…

11 hours ago

Hakkinen explains to Schumacher the famous 'Zonta move'

The move is hailed as one of the greatest overtakes in F1 history, but how…

13 hours ago

Stella rejects Verstappen’s theory on narrower F1 teammate gaps

Max Verstappen has offered an intriguing explanation for why some teammates in Formula 1 appear…

14 hours ago

Williams calls up Browning for Italian GP FP1 run

Williams will hand Luke Browning another opportunity to make his mark in Formula 1 next…

16 hours ago

Stella calls Wolff’s bluff: ‘I actually don’t believe you’

McLaren F1 team boss Andrea Stella has called Toto Wolff’s bluff following the Mercedes chief’s…

17 hours ago