Jean Todt and his Monty’s friendship

Jean Todt former Ferrari Team Principal in F1, former Fia President, UN special envoy for road safety, talks about his relationship with Monty

Audrey: When did you meet Monty?

Jean Todt: Uummh… long story…..I think it’s about 30 years, around ‘93, when I joined Ferrari…. he was very close to Bernie Ecclestone and Slavica, I think he introduced Slavica to Bernie… so he was always there with a smile on his face and slowly we became friends you know…… good…. good contact without having to talk so much…. but I mean… you just realize that it was a good feeling.

Audrey: what did you think when you first saw it?

Jean Todt:Big…Big… big vocal energy, strong personality, leadership, and somebody …you know,  so I noticed him… I mean heated making a very often with energy, wishing to make photos, to introduce people and I had greater network and they did not want to keep it only for him, but to share it with his friends.

Audrey: Monty took photographs of you?

Jean Todt: I dont’ remember but … he had some interest for pens for books, he was involved with the Montegrappa, he was involved with the editor like Taschen… so he like to create a introduction and off course how was proud about his publications, his magazine what he was doing so well….. he loved it.

Audrey: do you have any funny memories of him?

Jean Todt: What I remember…… regularly when I was in Italy…working for Ferrari….. He was a time…. he was working in Milan…. He was coming to visit me…. you know you are not with him but he would always surrounded with nice girl… he had always good company …

Audrey: he always told you he was coming to see you and in 10 times he came only once

Jean Todt:I mean…we love Monty …we miss Monty… look what he sent me that was when did he pass away!!!  See what I got on the 11th December he sent me a photo with Michael Schumacher and Sylvester Stallone fighting and incidentally sent me photo of the message from Stallone “be strong my boy love you, SLY” After that message no more…

Audrey: I remember last time we came in Geneva we bring truffle I remember because you like truffle.

Jean Todt: Monty many time send me a message” OK I will come next week” he never came and sometimes he came: “I’m here. Where are you?”

 I was coming…..always generous,  with whatever he could bring….,  could be panettoni or box of caviar, truffle… So he was ……somebody….. you know…somebody you don’t forget….somebody you notice….. somebody charming.  

Monty many time send me a message” OK I will come next week” he never came and sometimes he came: “I’m here. Where are you?”

Audrey:Were there any projects you wanted to do together?

Jean Todt: It was more on friendship…..he had always ideas… one time he said” OK I’m going to organize for your wife to make a movie”… It was there…. but he was very creative …when you are sometime It happened sometime doesn’t happen but there is creativity behind, there is a goodwill…. you know…. he was a very sincere and nice person and we…. are in a world where  people can be smart but they’re not generous…. They’re not nice….they don’t have a good heart and…. 

He was was the opposite…. so sometimes he was a bit extravagant…he was out of normal in a way for me it was always some…..refreshing because I’ve been quite focused, organizing, trying to be I mean, as committed and reliable as possible, and I mean time to share time with a kind of more artistic manner fantasist manner is something which was making me feeling good like now. 

Audrey: If he was there now what do you want to tell to him? 

Jean Todt: Just …you know…  just easy things… which is good you know….. because when you are involved in business … sometime with problem to solve… it good thing I’m mean … you can have refreshing and of course he had something he did really matter in Magazines, in Laureus Awards, which was something for him very dear…. he had also connection with AMG where I  got something wich was dear to him…. He did believe but …he had…. the good test….. he was elegant in what he was thinking, proposing,  ambitious as well, sometime it was working, something was not working, but at least it was a goodwill.

Audrey: and what you will miss of Monty?

Jeans Todt: But ….you know…. I mean…it was very sad because when you have a friend…. sometime you don’t see them for six months…but is there… than suddenly is arrive they are there… you know  they are there. You know that’s a run friendship so I mean he will always stay in my mind as as somebody special .

Audrey:  Monty use to call you “Bambino”?

Jeans Todt: He was call me Bambino very often. MONTY always was creative whatever you were doing , magazine, talking, special ID on pens, on watches, what is on luxury goods and Laureus Awards …I mean… whatever kind of nice creativity…he was multitalented and I met him sometime 93, 94, very often I was accompanying Bernie for a race weekend he was there around and I met him his personality was charming personality so you cannot say we are close friend, but It was just smooth.. mean just easy… you know… it was just easy and friendly relationship to love him.

Easy to love him.