todt-quits sport motorsport Virgin Media

Amedeo Felisa will replace Jean Todt as Ferrari's Formula One chief executive after the Frenchman's resignation.

Todt was instrumental in turning Ferrari from an expensive, underperforming, plaything into one of F1's most successful teams.

He said he wanted to "dedicate more time to myself and the things I'm interested in".


Todt joined Ferrari in 1993, but his stroke of genius came in 1996, when he persuaded Michael Schumacher to join from Benetton, bringing with him the twin technical and design geniuses Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne.

This partnership brought the team six straight constructors' titles between 1999 and 2004.

Felisa is the the team's general manager and is known to be keen on bringing Fernando Alonso to Ferrari in 2009 - a move thought to be already endorsed by Luca de Montezelemo, Ferrari's chairman.

Todt will remain a member of the Ferrari board.