Italian manager and the current CEO of Formula One Group Stefano Domenicali, was interviewed by luxurylondon.co.uk and was also asked about his former team, admitting that he would like to see Scuderia Ferrari be able to fight for podiums and race wins, which would be good for Formula 1 and the image of the sport. He also recalled working in Ferrari’s in the finance department and discussed the optimum number of races in a Formula 1 calendar:
Ferrari is in your blood, are you hoping to see them back on the podium soon?
Stefano Domenicali: “I think all of the Formula 1 world hopes that it won’t be long before Ferrari is back on the podium. And I’m with them. It won’t be easy as the levels of performance by Mercedes and Red Bull are unbelievable – what Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton have done over the past seven years has been amazing. Team heritage doesn’t count for much anymore. Ferrari has improved this year and that can only be good for Formula 1.”
What’s harder, running a Formula 1 team, or running Formula 1?
Stefano Domenicali: “Ha! Both are hard for sure. The magnitude of this business is challenging and the responsibility is big. I don’t want to say this job is difficult but it is complex. There are a lot of variables to be taken into consideration, especially making decisions from both a tactical and strategic position. There is much to manage, including the interests of the fans, the teams and the shareholders. The opportunity we have next year to link everything together is a big chance to grow the sport.”
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You started your career with Ferrari in the finance department. How did that happen?
Stefano Domenicali: “I sent a lot of CVs to companies, including Ferrari. I grew up in a racing environment because of where I was born but I never thought it possible for me to work with such a famous Italian team. I thought I would be working in the world of finance but that isn’t how it worked out. I feel very lucky because spending 23 years at Ferrari, then five years at Lamborghini, is what every Italian boy can only dream of. I’ve been very lucky.”
How many races can we expect in a season going forward?
Stefano Domenicali: “I think the optimum number is 23. Where the races will take place could change because the new promoters, Liberty Media, want to push the bar to an even higher level. Therefore, the new venues that are coming in are offering such fantastic events that the older, more traditional venues are having to step up their game. That’s the beauty of this current situation – everyone is motivated to be better. It doesn’t matter if a race has been held at the same venue for 100 years – that’s not relevant anymore. North America and Asia are two important regions for developing the business, but we also had big interest from South Africa, too. China and South Korea offer a massive younger audience, so there is plenty of potential on a global scale.”
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