F1 boss Stefano Domenicali reflects on future of 'greatest show on earth'

Italian manager Stefano Domenicali, who currently is the CEO of Formula 1, reflects on the future of the sport, in a recent interview for gq-magazine.co.uk:

GQ: Running F1 has never been easy. But getting the show on the road and keeping it there has been a monumental effort this past year.
Stefano Domenicali: We started a season without knowing how it was going to end. Now we have an even more critical scenario because of the complexity and different situation country by country. Having done nine GPs this year, we’ve built on what Chase did last year and our organisation has shown that it can deliver a championship and credibility together with the FIA. Can we deliver 23 GPs? I’m not sure I can even be there tomorrow, but that’s the target… We’ve shown we can be flexible, coping with countries that decided not to host a race for obvious races. We’ve made sure we have a good relationship with everyone, being ready with different options. Every day we’re working with different scenarios, re-evaluating what could happen if someone drops out. We can’t have four GPs in a row and then only one. We have a lot of things to consider and co-ordinate for the broadcasters.

Is it difficult persuading tracks and local promoters to come on board when there have been no crowds?
Stefano Domenicali: The value of our championship is getting higher and higher. If the product is not selling well, there’s no interest for anyone to do it, regardless of the difficult conditions. I know how difficult it is from a business perspective that you have to pay fees without the possibility of earning money because people can’t come in. But then you have to look at it in terms of the value it provides for a country to host a grand prix, it gives you an international dimension. This isn’t a private business, it’s for the government to see it as a sort of business card for the country. Imola, for example. It depends on the way that the government wants to see that as an investment.

There has been talk of 25 races in a year. That’s a big commitment for all involved…
Stefano Domenicali: I think 23 races is a stable amount, although there’s a provision in the Concorde agreement for more. So how many do we want in Europe, in America, in the Middle East, in Asia and the Far East? I can see fewer GPs in Europe, more in the US and more in the Middle East and Asia.

But won’t Formula 1’s core fanbase be angry about losing traditional GPs? Tracks you’ve relied on this past year?
Stefano Domenicali: I don’t think so. It’s something that’s part of the evolution of a business, and this is an entertainment. Of course we’re aware of the importance of tradition and it gives you the ingredients for the future. But if you live by tradition you don’t live long. We need to build foundations for the future.

But some of the traditional tracks are inevitably going to be discarded, aren’t they?
Stefano Domenicali: Are you sure about that? The magic of having places that want to be part of our business in the future is part of our agenda. We’re not just looking at the beauty of the future. These places understand that the world is changing. Monza, to give you one example, is unique, but Monza also needs to invest in the future. The people who go there deserve that. You need to grow, you need to react. The positive pressure the newcomers are putting into the system is great.

I was in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia in April, where a GP is scheduled for early December. It didn’t look close to being ready…
Stefano Domenicali: You should see it now. Remember that one of the things F1 can do is put the right amount of pressure on. I’ve been in F1 almost 30 years and I remember arriving at a new venue and thinking, “There’s no way you’re going to do it.” Even in the same week… I recall arriving in Korea and saying, “Are you sure, we have a race in three days?” There is a big pressure. But we count on the fact that the host country or organiser knows how important it is – they know the stakes if they’re seen not to be able to do it. Provided they do it the right way.