Former Scuderia Ferrari boss and current Formula 1 chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali was asked about the impact of Scuderia Ferrari’s failed title challenge against Red Bull in the 2022 Formula 1 season and downplayed any suggestion that the Austrian side’s easy win this year will negatively affect fans’ interest for the final part of the championship, with two races to go (the Brazilian Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix).
As opposed to last season’s thrilling final race at the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the 2022 Formula 1 Drivers’ title much earlier this time, at the end of the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, as the Austrian side secured the constructors’ championship just seven days later at COTA in Austin.
Former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali pointed out that there is still plenty of interest in the last events of the current F1 campaign, and he feels there will be no negative impact on the Formula 1 business even though there is not much to play for in Brazil and Abu Dhabi, with teams now focused on next season. At the same time, the Formula 1 chief executive officer is confident Ferrari and Mercedes will be able to take the fight to Red Bull in 2023, with the titles being decided in the final races of the championship just like last year:
“Well, actually, we don’t see any kind of risk at all,” Stefano Domenicali replied when asked during a video call with Wall Street analysts about the impact of the titles being already won at this stage of the season regarding the Formula 1 finances.
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“And first of all, we have the last race with sold out tickets, and the numbers are really good. The attention will be shipped, of course, to other fights for the sporting perspective. So that’s part of racing. And I would like to add, if I may, we are totally positive on the impact that the change in regulations brought this year. And we cannot comment on the fact that a team, but specifically in this case Red Bull, or Max Verstappen, did an incredible job. Maybe some other teams didn’t take the right opportunities. But what we saw on the track is wheel-to-wheel racing. That’s what we wanted. And I’m totally confident that next year the fight on the track will arrive up to end of the calendar. And as you’ll see, the last races, on the sporting side there is a lot of attention. There is a fight for places that also for the team perspective is related to their financial position, and the financial reward if they achieve a position. So I think that there will be a lot of interest in Brazil and Abu Dhabi too, with no problem.” – the F1 CEO added.
Stefano Domenicali also explained he does not believe that the current economic issues which Europe is facing might decrease Formula 1 ticket sales and therefore revenue next season:
“First of all, being a world championship we can spread around the world the risk of having this kind of situation to manage. On the other hand, the fact that we have long-term agreements will reduce the exposure to this risk. And what I can say and share with you is that we already see an incredible number of pre-registrations with regards to ticketing of next year. So this is a good sign that you’re seeing mainly in Europe, where I’m living, where it is clear that this recession is taking place. But I think that the way that we are structured, the way that we have done the deals will enable us to move forward in this direction. Therefore, I would say this current situation lets us think that we should be optimistic in this context. Of course, we monitor it, but this is what we see today.” – Formula 1 chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali concluded.
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