In the second part of an exclusive interview for Motorsport.com, Formula 1 chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali offers his insights into potential innovations aimed at enhancing the excitement of Formula 1 and the challenges that lie ahead.
The former Ferrari team principal emphasizes the importance of maintaining the competitive spirit in Formula 1, despite recent criticisms of new elements like the Sprint races introduced under Liberty Media’s management. While the Saturday Sprint format has faced its share of scrutiny, the criticisms have diminished, and this year’s iteration is considered the most successful to date.
The Italian manager remains confident in the effectiveness of the Sprint format, acknowledging the need to listen to critics but firmly believing that the format works. He is even open to the idea of increasing the number of Sprints to up to eight per year, seeing it as a potential way to inject more excitement into the grid lineup.
“I remember that when we introduced them, we received a lot of criticism from purists, whom we must always listen to, even those who are not happy. But I believe the situation has completely changed. I think the change introduced this year is the right one for many reasons: separate qualifying and parc fermé. Today, the flow is much better.” – Stefano Domenicali explained, as reported by Motorsport.com
“I don’t think we can say we’ll become like MotoGP, for example, with a full calendar of Sprints. But there is room for growth, maybe for a third of the calendar. And that could be a possibility.” And then, of course, there are some topics that are always very debatable. We can discuss again whether it is necessary to invert the grid, or half of it, as F2 and F3 are doing. These are things that keep the mind active, so to speak, with the aim of always maintaining something interesting.” – the Italian manager continued.
From his point of view, Stefano Domenicali, despite being a traditionalist in Formula 1, is open to the concept of inverted grids. He argues, “Why not? Inverted grids could lead to more action, overtakes, and battles for points. Some might argue that this approach distorts the races, but in reality, there’s nothing inherently flawed about a format designed to enhance on-track excitement. I’d be keen to revisit this discussion.”
The former Ferrari team boss believes that each session during a Grand Prix weekend should offer a competitive edge and capture fans’ interest. He questions why, in an era when teams invest heavily in simulations to refine their setups, the conventional F1 weekend includes three practice sessions that primarily assist engineers with car adjustments but offer little in terms of engaging competition.
“Is it good entertainment for those who come on Friday to see the cars running just to better prepare for qualifying and the race?” he asked. “I mean, is that what people want to see? Teams have invested heavily in simulation tools to do this. My dream is that every time you go on track, there is something to fight for. This is the nature of racing. It’s the nature of drivers, who always want to be first, and that’s why we should aim for this type of goal in the future. I think we are on the right track. We are doing the right things, and the enthusiasm we bring to the Sprints is very evident, as many promoters would like to have them. So now is a good time to see what is the best venue for having a good fight, and also the best way to create the right frequency within the calendar.” – the Italian explained.
Under Liberty Media’s stewardship, Formula 1 has shifted towards engaging fans more directly by increasing the number of city-based races. This change has seen the introduction of new locations like Las Vegas, Miami, and Saudi Arabia, which feature street circuits, alongside additions like Qatar on permanent tracks.
With Madrid and possibly Bangkok joining the roster, the F1 calendar is evolving away from its traditional reliance on permanent racing venues. Despite the growing number of street circuits, Stefano Domenicali does not believe the calendar is oversaturated with them.
“I would say we want to be balanced. We don’t want to swing from one side to the other, but for us, it is crucial to have good races. I remember that one of the biggest criticisms before the Las Vegas Grand Prix was: ‘Oh, come on, it will be a race with no overtakes, no drama, no action, and so on.'” And we actually proved that those who waited to speak after the event were completely wrong. We had an incredible race.”
“Certainly, it is essential to respect historical venues. But history is not everything; history is a good basis for investing in the future. We are not worried about finding the right solution, about having the right entertainment, as everyone can have a different opinion. There are drivers who love permanent tracks, and others who enjoy racing in cities. As I said, the right answer, as always, is to be balanced. And that would definitely be my approach.” – the Formula 1 chief executive officer concluded.
Leave a Reply