The President and CEO of Formula 1 has taken stock of the current state of the world championship during a meeting with a small group of selected international media, including Motorsport.com, addressing several sensitive and widely debated topics that continue to dominate discussions among paddock insiders and fans alike.
“We must not forget the origins of these regulations. If we lose sight of the reasons that brought us here, we lose the opportunity to understand this phase.” Stefano Domenicali repeated this message several times during a media session held yesterday in Bahrain. “When these rules were introduced, Formula 1 needed the involvement of manufacturers. Without this change Audi, Ford, Cadillac and Honda would not have joined.”
After setting that context, the President of Formula One Group delivered a very clear message: there is an excess of pessimism that has taken shape even before the opening race of the new technical cycle has been contested.
“We must not forget that the fastest will always win.”
Faced with a profound transformation of the power units and the arrival of a new era defined by energy management, Domenicali is convinced that Formula 1’s fundamental principle will not change. “Stefàno”, as he is often called in England, also highlighted the approach he witnessed during the Formula 1 Commission meeting held on Wednesday in Sakhir.
“I saw a group with a constructive attitude. We know very well that whenever there is something new, many aspects are amplified, but we must remain calm and work together. I would not make definitive evaluations after just one race. That would be very premature.”
The message to the wider audience
From a visual standpoint, according to Domenicali, the impact for spectators will feel familiar. “I went to the track to look at the cars through the eyes of a fan, and I didn’t notice differences. They are really beautiful, the sound is very pleasant and, if you watch them on track, they look identical to last year’s cars.”
Pressed on the key issues that emerged during pre-season testing in Bahrain — particularly the topic of energy management — Domenicali was direct, stressing that this is part of Formula 1’s very nature. “The evolution of technology requires a different way of driving. It happened in the past and it will happen again.”
On performance, he has no doubts. “What I see behind the scenes makes me say that these cars will become very, very fast already by the end of the season. There will be a level of development that we have not seen in recent years.”
The most debated topic concerns energy management, especially on circuits with layouts that do not feature heavy braking zones, such as Melbourne, Jeddah or Suzuka. “In the Formula 1 Commission we opened a discussion to put possible solutions on the table,” he explained.
The regulatory responsibility lies with the FIA, but the shared approach is one of caution. “We have just started a new season and we must avoid overreactions. I remember 2014, 2020, 2021: every time there is a major change there is also doubt that everything could go wrong. But Formula 1 has always shown that it knows how to find the right solutions to address critical issues and move forward.”
When asked about a possible Plan B — to be implemented if the situation in the opening races were to become alarming — his response was clear. “Why should we always think about Plan B? Before making drastic decisions, I believe we need to see what will happen. If there are truly critical issues to react to, we will react. But I do not start from a position of panic. The fastest will always be first at the chequered flag. It is a different way of driving, but the principle does not change.”
Verstappen, direct style and the future
Comments made by Max Verstappen, who described this Formula 1 as “a Formula E on steroids”, have fueled debate. Domenicali played down the remark. “Max loves Formula 1 more than anyone else. He has a particular way of expressing concepts, but we had a very constructive meeting.”
The dialogue with the drivers is constant. “They are the 20 best in the world, and I can confirm that there is a great desire to be constructive. And I am convinced that by mid-season the comments will be very different.”
Regarding speculation that Verstappen could one day leave Formula 1, Domenicali was unequivocal. “I know him very well, I spend a lot of time with him. Max loves Formula 1, there is no doubt that he will be part of the future.”
Hybrid identity and comparison with Formula E
The increase in electric power has inevitably sparked comparisons with Formula E. Domenicali firmly rejected the parallel. “With all due respect to our friends, we are talking about two totally different dimensions. Internal combustion engine, energy deployment, sound, speed: they are not comparable.”
Hybrid technology itself is nothing new for Formula 1. “We have been hybrid since 2014. Today it is a different way of being hybrid, but the identity does not change.”
Leave a Reply