F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali has hit out at these criticising the 2026 guidelines overhaul, particularly Max Verstappen.
Little has been heard of the F1 boss – or certainly FIA president, Mohammed ben Sulayem – since he urged followers to not panic within the aftermath of pre-season testing.
Nonetheless, the Italian has now discovered his voice, and whereas admitting that tweaks could also be wanted, insists the criticism is essentially unfair. Nonetheless, it isn’t solely followers who’ve criticised the brand new guidelines, many drivers have hit out, and Domenicali’s response is to basically warn them to not chew the hand that feeds them.
Final week the FIA met with the groups and producers in a bid to handle the scenario, with the give attention to security – within the wake of Oliver Bearman’s Suzuka crash – and qualifying. Additional conferences will happen in the present day (Wednesday 15 April) and tomorrow, forward of a „high-level“ assembly subsequent Monday which will probably be adopted by an e-vote. Any proposed adjustments will then be put earlier than the World Motor Sport Council, with some tweaks anticipated on the Miami Grand Prix subsequent month.
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Domenicali defended the foundations overhaul, insisting that the outcome has gone down properly with followers.
„I can see an unbelievable outcome when it comes to positivity from the larger fan base on what’s the impact on the racing,“ he says. „Undoubtedly, I tackle board the criticism associated to sure conditions that we’ve got to handle associated primarily to qualifying.
„Qualifying has been all the time the place the place the motive force has to push as a lot as you possibly can,“ he continues, „to see the place the bodily limits of the automotive and the motive force actually are. That is an space the place we’re working in these weeks, along with the drivers, along with the groups, coordinated by the FIA to see what the precise adjustment may very well be with out shedding the precise (monitor).
„We’re managing it in the precise method, with no panic, with a stable basis, being able to have completely different choices.“
Nearly all of the criticism, from followers and drivers alike, pertains to power administration, which many imagine is compromising the step ahead the game has taken when it comes to the vehicles themselves.
In its willpower to advertise sustainability, and thereby retain present producers whereas welcoming the likes of Audi, GM and Ford, the game has taken the reliance on electrical energy up a number of notches in a transfer that many, not simply purists, imagine is damaging to the true spirit of F1.
„I feel it is crucial to recollect why we modified the laws as an ecosystem,“ says Domenicali. „5 years in the past, the producers thought that the one approach to progress in being concerned in motorsport was to be 50-50 or looking for the precise stability between the inner combustion engine and electrification. That was a place to begin.
„The laws undoubtedly must be improved, as all the time when there’s something that’s completely new, as a result of that step change has by no means been so huge. However that was the explanation.“
In line with Motorsport.com, „F1’s personal metrics have additionally seen an uptick in curiosity“, the web site stating that the „season’s first three sold-out races in Australia, China and Japan all grew in attendance“. Nonetheless, such is the continued curiosity within the sport this was all the time going to be the case, nevertheless, let’s not neglect that tickets for these races had been offered months, years, prematurely, lengthy earlier than followers obtained to see the influence of the brand new guidelines.
F1 additionally claims that „TV viewership in its largest markets can be up 12 months on 12 months by a median of 25%“, although no particulars are given when it comes to a facet of the game whose measurement metrics have all the time been ’suspect‘.
„If I see the survey of what’s going on all around the globe with new followers of Method 1, the result’s magnificent,“ insists the Italian. „All people is saying: ‚What’s going on?‘ A variety of motion, and that is what folks need to see.
„Usually talking, after we’re speaking about one thing it is nice, as a result of that generates a constructive dialogue,“ he continues. „What I do not like is individuals who like to criticise. Criticising to criticise does not assist anybody, and it has actually zero impact.
„I feel the discussions which were in place since many months with the FIA, with the groups, now much more with the drivers, are entering into the precise path. There are conferences now, really this week, and in addition subsequent week earlier than Miami, to see what may be executed to enhance or to regulate the scenario.
„Hopefully, earlier than Miami, the FIA will inform us what can be the adjustment that may be executed for 2 concerns. First is qualifying, attempting to be as a lot as you possibly can on full energy or full braking, no matter it’s. And then again, after all, to guarantee that sure issues that drivers spotlight will probably be fastened in the precise method.“
Nearly the entire drivers, bar the dominating Mercedes pair, have been crucial of the brand new guidelines, and whereas Domenicali admits to the criticism, insisting that, transferring ahead, the drivers are concerned within the talks, solely Max Verstappen is singled out.
„My conversations with them are undoubtedly very open they usually know that I do care about their opinions,“ he says. „I would like them to be concerned,“ he insists. „However after all, there may be generally a form of a gameplay that it’s a must to have. Should you converse to the drivers on the high, they’re all the time very glad as a result of they’re profitable. The others may be annoyed, additionally as a result of they love a special method of racing, which I respect loads.
„What I stated to them is: ‚Hear, guys, remember that what we’re doing is as a result of we did the precise issues collectively. So be respectful of a sport that gave to all of us an unbelievable alternative to develop, to have some huge cash, and to develop a character on the earth that in different sports activities you might love higher, they can not give it to you‘. That is what I advised them, and I feel that has been acknowledged.
„With Max, we’ve got spoken many, many occasions because the starting,“ he says. „So we perceive that I perceive his feedback and he understands the larger image. Even in the present day he has been in a gathering the place he was very eager to offer recommendations. So, you understand, I do not need to fall into the lure of attempting to create an antagonism as a result of that is not me. It isn’t the way in which that we need to see that.
„So we’ll be collectively. He is one of the best driver, he is a world champion, a number of world champion, and naturally, his voice must be listened to. However after all, he is aware of that his voice additionally has a weight. And he must respect that weight as a result of generally some folks can take it the unsuitable method. And that is one thing that we must always not enable to occur.“
Take that no matter method you would like, however the F1 boss is clearly sending a message, a thinly veiled menace, if you’ll.
„I do not know if there is similar method of claiming it in UK, however in Italy folks imagine that the grass of the neighbour is greener. And generally if you go on the opposite facet, they are saying, ‚Oh, my God, it isn’t true‘. So respectful of what we’ve got been in a position to obtain collectively, but in addition listening and being very, very open to any form of remarks that we’ve got executed collectively. With none form of cap sport that everybody is usually tempted to do.
„I feel that the racing could be very, excellent,“ he insists. „And the extra we speak collectively, the higher it’s for the game. As a result of they’re – and I say this as a result of I am outdated however I do not neglect what I am saying – the jewel of our sport. So we have to defend that jewel of our sport, in addition to they’ve to guard the ecosystem which they’re in.“
Naturally, the F1 CEO has to guard his employer and its model, however as we’ve got stated so many occasions previously, what would Domenicali’s response be had been he nonetheless managing Ferrari?
Seemingly along with his fingers in his ears and his eyes tightly closed, Domenicali is adamant that there isn’t a have to panic, that all the things is ok and dandy, and perhaps it’s. Nonetheless, different manufacturers have realized the arduous method that failure to hearken to your prospects, failure to learn the warning indicators, failure to handle points is often starting of a protracted, slippery slide. Do not pee on a fan’s footwear and inform them its raining.
As for Max, fairly how he’ll see Domenicali’s feedback stays to be seen, however everyone knows what the Dutchman’s like. So, how’s about he walks away from F1 on the finish of the season… solely to return in 2028, as soon as sure groups (and producers) have sorted themselves out and sure driver contracts have come to an finish.
