F1: Domenicali hits out at guidelines critics

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 basically 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 primarily warn them to not chew the hand that feeds them.

Final week the FIA met with the groups and producers in a bid to deal with the state of affairs, with the give attention to security – within the wake of Oliver Bearman’s Suzuka crash – and qualifying. Additional conferences will happen as we speak (Wednesday 15 April) and tomorrow, forward of a “high-level” assembly subsequent Monday which might be adopted by an e-vote. Any proposed modifications 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 end result has gone down properly with followers.

“I can see an unbelievable end result by way of 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 have now 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 may,” 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 appropriate adjustment may very well be with out shedding the appropriate (monitor).

“We’re managing it in the appropriate approach, with no panic, with a stable basis, being able to have totally different choices.”

Virtually 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 by way of the automobiles themselves.

In its dedication 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 essential 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 appropriate stability between the inner combustion engine and electrification. That was a place to begin.

“The laws positively 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 accordance 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 continuing curiosity within the sport this was all the time going to be the case, nonetheless, let’s not neglect that tickets for these races had been bought months, years, prematurely, lengthy earlier than followers obtained to see the impression of the brand new guidelines.

F1 additionally claims that “TV viewership in its largest markets can be up yr on yr by a median of 25%”, although no particulars are given by way of a side 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 System 1, the result’s magnificent,” insists the Italian. “Everyone is saying: ‘What’s going on?’ Numerous motion, and that is what individuals need to see.

“Typically 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 would not assist anybody, and it has actually zero impact.

“I feel the discussions which have been in place since many months with the FIA, with the groups, now much more with the drivers, are stepping into the appropriate path. There are conferences now, really this week, and in addition subsequent week earlier than Miami, to see what could be achieved to enhance or to regulate the state of affairs.

“Hopefully, earlier than Miami, the FIA will inform us what can be the adjustment that might be achieved for 2 issues. First is qualifying, attempting to be as a lot as you may on full energy or full braking, no matter it’s. And however, in fact, to be sure that sure considerations that drivers spotlight might be mounted in the appropriate approach.”

Virtually 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 positively very open and so they know that I do care about their opinions,” he says. “I need them to be concerned,” he insists. “However in fact, there’s typically a form of a gameplay that it’s important to have. Should you converse to the drivers on the prime, they’re all the time very completely happy as a result of they’re profitable. The others could be pissed off, additionally as a result of they love a special approach 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 appropriate 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 planet that in different sports activities it’s possible you’ll love higher, they can not give it to you’. That is what I informed them, and I feel that has been acknowledged.

“With Max, we have now spoken many, many occasions because the starting,” he says. “So we perceive that I perceive his feedback and he understands the larger image. Even as we speak he has been in a gathering the place he was very eager to offer solutions. So, , I do not need to fall into the entice 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 the perfect driver, he is a world champion, a number of world champion, and naturally, his voice needs to be listened to. However in fact, he is aware of that his voice additionally has a weight. And he must respect that weight as a result of typically some individuals can take it the unsuitable approach. And that is one thing that we should always not enable to occur.”

Take that no matter approach you would like, however the F1 boss is clearly sending a message, a thinly veiled risk, if you’ll.

“I do not know if there is similar approach of claiming it in UK, however in Italy individuals imagine that the grass of the neighbour is greener. And typically while you go on the opposite aspect, they are saying, ‘Oh, my God, it is not true’. So respectful of what we have now been in a position to obtain collectively, but additionally listening and being very, very open to any sort of remarks that we have now achieved collectively. With none sort of cap sport that everybody is typically tempted to do.

“I feel that the racing may be very, superb,” he insists. “And the extra we discuss 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 have now 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 any must panic, that the whole lot is ok and dandy, and possibly it’s. Nonetheless, different manufacturers have realized the laborious approach that failure to hearken to your prospects, failure to learn the warning indicators, failure to deal with points is often starting of a protracted, slippery slide. Do not pee on a fan’s sneakers 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.