The contract renewal that confirmed Stefano Domenicali as CEO of Method 1 Group for one more 5 years was met with near-unanimous approval.
“A very powerful side for me was having the whole belief of Liberty Media’s management,” Domenicali stated. “They gave me complete freedom to form the staff and the system that shall be wanted to maintain driving development. On a private word, I additionally appreciated the popularity from inside the paddock.”
In Method 1, receiving broad consensus is uncommon. The whole lot evolves shortly, and simply two days after the contract extension was made official, Domenicali signed the brand new Concorde Settlement – the industrial framework defining F1’s monetary future.
“The financial facets are settled. What stays is the governance half, which additionally entails the FIA alongside the groups. That’s one other key step as a result of it ensures regulatory stability. One factor we need to change is our method: we must be extra strategic and fewer tactical on key points affecting our sport. This requires FIA and staff involvement.”
Motorsport: On strategic choices, there’s been quite a lot of discuss lately about completely different engine philosophies for the medium and long run. What’s your place?
Stefano Domenicali: “Two years in the past I shared my strategic imaginative and prescient for F1’s future in an interview with Motorsport.com – and that’s precisely what’s now rising. In Bahrain, we had a gathering with the FIA and all present and future engine producers, together with GM. I imagine some pushed too exhausting. As future matters have been being mentioned, somebody tried to push for an extension of the present rules. That may have been completely mistaken. We should respect those that’ve invested closely on this advanced and expensive challenge – altering the foundations now would ship the mistaken message. Questioning earlier choices on energy items can be an enormous mistake.”
MS: So it’s full steam forward, no second ideas?
SD: “Nothing prevents us from working to enhance the bundle. The FIA, along with the producers and groups, can all the time assess if there are areas for enchancment. We’re getting ready to a serious regulatory shift, and I personally imagine it’s essential that the system permits for a sooner restoration if a producer falls considerably behind. That’s a difficulty we should deal with shortly – it might occur to anybody.”
MS: Not a simple change, contemplating F1’s aggressive nature…
SD: “All of us must assume strategically. Having one dominant staff for too lengthy is unhealthy for everybody. Our sport is rising extremely and has develop into a world benchmark. We ought to be happy with that – but in addition cautious.”
Stefano Domenicali, CEO of the Method One Group Mohammed ben Sulayem, FIA President and Luca di Montezemolo on the grid
Picture by: Peter Fox – Getty Photographs
MS: You skilled the 2009–10 interval firsthand, when over half the producers left F1. With the world financial system nonetheless fragile, might that state of affairs repeat?
SD: “It could be naive to not contemplate that chance, particularly given as we speak’s financial local weather. Renault, after a few years, has left F1. Let me be clear: main producers are important, however we’re additionally mature sufficient to know that if a extreme disaster hits the business, huge automotive teams might need to make robust choices. That’s why we should simplify and considerably scale back prices, whereas sustaining a technical hyperlink to road-relevant applied sciences – like sustainable fuels, which may complement EV choices. These decisions assist producers keep concerned. And if a disaster forces some to pause their F1 programmes, we’ll be ready to reply independently and discover alternate options.”
MS: Simplification is a recurring theme – however typically obscure. What does it imply, concretely?
SD: “Followers of my era must rethink what creates efficiency and technological curiosity. Specializing in sustainable fuels is completely the suitable path. However – and this will sound provocative – having groups make investments enormous quantities in designing their very own gearboxes not is sensible. The efficiency positive factors are minimal. Followers not see it as an thrilling space of growth. We have to determine areas the place know-how and leisure overlap. Many issues that when appeared cutting-edge not justify main funding. We will need to have the braveness to just accept that the panorama has developed.”
MS: From mid-2024, versatile wings have been a sizzling matter once more – technical controversies are again.
SD: “I’ve lived by means of a lot of these: Malaysia ’99, the double diffuser, FRIC, mass dampers, F-ducts… all a part of F1’s story. I was hands-on with technical and sporting regulation debates virtually each Sunday. Years in the past, there have been far broader gray areas than as we speak – however F1 folks nonetheless know easy methods to push every little thing to the restrict. Personally, I really feel as we speak’s controversies are comparatively minor. In actual fact, it’d be good to have a bit extra of that once more – they’re the spice of the game.”
MS: Has the Las Vegas mannequin lived as much as expectations – or, as some say, has it underdelivered financially?
SD: “It’s been a giant success. However as with all new challenge, you may’t count on to recoup funding instantly. If we decide the occasion itself, Las Vegas has clearly been a win for F1. Past the media publicity, it helped us safe industrial offers that may’ve been exhausting to land in any other case.”
MS: Is it a showcase for the ‘F1 system’?
SD: “Completely. I received’t deny the prices for the local people have been excessive. Beginning this 12 months, the Las Vegas GP is totally underneath our central administration – the organisational staff now experiences on to us. We’ve revised the construction to speed up ROI. We wish extra involvement from native buyers. The financial impression of the Vegas weekend has been large for 2 years operating – greater than the Tremendous Bowl. The area people has seen enormous monetary advantages. We should preserve investing and believing within the challenge. Let’s not overlook: whereas we’ve made nice strides within the U.S., there’s nonetheless enormous development potential – we should preserve growing our visibility.”
MS: Is Africa on maintain?
SD: “That’s not the suitable phrase. Earlier than taking that step, we’d like ensures on three fronts: funding that advantages the neighborhood past F1’s presence, infrastructure (not only a circuit, however resorts, roads, airports), and an financial base that may help the occasion long-term. We’re not on standby – we’re working to evaluate what’s nonetheless lacking earlier than we are able to say, ‘Okay, let’s go.’ However we’re not there but.”
MS: What has Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari delivered to F1?
SD: “Talking as an Italian residing overseas, the curiosity it generated has been large – it’s given F1 nice visibility. After all, it’s nonetheless a sport, and a spotlight will depend on outcomes. That may take time. Lewis spent a few years at Mercedes, the place he developed sure relationships and technical understanding. These dynamics aren’t assured to be the identical at Ferrari. We’d like persistence. He received the dash in China, however one less-than-perfect weekend and folks’s opinions shift once more. We must always all be extra measured. In Japan, many anticipated a McLaren 1–2. In Bahrain, folks predicted a boring race. In each circumstances, they have been mistaken – folks bounce to conclusions too quick.”
Race begin
Picture by: Andrea Diodato – NurPhoto – Getty Photographs
MS: On that word, some referred to as the Japanese GP boring, others praised the depth and lack of tyre degradation.
SD: “You’ll by no means please everybody. Suzuka was a really intense race – for those who have been watching the timing screens, it was extraordinary. However there have been no overtakes, and I get that many followers crave extra on-track motion. That’s legitimate. That’s why we pushed for 2 necessary stops in Monaco and requested Pirelli to maintain utilizing high-degradation tyres.”
MS: Are you able to strike a steadiness between degradation and race depth?
SD: “We’ve received two fan teams – the hardcore specialists, and the newer followers with out deep F1 data. It’s on us to clarify our sport higher. It might appear apparent, however it’s not second nature. Now we have to do a greater job at speaking what’s happening. That stated, on-track motion stays essentially the most compelling half.”
MS: F1 has reinvented itself with a brand new era of drivers. Do you agree they’re high quality?
SD: “Sure – I feel what we’re seeing is outstanding. It reveals the junior classes are working properly, which is nice information for the game. I additionally assume these drivers deserve safety. In Melbourne, I made a degree to help Hadjar, and look what he’s executed since. I feel Lawson deserves help now after a tricky begin. We have to bear in mind their human facet. Andrea Kimi [Antonelli] is doing very well – he’s solely 18 – and I’m happy with how Mercedes is supporting and defending him. It’s good to see he stays grounded, nonetheless a younger man together with his household by his facet on debut.”
MS: In the long run, F1 accepted an eleventh staff.
SD: “The Cadillac challenge will assist us make a much bigger impression within the U.S. market. The conversations we had developed – the second proposal was a lot stronger than the primary. Now it’s as much as the challenge to maneuver ahead, choose two strong drivers, and ship. Having a heavyweight model like that can profit the system – and will even pave the best way for extra races in the USA.”
MS: Will the calendar keep at 24 races, or might it enhance?
SD: “Confirmed – the utmost will stay 24.”
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Roberto Chinchero
Method 1
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