The sporting aspect of Method 1 stays necessary to boss Stefano Domenicali, even when Liberty Media has confronted criticisms lately for parts like dash races.
Whereas resistance to the Saturday dash format has died down, it has not gone away utterly – even when the format used this yr might be the perfect up to now.
Though Domenicali thinks the sceptics shouldn’t be completely ignored, he has no doubts that sprints work. Actually, he isn’t in opposition to having as much as eight per yr – with doubtlessly some spice added to the way in which the grid is made up.
“I keep in mind after we launched them we had plenty of criticism from the purists – who we have to at all times hearken to, even to those who usually are not proud of it,” Domenicali stated.
“However I really feel that now the factor has shifted utterly the opposite manner round. I believe that the change we have launched this yr is the correct one for a lot of causes – with separate qualifying and parc ferme. The move is significantly better at present.
“I believe that we aren’t able to say that we will be like MotoGP, for instance, with a full race calendar state of affairs of sprints. However there’s margin to develop, possibly for one third of the calendar. That may very well be a risk.
Stefano Domenicali, CEO, Method One Group, on the grid with a visitor
Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
“After which, in fact, there are specific subjects which can be at all times fairly debatable. We will actually as soon as once more focus on if there’s the necessity to reverse the grid, or half of the grid like what F2 and F3 are doing. So these are at all times issues to maintain the thoughts alive, if I could say, with the intent to maintain one thing at all times fascinating.”
From his perspective, regardless of being an F1 purist at coronary heart, Domenicali is one who helps the concept of reverse grids.
“Personally, I might say, why not? It is plenty of motion. It’s overtaking. You are combating for factors?
“Some individuals can say, ‘Oh, it’s a faux manner of racing.’ Pretend? There’s nothing faux associated to what you consider is the correct format to provide nice motion. So I might have an interest to debate that once more. Sure.”
Extra motion
What Domenicali thinks needs to be an thought for F1 is that each session on a grand prix weekend has a aggressive aspect and a cause for followers to look at.
He particularly doesn’t perceive why, in an period when groups are working countless simulations to excellent their set-ups, F1’s regular weekend format permits for 3 apply classes that rely for nothing past serving to engineers.
“Is it an excellent leisure for individuals coming already on a Friday to see automobiles going across the observe simply to organize higher for qualifying and the race?” he requested. “I imply, is that what individuals need to see?
“There’s a big funding [by teams] in simulation instruments to do this. So my dream might be: each time that you just go on the observe, there’s something to combat for. That is the character of racing. That is the character of the drivers, as a result of they need to be the primary each time, and that is why we needs to be aiming for this type of goal sooner or later.
“I believe that we’re on the correct path. We’re doing the correct issues, and the thrill that we convey within the dash race could be very clear, as a result of plenty of promoters want to have them.
“So now it is a good second to see what’s the finest venue to have good motion, and likewise the perfect place to be divided within the calendar to create the correct frequency.”
The road circuit debate
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing RB19, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
One of many shifts that F1 has seen within the Liberty Media period has been in taking the sequence to the followers – which suggests extra vacation spot metropolis races.
Whereas some new additions reminiscent of Qatar are at everlasting tracks, for different venues – like Las Vegas, Miami and Saudi Arabia – this has meant road circuits.
Now with Madrid and doubtlessly Bangkok coming as future additions, the character of the F1 calendar seems to be transferring away from its conventional base of everlasting venues.
Whereas there isn’t a escaping the actual fact there are extra road circuits on the schedule, Domenicali doesn’t suppose there are too many.
“I might say we need to be balanced,” he stated. “We do not need to transfer from one aspect to the opposite aspect of the size, however for us is it is essential to have good racing.
“I keep in mind one of many largest criticisms that was on the desk earlier than the Las Vegas Grand Prix was, ‘Oh, come on, you may have a race the place there might be no overtaking, no drama, no motion, and so forth.’
“Really we proved that those that weren’t ready to talk till after the occasion have been completely improper. We had an unbelievable race.
“For positive it’s essential to respect the historic venues. However historic will not be every part; historic is an efficient base to take a position for the longer term.
“We’re not anxious to seek out the correct answer, to have the correct leisure, the correct fan, and everybody can have a unique opinion. There are drivers who love the everlasting tracks, others who like to attempt to drive within the cities.
“As I stated, the correct reply, as at all times, is to be balanced. And that will be my strategy, for positive.”
Film alternatives
Craig Dolby stands in for Brad Pitt throughout a film shoot on the grid
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Considered one of Liberty Media’s success tales since taking on has been the impression of Netflix’s Drive to Survive in bringing a brand new viewers to F1.
Allied to opening up social media channels, it has fuelled a brand new era of followers which have helped grand prix racing’s recognition keep sky excessive after the post-COVID bounce.
But when Netflix’s impression was big, Domenicali thinks that the brand new F1 film – on account of hit the massive screens subsequent June – will take the push to a different degree.
Requested in regards to the impression that the film could have, he stated: “Huge! I believe that if Netflix was massive, I believe that the film – and we mentioned in Hungary the plan of commercialisation and promotion – might be large. We’ll hit a goal that’s not but current.”
Domenicali believes that F1 will work as a result of FOM has been clear with the movie makers that boundaries needed to be pushed. It couldn’t simply be one other motor racing film tick field train.
“There was one aspect that was not negotiable: to do one thing distinctive,” added Domenicali.
“However within the context the place we can’t contact the racing itself, as a result of that is the game, with completely different cuts, with completely different parts, we’re doing a film.
“So I do consider that you may be fascinated additionally to see the making of it, as a result of individuals will realise the complexity that we’re managing and the issues which can be behind it. It’s actually spectacular.
“I do consider that will probably be fascinating on either side, understanding that we have been capable of hold the stay sport alive. However when you are going to see the film, you are going to perceive what will probably be.”
Domenicali additionally means that a number of the digicam angle concepts that might be used within the film might even be adopted by F1 itself for future onboards to spice up its personal protection of races.
“We’re creating collectively new expertise of cameras, with completely different angles of view,” added Domenicali. “So I might say it’s a pleasant place to develop sure new expertise that we will convey afterwards.”
Actor Brad Pitt throughout filming for an upcoming film
Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
What can’t be managed
Now into his fourth yr on the helm of F1, Domenicali feels he has helped push the sequence in the correct route – each for followers and his Liberty Media bosses.
“I do not need to say I, as a result of I am a workforce participant,” he stated. “I believe that what we have been capable of do is to take F1 to a dimension that not so many individuals have been considering that we have been capable of do.
“So the expansion that we live, the great thing about what we’re speaking about, is what we needs to be actually very pleased with.
“I am not watching now the worth of our capitalisation on the inventory market. That is not me. That is for our shareholders, and which we have to thank Greg [Maffei] and Liberty Media on the belief that they’ve on me, and on us.”
However equally Domenicali doesn’t see every part by way of rose-tinted glasses; and feels that there are challenges that should be overcome.
“We’re at all times in a push mode,” he stated. “You might be at all times pleased, however by no means pleased that manner…”
And he provided a very fascinating reply, which circles again to the sustainability motivations of the 2026 rule modifications, about subjects that hold him awake at evening – with reminiscences of Imola’s 2023 cancellation on account of flooding clearly nonetheless very robust.
“I have to sleep as a result of we’re working rather a lot,” he smiled. “I am not a man that’s involved about one thing that we aren’t capable of management, as a result of that is one thing that I at all times really feel – behind an issue, there is a chance.
“There are issues that we can’t management, which can be out of our management, that might have an effect. We’re a worldwide sport.
“We all know the political setting is delicate. We now have been hit by sure issues associated to the so-called local weather change.
“I believe that if we’re capable of handle what we are able to management, I believe we’re in an excellent spot.”
