Formulation 1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali is assured the world championship will make the required changes to enhance the 2026 rules – however insists F1 is heading in the right direction amid rising worldwide curiosity.
F1 overhauled its technical rules for 2026 with a a lot larger reliance on electrical power, that includes a close to 50-50 break up between the inner combustion engine and a bigger hybrid ingredient. It has additionally launched superior sustainable fuels, whereas including energetic aerodynamics and slashing downforce on the smaller and lighter automobiles.
The tip result’s a compromise which is essentially dictated by the brand new power administration necessities and has delivered a pointy improve in overtaking over F1 2026’s first three grands prix. However the guidelines have additionally led to considerations from drivers and diehard followers over a dilution of qualifying, with drivers having to make use of lift-and-coast and again off in F1’s quickest corners to recharge the battery a number of occasions per lap. There have additionally been considerations over the rising closing speeds between automobiles, which have already led to a high-speed accident by Haas driver Oliver Bearman in Japan.
F1 stakeholders, together with the groups, governing physique the FIA and energy unit representatives, are presently holding a collection of conferences to give you short-term rule tweaks that would allay the largest considerations as quickly as subsequent month’s Miami Grand Prix.
Talking completely to Autosport in London, Domenicali mentioned he was assured F1 would make the appropriate changes, however he additionally insisted it has the appropriate foundations in place to make the brand new guidelines successful, and claimed fan analysis confirmed the curiosity within the championship is at an all-time excessive.
“I can see an unbelievable end result by way of positivity from the larger fan base on what’s the impact on the racing,” Domenicali mentioned. “Positively, I tackle board the criticism associated to sure conditions that we’ve got to handle associated primarily to qualifying.
Stefano Domenicali, Formulation One Group CEO
Picture by: Kym Illman / Getty Photographs
“Qualifying has been all the time the place the place the motive force has to push as a lot as you possibly can, and 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 could possibly be with out shedding the appropriate [track].
“We’re managing it in the appropriate approach, with no panic, with a strong basis, being able to have totally different choices.”
F1’s greatest rules shift in generations was pushed by the necessity to retain present producers and appeal to newcomers, with the likes of Audi, Ford and Common Motors all getting concerned to various levels whereas Honda carried out a U-turn on its earlier resolution to stroll away. With Renault having just lately pulled out as an engine producer, there had been fears that not heeding the business’s calls would have led to simply Ferrari and Mercedes remaining on board.
“I feel it is essential to recollect why we modified the rules as an ecosystem,” Domenicali defined. “5 years in the past, the producers thought that the one option 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 rules positively need to 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 large. However that was the explanation.”
The automotive business at massive has since began re-evaluating its aggressive pivot in direction of EVs, with Domenicali anticipating upcoming discussions across the subsequent guidelines cycle in 5 years’ time to look “positively totally different”. The appearance of sustainable fuels may open the door for a return to V8 engines with a smaller hybrid part.
Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Group, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Picture by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs through Getty Photographs
Within the meantime, F1 is eager to respect the investments made by the present producers, whereas additionally safeguarding the DNA of the collection and discovering a stability between conserving its various fan teams engaged and conserving its drivers on board.
Whereas a subset of followers have expressed vocal criticism on the foundations, partly steered by adverse driver suggestions, F1’s personal metrics have additionally seen an uptick in curiosity. The 2026 season’s first three sold-out races in Australia, China and Japan all grew in attendance, whereas F1 says TV viewership in its greatest markets can also be up yr on yr by a median of 25%.
“If I see the survey of what’s [going on] all all over the world with new followers of Formulation 1, the result’s magnificent. Everyone is saying: ‘What’s going on?’ Loads of motion, and that is what folks wish to see,” Domenicali mentioned.
That is why the Italian is backing a relaxed, constructive dialogue on learn how to enhance F1’s product, saying individuals who criticise F1 for the sake of it’ll have “zero impact”.
“Usually talking, after we’re speaking about one thing it is nice, as a result of that generates a constructive dialogue,” he mentioned. “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 were in place since many months with the FIA, with the groups, now much more with the drivers, are getting into the appropriate course. 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 scenario.
Miami Worldwide Autodrome
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photographs
“Hopefully, earlier than Miami, the FIA will inform [us] what can be the adjustment that might be achieved 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 alternatively, after all, to make it possible for sure considerations that drivers spotlight might be mounted in the appropriate approach.”
Domenicali would not see the battery-related improve in overtaking as synthetic, drawing parallels with the intensive lifting and coasting required in F1’s turbo period within the Nineteen Eighties as drivers battled to make it to the end with out operating out of gas. F1 additionally had the DRS overtaking support till final yr, which was initially deemed synthetic, however helped the collection boost the motion whereas automobiles in any other case struggled to observe one another carefully.
“What’s synthetic? Overtaking is overtaking,” he confused. “Individuals have a brief reminiscence, as a result of within the turbo age within the ’80s, you [had] to avoid wasting [fuel] within the race as a result of in any other case the gas tank was too small. And it is a part of the sport.”
“So, as I mentioned, [you have to] tackle board the whole lot, however have an actual [direction] of what you wish to do for the long run.”
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