Domenicali’s warning: success cannot become self-reference
Formula 1 is enjoying a particularly positive historical phase, but Stefano Domenicali insists that its current success cannot become a reason to stop and look backwards. Speaking at Monza, the F1 CEO outlined a forward-looking agenda spanning the technical future, the calendar, manufacturers, sprint races and the championship’s efforts to attract a younger audience.
“The risk is becoming self-referential,” Domenicali said. “We must not be satisfied with the success we have today. We must continue to understand why we have become so big and keep our feet on the ground, knowing that there are still many dimensions in which we can grow.”
That approach will be tested as F1 and the FIA begin considering the next generation of power units and single-seaters. Domenicali said the industrial landscape has changed since the current rules were defined, when electrification appeared to represent the direction of the future. “Today that is no longer the case,” he stressed, leaving F1 to determine how best to interpret the shift.
A technical future less dependent on manufacturers
The central challenge is finding a balance between retaining major manufacturers and protecting F1 from becoming entirely dependent on their industrial priorities. Domenicali acknowledged that a manufacturer withdrawal would create “a big problem”, while also arguing that a less complex technical project could improve the championship’s independence if cost and performance targets were maintained.
He identified two principles as fundamental: keeping sustainable fuels at the heart of the technological project and moving towards a lighter car. The objective, he said, is to give drivers a machine they can genuinely push to its limits.
Shorter races and a changing audience
Domenicali is also open to reducing grand prix distances by two or three laps. He believes such a limited change would reflect the declining appeal of long-form content among younger audiences, although a more significant reduction would require a separate discussion. The latest internal debate follows the same logic behind sprint races, which he initially approached with doubts but now considers a dynamic format after feedback from promoters, media and fans.
Sprints will remain part of F1, but in fewer than half of the events. Having meaningful action on Friday, Domenicali said, provides more content for the general public.
He pointed to an audience that is now around 40% female, with the average age falling from approximately 57 to 34. In Italy, Kimi Antonelli is contributing to that shift, bringing new followers through his competitiveness and natural appeal. Domenicali’s priority is turning such spikes of attention into a lasting relationship and building a broader F1 culture.
The championship is also assessing growth opportunities in China, South America, the Far East and Africa, while Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain under observation if safety and operability cannot be guaranteed. As F1 considers shorter grand prix distances, Domenicali’s wider message is consistent: adaptability, fresh ideas and new perspectives will determine whether today’s momentum lasts.
