The contract renewal confirming Stefano Domenicali on the helm of Components 1 Group for the following 5 years got here nearly by acclamation. “Crucial side for me was receiving complete belief from the management of Liberty Media. They assured me most freedom in organising the crew and system that will probably be wanted to proceed this path of progress. Personally, I used to be additionally very happy to really feel recognition from inside the sport.”
Right here is the previous crew principal’s full interview for Motorsport Italy:
Gathering broad consensus just isn’t one thing to be taken as a right in Components 1—fairly the other, it’s uncommon. The whole lot evolves shortly, and simply two days after saying the contract extension with Liberty Media, Domenicali signed the brand new Concorde Settlement, the business platform that defines Components 1’s monetary future.
“The monetary elements are settled; now we have to finalize the governance half, which includes not solely the groups but in addition the FIA. That is one other key step for the long run as a result of it ensures regulatory stability. One of many issues we need to change is to have a extra strategic and fewer tactical strategy to the problems affecting our world of Components 1, so we want the involvement of each the FIA and the groups.”
Let’s keep on with strategic choices. In current months, there’s been a lot speak about numerous engine philosophies Components 1 might undertake within the medium and long run. What’s your stance on the matter?
“Two years in the past, I shared (in an interview with Motorsport.com) what was my strategic imaginative and prescient for the way forward for Components 1, and that’s what’s rising now. In Bahrain, we had a gathering with the FIA and all the present and future engine producers, together with GM. I feel there have been some heavy-handed makes an attempt. As a result of future discussions had been on the desk, somebody tried to suggest an extension of the present rules. That will have been completely flawed. We have to respect those that have invested giant sums in a fancy and dear undertaking; altering the principles now would have despatched the flawed message. If we had known as the earlier choices into query (concerning energy items), it might have been an enormous mistake.”
So, full steam forward with no second ideas?
“Nothing stops us from persevering with to work to enhance the package deal. The Worldwide Federation, together with the producers and groups, can all the time consider whether or not there are elements that may be improved. We’re on the eve of a historic regulatory change, and personally, I consider it’s crucial for the entire system to just accept the thought of permitting sooner restoration occasions for a producer if we discover a big efficiency hole. I feel it is a subject that completely have to be addressed quickly—it’s a scenario that would have an effect on anybody.”
That gained’t be simple, given the aggressive mentality that has all the time existed in Components 1…
“I feel all of us have to suppose strategically. Having one crew dominate for too lengthy just isn’t good for anybody. Our sport is experiencing extraordinary progress and has develop into a reference on a global degree. We ought to be happy with this, but in addition very cautious.”
You had been there in 2009–10 through the nice exodus of greater than half the automotive producers concerned in Components 1. Given the worldwide financial system is much from steady as we speak, do you suppose that state of affairs might repeat itself?
“It might be flawed to not take into account that chance, particularly as a result of the financial system goes via a tough interval—Renault left Components 1 after a few years. I need to make clear one thing: for us, main producers are important, however we’re large enough to know that if a serious disaster hits the sector, giant automotive teams may very well be pressured to make tough choices.”
“That’s why I consider it’s essential for us to contemplate simplifying issues and considerably slicing prices, whereas additionally working to take care of a technical hyperlink with the event of applied sciences which can be additionally helpful for street mobility—like sustainable fuels, which may complement electrical automobiles available on the market. These are decisions that may assist producers stick with us or, within the occasion of a serious disaster that forces manufacturers to droop racing applications, permit us to react independently and discover different options.”
Simplification is a recurring subject, however it all the time appears a bit imprecise. What precisely does it imply?
“Longtime followers—folks round my age—have to rethink their technical views on what creates efficiency and technological curiosity. It’s a elementary subject. The give attention to sustainable fuels is completely proper, however then again—and I say this considerably provocatively—seeing groups make investments enormous sums to design and construct their very own gearboxes not makes the sense it as soon as did. The efficiency delta you may get from that’s now mainly zero.”
“It’s additionally a expertise that followers have already absorbed, it doesn’t spark curiosity anymore. I feel it’s crucial to establish the areas the place we will speak about expertise as leisure. What was related prior to now is way much less so as we speak and is not sufficient to persuade a producer to spend money on our sport. We have to face this challenge and have the braveness to just accept that many issues have advanced.”
From mid-2024 onward, there’s been quite a lot of speak about versatile wings, with technical controversies returning.
“I’ve skilled loads of these firsthand—I keep in mind the case involving us (after I was Ferrari’s sporting director) in Malaysia in 1999, in addition to the double diffuser, the ‘frick,’ the mass damper, the F-duct… these tales have all the time been a part of Components 1. I used to be virtually concerned each Sunday in dealing with regulatory technical and sporting points. I can say that years in the past, there have been a lot wider gray areas than as we speak, however there nonetheless stays nice mental capability amongst these working in Components 1 to push all the things to the restrict. Personally, I really feel as we speak’s technical controversies are actually minor in comparison with the previous. In truth, I’d like to see a bit extra dialogue—they’re the spice of this sport.”
Has the Las Vegas mannequin, which you believed in and invested closely in, delivered what you anticipated—or, as some insiders declare, has it not been an amazing deal?
“It’s an enormous success, however as all the time with new initiatives, you may’t count on to recoup your funding in a really brief time. If we choose the occasion itself—what Las Vegas has been and is for Components 1—we’re undoubtedly taking a look at successful. Past the media consideration and visibility, it has allowed us to strike business offers that will have been a lot more durable with out Las Vegas.”
Is it a showcase for the ‘Components 1 system’?
“Completely. And I’ve no downside confirming that the occasion’s prices for the Las Vegas neighborhood are very excessive. Beginning this 12 months, the Las Vegas Grand Prix is underneath our direct central administration—the working group for the GP now experiences on to us, so we’ve revised the organizational construction to hurry up funding restoration. We need to contain native traders extra. The financial influence of the Las Vegas weekend has, for 2 consecutive years, been very important—even better than the Tremendous Bowl. We’ve assured main monetary advantages to the neighborhood. We have to hold investing and believing in it. Let’s not neglect that whereas we’ve made nice progress not too long ago within the U.S. market, there’s nonetheless enormous room for progress. We have to elevate consciousness much more.”
Is Africa on maintain?
“That’s not the proper phrase. Earlier than we transfer ahead in that path, we want ensures in three areas. First, the investments should profit the local people, not simply because Components 1 is there but in addition for the host nation’s financial system as a complete. Second, infrastructure: it’s not sufficient to have a monitor; we additionally want resorts, roads, airports, all the things. Third, there have to be an financial basis able to supporting the occasion within the medium and long run. We’re not on standby—we’re nonetheless working to evaluate what’s lacking earlier than we will say, okay, let’s go. However we’re not there but.”
What has Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari delivered to Components 1?
“Seeing it from the angle of an Italian residing overseas, the curiosity it has generated has been huge—it’s given Components 1 nice visibility. Then, after all, it is a sport, and curiosity can be pushed by outcomes, and that takes time. Lewis spent a few years at Mercedes, creating interpersonal dynamics and technical understanding of the automotive that will not translate on to Ferrari. It takes some calm when altering environments totally. He gained the dash race in China, however all it takes is one much less sensible weekend and opinions shift once more. We must be a bit extra cautious. In Japan, a McLaren one-two was taken as a right. In Bahrain, everybody anticipated a boring race, and in each circumstances, that didn’t occur—individuals are too fast to evaluate.”
Talking of the Japanese GP, some discovered it very boring, whereas others praised the depth of a race unaffected by tire degradation, the place drivers might push from begin to end.
“We’ll by no means make everybody glad. The Suzuka race was very intense. For followers who additionally learn the timing screens, it was a unprecedented race. However there have been no overtakes, and I perceive that for a lot of followers, that’s probably the most thrilling a part of racing—it’s pure that individuals need extra on-track motion. That’s why we pushed for necessary two-stop methods within the Monaco GP and requested Pirelli to retain a tire that degrades.”
Is a compromise between degradation and race depth doable?
“We now have two fan bases. Some know all the things concerning the sport, and others are newer and don’t have a deep Components 1 tradition. I feel it’s as much as us to clarify our sport higher—it might sound trivial and it’s not simple, however many elements must be defined. In fact, on-track motion stays probably the most fascinating component.”
Components 1 has reinvented itself with a brand new era of drivers. Do you agree {that a} extremely proficient group has emerged?
“Sure. I feel we’re witnessing one thing distinctive. I’m very happy as a result of it exhibits the feeder sequence are working effectively—it’s nice information for our sport. I additionally suppose these younger drivers ought to be protected. I assumed it was proper to present Hadjar an encouraging message in Melbourne, and we’ve seen what he’s able to. I additionally suppose it’s essential to assist Lawson after his robust season begin—we have to humanize these younger males.”
“Kimi is doing very effectively—he’s 18 years previous, let’s not neglect that—and I’m proud of how Mercedes is supporting and defending him. It’s good to see he’s staying grounded, nonetheless very a lot a younger man who needs his household by his aspect for his Components 1 debut.”
In the long run, Components 1 has welcomed an eleventh crew…
“The Cadillac undertaking will assist us make a fair better influence on the American market. The discussions we had advanced—the second proposal we obtained was a lot stronger than the primary. Now it’s as much as the undertaking to show itself, select two good drivers, and transfer ahead. The arrival of such a serious model will profit the entire system—for instance, it might open the door to extra races in the US.”
However will the variety of Grands Prix all the time stay 24, or might it improve?
“I verify—it should keep at a most of 24.”
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