The contract renewal confirming Stefano Domenicali on the helm of Method 1 Group for the following 5 years got here nearly by acclamation. “A very powerful side for me was receiving whole belief from the management of Liberty Media. They assured me most freedom in organising the workforce and system that shall be wanted to proceed this path of progress. Personally, I used to be additionally more than happy to really feel recognition from throughout the sport.”
Right here is the previous workforce principal’s full interview for Motorsport Italy:
Gathering broad consensus shouldn’t be one thing to be taken with no consideration in Method 1—fairly the alternative, it’s uncommon. The whole lot evolves shortly, and simply two days after asserting the contract extension with Liberty Media, Domenicali signed the brand new Concorde Settlement, the industrial platform that defines Method 1’s monetary future.
“The monetary points are settled; now we have to finalize the governance half, which entails 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 wish to change is to have a extra strategic and fewer tactical method to the problems affecting our world of Method 1, so we’d like the involvement of each the FIA and the groups.”
Let’s follow strategic selections. In current months, there’s been a lot discuss varied engine philosophies Method 1 may 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 Method 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 have been on the desk, somebody tried to suggest an extension of the present rules. That may have been completely incorrect. We have to respect those that have invested massive sums in a fancy and dear undertaking; altering the foundations now would have despatched the incorrect message. If we had referred to as the earlier selections into query (concerning energy items), it will have been an enormous mistake.”
So, full steam forward with no second ideas?
“Nothing stops us from persevering with to work to enhance the bundle. The Worldwide Federation, together with the producers and groups, can all the time consider whether or not there are points 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 concept of permitting sooner restoration occasions for a producer if we discover a big efficiency hole. I feel this can be a subject that completely should be addressed quickly—it’s a state of affairs that might have an effect on anybody.”
That received’t be simple, given the aggressive mentality that has all the time existed in Method 1…
“I feel all of us have to suppose strategically. Having one workforce dominate for too lengthy shouldn’t be good for anybody. Our sport is experiencing extraordinary progress and has grow to be a reference on a world degree. We needs to be pleased with this, but in addition very cautious.”
You have been there in 2009–10 through the nice exodus of greater than half the automotive producers concerned in Method 1. Given the worldwide economic system is much from steady as we speak, do you suppose that situation may repeat itself?
“It might be incorrect to not take into account that chance, particularly as a result of the economic system goes by way of a troublesome interval—Renault left Method 1 after a few years. I wish to make clear one thing: for us, main producers are important, however we’re sufficiently big to know that if a serious disaster hits the sector, massive automotive teams might be compelled to make troublesome selections.”
“That’s why I consider it’s essential for us to contemplate simplifying issues and considerably slicing prices, whereas additionally working to keep up a technical hyperlink with the event of applied sciences which can be additionally helpful for highway mobility—like sustainable fuels, which may complement electrical automobiles in the marketplace. These are decisions that may assist producers stick with us or, within the occasion of a serious disaster that forces manufacturers to droop racing packages, permit us to react independently and discover various options.”
Simplification is a recurring subject, nevertheless it all the time appears a bit obscure. What precisely does it imply?
“Longtime followers—individuals round my age—have to rethink their technical views on what creates efficiency and technological curiosity. It’s a elementary subject. The concentrate on sustainable fuels is completely proper, however however—and I say this considerably provocatively—seeing groups make investments large sums to design and construct their very own gearboxes not makes the sense it as soon as did. The efficiency delta you will 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 discuss expertise as leisure. What was related up to now is far much less so as we speak and is not sufficient to persuade a producer to put money into 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 discuss versatile wings, with technical controversies returning.
“I’ve skilled loads of these firsthand—I keep in mind the case involving us (once 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 Method 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 Method 1 to push all the pieces to the restrict. Personally, I really feel as we speak’s technical controversies are actually minor in comparison with the previous. In reality, 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 excellent deal?
“It’s an enormous success, however as all the time with new tasks, 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 Method 1—we’re undoubtedly successful. Past the media consideration and visibility, it has allowed us to strike industrial offers that will have been a lot more durable with out Las Vegas.”
Is it a showcase for the ‘Method 1 system’?
“Completely. And I’ve no drawback confirming that the occasion’s prices for the Las Vegas neighborhood are very excessive. Beginning this yr, the Las Vegas Grand Prix is below our direct central administration—the working group for the GP now stories on to us, so we’ve revised the organizational construction to hurry up funding restoration. We wish to contain native buyers extra. The financial influence of the Las Vegas weekend has, for 2 consecutive years, been very vital—even better than the Tremendous Bowl. We’ve assured main monetary advantages to the neighborhood. We have to preserve investing and believing in it. Let’s not overlook that whereas we’ve made nice progress lately within the U.S. market, there’s nonetheless large room for progress. We have to elevate consciousness much more.”
Is Africa on maintain?
“That’s not the correct phrase. Earlier than we transfer ahead in that route, we’d like ensures in three areas. First, the investments should profit the local people, not simply because Method 1 is there but in addition for the host nation’s economic system as an entire. Second, infrastructure: it’s not sufficient to have a monitor; we additionally want resorts, roads, airports, all the pieces. Third, there should 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 Method 1?
“Seeing it from the angle of an Italian dwelling overseas, the curiosity it has generated has been monumental—it’s given Method 1 nice visibility. Then, in fact, this can be a sport, and curiosity can also be pushed by outcomes, and that takes time. Lewis spent a few years at Mercedes, growing interpersonal dynamics and technical understanding of the automotive that won’t translate on to Ferrari. It takes some calm when altering environments totally. He received the dash race in China, however all it takes is one much less sensible weekend and opinions shift once more. We have to be a bit extra cautious. In Japan, a McLaren one-two was taken with no consideration. In Bahrain, everybody anticipated a boring race, and in each instances, that didn’t occur—individuals are too fast to guage.”
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 may push from begin to end.
“We’ll by no means make everybody completely satisfied. 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 obligatory 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 have now two fan bases. Some know all the pieces in regards to the sport, and others are newer and don’t have a deep Method 1 tradition. I feel it’s as much as us to elucidate our sport higher—it could sound trivial and it’s not simple, however many points have to be defined. After all, on-track motion stays probably the most charming aspect.”
Method 1 has reinvented itself with a brand new technology of drivers. Do you agree {that a} extremely gifted group has emerged?
“Sure. I feel we’re witnessing one thing distinctive. I’m more than happy as a result of it exhibits the feeder sequence are working properly—it’s nice information for our sport. I additionally suppose these younger drivers needs to be protected. I assumed it was proper to provide 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 properly—he’s 18 years outdated, let’s not overlook 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 desires his household by his facet for his Method 1 debut.”
In the long run, Method 1 has welcomed an eleventh workforce…
“The Cadillac undertaking will assist us make an excellent better influence on the American market. The discussions we had advanced—the second proposal we acquired 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 may open the door to further races in america.”
However will the variety of Grands Prix all the time stay 24, or may it improve?
“I affirm—it is going to keep at a most of 24.”
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