“His voice has to be listened to”

After the first three race weekends under the new-for-2026 ruleset, the April break offers a few weeks of reflection for the FIA and Formula 1.

On 20 April, team principals will meet to further discuss possible adjustments that have been brought up in technical discussions, including a meeting of technical experts last Thursday.

The possible tweaks are mainly related to energy management to address the at-times dangerous closing speeds and to make qualifying more about pushing to the limit again.

Aside from those aspects, F1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali emphasises that F1’s figures have been largely positive so far, including the attendance numbers and TV viewership of the first three grands prix.

At the same time, purists and multiple F1 drivers have voiced criticism, mainly about the need for lift-and-coast and super clipping with now more energy-starved cars.

Domenicali wants to deal with all that feedback in a constructive way, but he does call on F1 drivers to keep the bigger picture in mind.

“My conversations with them are definitely very open and they know that I do care about their opinions. I want them to be involved,” Domenicali said during an exclusive interview with Autosport.

“But of course, there is sometimes a sort of a gameplay that you have to have. If you speak to the drivers at the top, they are always very happy because they are winning. The others can be frustrated, also because they love a different way of racing, which I respect a lot.”

However, he emphasised that respect for the championship as a whole is an important factor as well, with drivers not forgetting the overall platform that they have been able to build their careers on.

“What I said to them is: ‘Listen, guys, don’t forget that what we are doing is because we did the right things together. So be respectful of a sport that gave to all of us an incredible opportunity to grow, to have a lot of money, and to develop a personality in the world that in other sports you may love better, they cannot give it to you’,” he continued.

“I think that’s what I told them, and I think that has been acknowledged.”

Why Verstappen’s words “have a weight”

#3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO: Max Verstappen, Daniel Juncadella, Jules Gounon

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

When Domenicali mentions that some drivers might be tempted to look at other forms of racing, thoughts naturally turn to Max Verstappen and his increasing number of GT3 outings.

When it was noted that endurance racing is by definition a Balance of Performance discipline, Domenicali smiled: “Don’t ask me about Balance of Performance because you will find someone that has to respect other championships!”

On a more serious note, the Italian explained that all his recent conversations with Verstappen had been constructive – including some input from the Dutchman this week – but that the four-time world champion, like all F1 drivers, must realise that words in the public domain can have an effect.

“I think that with Max, we have spoken many, many times since the beginning,” Domenicali insisted. “So we understand that I understand his comments and he understands the bigger picture. Even today he has been in a meeting where he was very keen to give suggestions. So, I don’t want to fall into the trap of trying to create an antagonism because that’s not me. It’s not the way that we want to see that.

“So we’re going to be together. He’s the best driver, he’s a world champion, multiple world champion, and of course, his voice has to be listened to. But of course, he knows that his voice also has a weight. And he needs to respect that weight [because] sometimes some people can take it the wrong way. And this is something that we should not allow to happen.”

‘Grass is not always greener’ in other racing series

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Clive Mason / Getty Images

Moreover, Domenicali thinks the long-term perspective is not necessarily better elsewhere, also given the ongoing dialogue with all F1 drivers, including Verstappen.

“I don’t know if there is the same way of saying it in UK, but in Italy people believe that the grass of the neighbour is greener,” he pointed out. “And sometimes when you go on the other side, they say, ’Oh, my God, it’s not true’. So respectful of what we have been able to achieve together, but also listening and being very, very open to any kind of remarks that we have done together. Without any kind of cap game that everyone is sometimes tempted to do.”

Apart from the numbers, Domenicali personally thinks that the racing has been entertaining so far, although both he and the FIA are open to improving the overall product further – especially on Saturdays – in the interest of F1. It just has to happen in a constructive way, whereby the F1 boss respects the drivers’ opinions, but in turn asks them to see the bigger picture.

“I think that the racing is very, very good. And the more we talk together, the better it is for the sport,” he said. “Because they are – and I say this because I’m old but I don’t forget what I’m saying – the jewel of our sport. So we need to protect that jewel of our sport, as well as they have to protect the ecosystem which they are in.”

We want to hear from you!

– The Autosport.com Team