The sporting aspect of Method 1 stays vital to boss Stefano Domenicali, even when Liberty Media has confronted criticisms in recent times for parts like dash races.
Whereas resistance to the Saturday dash format has died down, it has not gone away fully – even when the format used this 12 months might be the perfect up to now.
Though Domenicali thinks the sceptics shouldn’t be completely ignored, he has no doubts that sprints work. In truth, he isn’t towards having as much as eight per 12 months – with probably some spice added to the way in which the grid is made up.
“I bear in mind after we launched them we had a variety of criticism from the purists – who we have to at all times hearken to, even to those who will not be pleased with it,” Domenicali mentioned.
“However I really feel that now the factor has shifted fully the opposite approach round. I believe that the change we have launched this 12 months is the precise one for a lot of causes – with separate qualifying and parc ferme. The circulation is significantly better at present.
“I believe that we aren’t able to say that we will be like MotoGP, for instance, with a full race calendar state of affairs of sprints. However there may be margin to develop, perhaps for one third of the calendar. That could possibly be a chance.
Stefano Domenicali, CEO, Method One Group, on the grid with a visitor
Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Pictures
“After which, after all, there are specific subjects which can be at all times fairly debatable. We will actually as soon as once more focus on if there may be the necessity to reverse the grid, or half of the grid like what F2 and F3 are doing. So these are at all times issues to maintain the thoughts alive, if I could say, with the intent to maintain one thing at all times fascinating.”
From his perspective, regardless of being an F1 purist at coronary heart, Domenicali is one who helps the thought of reverse grids.
“Personally, I’d say, why not? It is a variety of motion. It’s overtaking. You are preventing for factors?
“Some folks can say, ‘Oh, it’s a pretend approach of racing.’ Faux? There may be nothing pretend associated to what you imagine is the precise format to supply nice motion. So I’d have an interest to debate that once more. Sure.”
Extra motion
What Domenicali thinks ought to be an concept for F1 is that each session on a grand prix weekend has a aggressive aspect and a motive for followers to look at.
He particularly doesn’t perceive why, in an period when groups are operating countless simulations to excellent their set-ups, F1’s regular weekend format permits for 3 follow classes that depend for nothing past serving to engineers.
“Is it a very good leisure for folks coming already on a Friday to see vehicles going across the monitor simply to arrange higher for qualifying and the race?” he requested. “I imply, is that what folks need to see?
“There’s a enormous funding [by teams] in simulation instruments to try this. So my dream will likely be: each time that you simply go on the monitor, there’s something to battle for. That is the character of racing. That is the character of the drivers, as a result of they need to be the primary each time, and that is why we ought to be aiming for this type of goal sooner or later.
“I believe that we’re on the precise path. We’re doing the precise issues, and the joy that we deliver within the dash race may be very clear, as a result of a variety of promoters want to have them.
“So now it is a good second to see what’s the finest venue to have good motion, and in addition the perfect place to be divided within the calendar to create the precise frequency.”
The road circuit debate
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing RB19, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
One of many shifts that F1 has seen within the Liberty Media period has been in taking the sequence to the followers – which suggests extra vacation spot metropolis races.
Whereas some new additions similar to Qatar are at everlasting tracks, for different venues – like Las Vegas, Miami and Saudi Arabia – this has meant avenue circuits.
Now with Madrid and probably Bangkok coming as future additions, the character of the F1 calendar seems to be transferring away from its conventional base of everlasting venues.
Whereas there is no such thing as a escaping the very fact there are extra avenue circuits on the schedule, Domenicali doesn’t assume there are too many.
“I’d say we need to be balanced,” he mentioned. “We do not need to transfer from one aspect to the opposite aspect of the dimensions, however for us is it is essential to have good racing.
“I bear in mind one of many greatest criticisms that was on the desk earlier than the Las Vegas Grand Prix was, ‘Oh, come on, you have got a race the place there will likely be no overtaking, no drama, no motion, and so forth.’
“Really we proved that those that weren’t ready to talk till after the occasion have been completely incorrect. We had an unimaginable race.
“For certain it’s essential to respect the historic venues. However historic isn’t every part; historic is an effective base to take a position for the long run.
“We’re not anxious to search out the precise answer, to have the precise leisure, the precise fan, and everybody can have a special opinion. There are drivers who love the everlasting tracks, others who like to attempt to drive within the cities.
“As I mentioned, the precise reply, as at all times, is to be balanced. And that might be my strategy, for certain.”
Film alternatives
Craig Dolby stands in for Brad Pitt throughout a film shoot on the grid
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
Certainly one of Liberty Media’s success tales since taking on has been the impression of Netflix’s Drive to Survive in bringing a brand new viewers to F1.
Allied to opening up social media channels, it has fuelled a brand new era of followers which have helped grand prix racing’s reputation keep sky excessive after the post-COVID bounce.
But when Netflix’s impression was enormous, Domenicali thinks that the brand new F1 film – because of hit the massive screens subsequent June – will take the push to a different degree.
Requested concerning the impression that the film could have, he mentioned: “Large! I believe that if Netflix was huge, I believe that the film – and we mentioned in Hungary the plan of commercialisation and promotion – will likely be huge. We will hit a goal that isn’t but current.”
Domenicali believes that F1 will work as a result of FOM has been clear with the movie makers that boundaries needed to be pushed. It couldn’t simply be one other motor racing film tick field train.
“There was one aspect that was not negotiable: to do one thing distinctive,” added Domenicali.
“However within the context the place we can’t contact the racing itself, as a result of that is the game, with completely different cuts, with completely different parts, we’re doing a film.
“So I do imagine that you may be fascinated additionally to see the making of it, as a result of folks will realise the complexity that we’re managing and the issues which can be behind it. It’s actually spectacular.
“I do imagine that will probably be fascinating on either side, understanding that we have been capable of hold the reside sport alive. However when you are going to see the film, you are going to perceive what will probably be.”
Domenicali additionally means that a number of the digital camera angle concepts that will likely be used within the film might even be adopted by F1 itself for future onboards to spice up its personal protection of races.
“We’re growing collectively new expertise of cameras, with completely different angles of view,” added Domenicali. “So I’d say it’s a pleasant place to develop sure new expertise that we will deliver afterwards.”
Actor Brad Pitt throughout filming for an upcoming film
Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Pictures
What can’t be managed
Now into his fourth 12 months on the helm of F1, Domenicali feels he has helped push the sequence in the precise course – each for followers and his Liberty Media bosses.
“I do not need to say I, as a result of I am a staff participant,” he mentioned. “I believe that what we have been capable of do is to take F1 to a dimension that not so many individuals have been pondering that we have been capable of do.
“So the expansion that we live, the fantastic thing about what we’re speaking about, is what we ought to be actually very happy with.
“I am not watching now the worth of our capitalisation on the inventory market. That is not me. That is for our shareholders, and which we have to thank Greg [Maffei] and Liberty Media on the belief that they’ve on me, and on us.”
However equally Domenicali doesn’t see every part by way of rose-tinted glasses; and feels that there are challenges that have to be overcome.
“We’re at all times in a push mode,” he mentioned. “You might be at all times comfortable, however by no means comfortable that approach…”
And he provided a very fascinating reply, which circles again to the sustainability motivations of the 2026 rule adjustments, about subjects that hold him awake at evening – with reminiscences of Imola’s 2023 cancellation because of flooding clearly nonetheless very robust.
“I have to sleep as a result of we’re working quite a bit,” he smiled. “I am not a man that’s involved about one thing that we aren’t capable of management, as a result of that is one thing that I at all times really feel – behind an issue, there is a chance.
“There are issues that we can’t management, which can be out of our management, that would have an effect. We’re a worldwide sport.
“We all know the political atmosphere is delicate. We’ve been hit by sure issues associated to the so-called local weather change.
“I believe that if we’re capable of handle what we will management, I believe we’re in an excellent spot.”
