F1 boss issues verdict on start of 2026 season, ba...

Method 1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali is assured the world championship will make the required changes to enhance the 2026 laws however insists F1 is heading in the right direction amid rising worldwide curiosity.

F1 overhauled its technical laws for 2026 with a a lot greater reliance on electrical power, that includes a close to 50-50 cut up between the inner combustion engine and a bigger hybrid component. It has additionally launched superior sustainable fuels, whereas including lively aerodynamics and slashing downforce on the smaller and lighter vehicles.

The tip result’s a compromise which is essentially dictated by the brand new power administration necessities and has delivered a pointy enhance in overtaking over F1 2026’s first three grands prix. However the guidelines have additionally led to issues from drivers and diehard followers over a dilution of qualifying, with drivers having to make use of lift-and-coast and again off in F1’s quickest corners to recharge the battery a number of instances per lap. There have additionally been issues over the rising closing speeds between vehicles, which have already led to a high-speed accident by Haas driver Oliver Bearman in Japan.

F1 stakeholders, together with the groups, governing physique the FIA and energy unit representatives, are presently holding a sequence of conferences to give you short-term rule tweaks that might allay the most important issues as quickly as subsequent month’s Miami Grand Prix.

Talking solely to Motorsport in London, Domenicali stated he was assured F1 would make the fitting changes, however he additionally insisted it has the fitting foundations in place to make the brand new guidelines a hit, and claimed fan analysis confirmed the curiosity within the championship is at an all-time excessive.

“I can see an unbelievable consequence when it comes to positivity from the larger fan base on what’s the impact on the racing,” Domenicali stated. “Undoubtedly, I tackle board the criticism associated to sure conditions that we now have to handle associated primarily to qualifying.

“Qualifying has been at all times the place the place the motive force has to push as a lot as you may, and to see the place the bodily limits of the automotive and the motive force actually are. That is an space the place we’re working in these weeks, along with the drivers, along with the groups, coordinated by the FIA to see what the fitting adjustment might be with out shedding the fitting [track].

“We’re managing it in the fitting approach, with no panic, with a stable basis, being able to have completely different choices.”

F1’s largest laws shift in generations was pushed by the necessity to retain present producers and appeal to newcomers, with the likes of Audi, Ford and Basic Motors all getting concerned to various levels whereas Honda carried out a U-turn on its earlier resolution to stroll away. With Renault having not too long ago pulled out as an engine producer, there had been fears that not heeding the trade’s calls would have led to simply Ferrari and Mercedes remaining on board.

“I believe it is crucial to recollect why we modified the laws as an ecosystem,” Domenicali defined. “5 years in the past, the producers thought that the one approach to progress in being concerned in motorsport was to be 50-50 or looking for the fitting steadiness between the inner combustion engine and electrification. That was a place to begin.

“The laws undoubtedly must be improved, as at all times when there’s something that’s completely new, as a result of that step change has by no means been so huge. However that was the rationale.”

Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Workforce, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Photograph by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures

The automotive trade at massive has since began re-evaluating its aggressive pivot in the direction of EVs, with Domenicali anticipating upcoming discussions across the subsequent guidelines cycle in 5 years’ time to look “undoubtedly completely different”. The arrival of sustainable fuels might open the door for a return to V8 engines with a smaller hybrid element.

Within the meantime, F1 is eager to respect the investments made by the present producers, whereas additionally safeguarding the DNA of the sequence and discovering a steadiness between preserving its various fan teams engaged and preserving its drivers on board.

Whereas a subset of followers has expressed vocal criticism on the principles, partly steered by adverse driver suggestions, F1’s personal metrics have additionally seen an uptick in curiosity. The 2026 season’s first three sold-out races in Australia, China and Japan all grew in attendance, whereas F1 says TV viewership in its largest markets can be up yr on yr by a median of 25%.

“If I see the survey of what’s [going on] all world wide with new followers of Method 1, the result’s magnificent. All people is saying: ‘What’s going on?’ Numerous motion, and that is what individuals need to see,” Domenicali stated.

That is why the Italian is backing a relaxed, constructive dialogue on how you can enhance F1’s product, saying individuals who criticise F1 for the sake of it should have “zero impact”.

“Usually talking, after we’re speaking about one thing it is nice, as a result of that generates a constructive dialogue,” he stated. “What I do not like is individuals who like to criticise. Criticising to criticise would not assist anybody, and it has actually zero impact.

Stefano Domenicali, CEO of the Method One Group

Photograph by: Dom Gibbons / Method 1 by way of Getty Pictures

“I believe the discussions which have been in place since many months with the FIA, with the groups, now much more with the drivers, are getting in the fitting course. There are conferences now, truly this week, and likewise subsequent week earlier than Miami, to see what might be completed to enhance or to regulate the scenario.

“Hopefully, earlier than Miami, the FIA will inform [us] what can be the adjustment that will be completed for 2 concerns. First is qualifying, attempting to be as a lot as you may on full energy or full braking, no matter it’s. And then again, in fact, to guarantee that sure issues that drivers spotlight will probably be fastened in the fitting approach.”

Domenicali would not see the battery-related enhance in overtaking as synthetic, drawing parallels with the intensive lifting and coasting required in F1’s turbo period within the 80s as drivers battled to make it to the end with out operating out of gasoline. F1 additionally had the DRS overtaking help till final yr, which was initially deemed synthetic however helped the sequence boost the motion whereas vehicles in any other case struggled to comply with one another carefully.

“What’s synthetic? Overtaking is overtaking,” he burdened. “Folks have a brief reminiscence, as a result of within the turbo age within the 80s, you [had] to avoid wasting [fuel] within the race as a result of in any other case the gasoline tank was too small. And it is a part of the sport.”

“So, as I stated, [you have to] tackle board all the pieces, however have an actual [direction] of what you need to do for the long run.”

We would like your opinion!

– The Motorsport.com Workforce