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‘F1 has no problems’ – F1 chief’s firm defence against 2026 rules backlash
F1 boss Stefano Domenicali responds to criticism about the 2026 rules.
Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali has launched a firm defence against backlash at the new 2026 rules.
During the unplanned April break, F1 announced a raft of rule tweaks that will debut at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix in the hope of improving the 2026 engine regulation set and addressing driver safety concerns.
The 2026 rules have divided opinion among drivers and fans and left four-time world champion Max Verstappen considering his future due to his dissatisfaction at the direction F1 has gone in.
Speaking in an interview with The Race, F1 chief Domenicali rejected the notion that the world championship has issues.
Asked whether the revised rules will fix all the current problems or whether further changes will be required, Domenicali responded: “I think this is not a problem of resolving the problem of Formula 1. Formula 1 has not any problems, Formula 1 is in great shape, just to make sure that is clear to everyone.
“And the vast majority of fans have been, since the beginning, very positive [about] what they see in terms of race action. You [the media] are the experts on this matter. But we are getting sometimes too philosophical or too technical in things that the vast majority of people do not perceive.
“So I do believe that this focus will stay in the right forum, because it’s the nature of F1 to discuss and be able to improve. But it shouldn’t be at the centre of the focus for the vast majority of fans.
“It is the nature of someone who wants to protect the business to react if they see that there are things that need to be taken in a different direction. The approach will not change, but I think that the focus should now be really on what has to be done.
“If you’re asking me also, if this will be enough to answer other questions that were posed before. Maybe yes, maybe no. I don’t know. I don’t have that answer.
“For sure, there will be a focus within the teams, the drivers, and the FIA, who is the one that has to coordinate everything, that has that responsibility as a regulator, to think, what could happen in the next couple of years?”
Fan backlash dismissed
Domenicali was also quick to dismiss the idea that fans are not happy with the product.
“It’s very simple. You check it. Sold out every race. First things that everyone with their eyes can see. It is amazing,” Domenicali said of how fans have reacted to the rules.
When it was put to him that tickets were sold before the season began, Domenicali replied: “No, no, no. Even now, so far is all good. So I don’t see this negativity. We have data that our people can give you in terms of real numbers. It is all positive.
“You are getting too [into the] engineer [mindset], and that’s why sometimes we miss the spot of: people want to have action, want to see things that are creating the right place to fight for something.
“So personally, if there is something that I would say, ‘it is negative’. I would say I have no problem to say that. We’re always listening. You know me very well, so I’m listening. But someone has to take the decision. I mean, we are not here that we can offer only one product.
“I was fascinated by some comments that came the other day when they say, ‘ah there is a lot of attention now on GT’. Yes. Max Verstappen is an F1 driver there. Put a lot of eyes there. Kimi Antonelli. Who is he racing for? Formula 1. He went to Imola [to wave the starting flag at the World Endurance Championship season opener]. And it was everyone talking about Kimi Antonelli, with all due respect.
“So F1 is still a bright light that is inspiring a lot of fans, a lot of people. Look at the bigger trajectory. Look at the bigger picture. Therefore, I would say in that respect, I’m really looking forward to seeing how this championship will finish, because there will be a lot of action on the track.
“[It] will be fascinating for you to explain, because the success of F1 is thanks to what you’re doing together with us, because without your voice explaining what is behind the scenes, what is actually so fascinating, it will not be possible.
“So even for us, we have the duty to explain that in a very positive way, because otherwise we will shoot ourselves in the foot, that this doesn’t make any sense. But that is not the defensive position.”
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F1 boss Stefano Domenicali responds to criticism about the 2026 rules.
Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali has launched a firm defence against backlash at the new 2026 rules.
During the unplanned April break, F1 announced a raft of rule tweaks that will debut at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix in the hope of improving the 2026 engine regulation set and addressing driver safety concerns.
The 2026 rules have divided opinion among drivers and fans and left four-time world champion Max Verstappen considering his future due to his dissatisfaction at the direction F1 has gone in.
Speaking in an interview with The Race, F1 chief Domenicali rejected the notion that the world championship has issues.
Asked whether the revised rules will fix all the current problems or whether further changes will be required, Domenicali responded: “I think this is not a problem of resolving the problem of Formula 1. Formula 1 has not any problems, Formula 1 is in great shape, just to make sure that is clear to everyone.
“And the vast majority of fans have been, since the beginning, very positive [about] what they see in terms of race action. You [the media] are the experts on this matter. But we are getting sometimes too philosophical or too technical in things that the vast majority of people do not perceive.
“So I do believe that this focus will stay in the right forum, because it’s the nature of F1 to discuss and be able to improve. But it shouldn’t be at the centre of the focus for the vast majority of fans.
“It is the nature of someone who wants to protect the business to react if they see that there are things that need to be taken in a different direction. The approach will not change, but I think that the focus should now be really on what has to be done.
“If you’re asking me also, if this will be enough to answer other questions that were posed before. Maybe yes, maybe no. I don’t know. I don’t have that answer.
“For sure, there will be a focus within the teams, the drivers, and the FIA, who is the one that has to coordinate everything, that has that responsibility as a regulator, to think, what could happen in the next couple of years?”
Fan backlash dismissed
Domenicali was also quick to dismiss the idea that fans are not happy with the product.
“It’s very simple. You check it. Sold out every race. First things that everyone with their eyes can see. It is amazing,” Domenicali said of how fans have reacted to the rules.
When it was put to him that tickets were sold before the season began, Domenicali replied: “No, no, no. Even now, so far is all good. So I don’t see this negativity. We have data that our people can give you in terms of real numbers. It is all positive.
“You are getting too [into the] engineer [mindset], and that’s why sometimes we miss the spot of: people want to have action, want to see things that are creating the right place to fight for something.
“So personally, if there is something that I would say, ‘it is negative’. I would say I have no problem to say that. We’re always listening. You know me very well, so I’m listening. But someone has to take the decision. I mean, we are not here that we can offer only one product.
“I was fascinated by some comments that came the other day when they say, ‘ah there is a lot of attention now on GT’. Yes. Max Verstappen is an F1 driver there. Put a lot of eyes there. Kimi Antonelli. Who is he racing for? Formula 1. He went to Imola [to wave the starting flag at the World Endurance Championship season opener]. And it was everyone talking about Kimi Antonelli, with all due respect.
“So F1 is still a bright light that is inspiring a lot of fans, a lot of people. Look at the bigger trajectory. Look at the bigger picture. Therefore, I would say in that respect, I’m really looking forward to seeing how this championship will finish, because there will be a lot of action on the track.
“[It] will be fascinating for you to explain, because the success of F1 is thanks to what you’re doing together with us, because without your voice explaining what is behind the scenes, what is actually so fascinating, it will not be possible.
“So even for us, we have the duty to explain that in a very positive way, because otherwise we will shoot ourselves in the foot, that this doesn’t make any sense. But that is not the defensive position.”
Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali has launched a firm defence against backlash at the new 2026 rules.
During the unplanned April break, F1 announced a raft of rule tweaks that will debut at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix in the hope of improving the 2026 engine regulation set and addressing driver safety concerns.
The 2026 rules have divided opinion among drivers and fans and left four-time world champion Max Verstappen considering his future due to his dissatisfaction at the direction F1 has gone in.
Speaking in an interview with The Race, F1 chief Domenicali rejected the notion that the world championship has issues.
Asked whether the revised rules will fix all the current problems or whether further changes will be required, Domenicali responded: “I think this is not a problem of resolving the problem of Formula 1. Formula 1 has not any problems, Formula 1 is in great shape, just to make sure that is clear to everyone.
“And the vast majority of fans have been, since the beginning, very positive [about] what they see in terms of race action. You [the media] are the experts on this matter. But we are getting sometimes too philosophical or too technical in things that the vast majority of people do not perceive.
“So I do believe that this focus will stay in the right forum, because it’s the nature of F1 to discuss and be able to improve. But it shouldn’t be at the centre of the focus for the vast majority of fans.
“It is the nature of someone who wants to protect the business to react if they see that there are things that need to be taken in a different direction. The approach will not change, but I think that the focus should now be really on what has to be done.
“If you’re asking me also, if this will be enough to answer other questions that were posed before. Maybe yes, maybe no. I don’t know. I don’t have that answer.
“For sure, there will be a focus within the teams, the drivers, and the FIA, who is the one that has to coordinate everything, that has that responsibility as a regulator, to think, what could happen in the next couple of years?”
Fan backlash dismissed
Domenicali was also quick to dismiss the idea that fans are not happy with the product.
“It’s very simple. You check it. Sold out every race. First things that everyone with their eyes can see. It is amazing,” Domenicali said of how fans have reacted to the rules.
When it was put to him that tickets were sold before the season began, Domenicali replied: “No, no, no. Even now, so far is all good. So I don’t see this negativity. We have data that our people can give you in terms of real numbers. It is all positive.
“You are getting too [into the] engineer [mindset], and that’s why sometimes we miss the spot of: people want to have action, want to see things that are creating the right place to fight for something.
“So personally, if there is something that I would say, ‘it is negative’. I would say I have no problem to say that. We’re always listening. You know me very well, so I’m listening. But someone has to take the decision. I mean, we are not here that we can offer only one product.
“I was fascinated by some comments that came the other day when they say, ‘ah there is a lot of attention now on GT’. Yes. Max Verstappen is an F1 driver there. Put a lot of eyes there. Kimi Antonelli. Who is he racing for? Formula 1. He went to Imola [to wave the starting flag at the World Endurance Championship season opener]. And it was everyone talking about Kimi Antonelli, with all due respect.
“So F1 is still a bright light that is inspiring a lot of fans, a lot of people. Look at the bigger trajectory. Look at the bigger picture. Therefore, I would say in that respect, I’m really looking forward to seeing how this championship will finish, because there will be a lot of action on the track.
“[It] will be fascinating for you to explain, because the success of F1 is thanks to what you’re doing together with us, because without your voice explaining what is behind the scenes, what is actually so fascinating, it will not be possible.
“So even for us, we have the duty to explain that in a very positive way, because otherwise we will shoot ourselves in the foot, that this doesn’t make any sense. But that is not the defensive position.”
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