'People are loving it': F1 chief Stefano Domenicali defends regulations
Stefano Domenicali said 'People are loving it' as he rejected criticism aimed at Formula One’s current rules, arguing that most supporters are enjoying the sport. He also confirmed the season finale would be staged in Europe if the last two grands prix, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, are called off due to the Middle East war.
Domenicali, Formula One’s chief executive, responded forcefully to those who have voiced concerns about recent regulatory changes, insisting the wider audience remains engaged. He told critics that the majority of fans are more satisfied with the product than they have been in recent seasons and noted that driver complaints are not reflecting the public mood. The chief executive has also suggested that the technical arguments advanced by some insiders do not dominate fan interest.
Addressing the debate over the regulations, Domenicali portrayed the criticism as coming primarily from within the sport rather than from spectators. He emphasised that spectator enjoyment is the ultimate gauge of success for the series and that the governing team pays close attention to that metric. His remarks sought to reframe the conversation away from the technical minutiae and toward the overall entertainment value of races.
On the matter of the calendar, Domenicali was clear about contingency planning amid regional instability. He confirmed that, should the final two grands prix in Qatar and Abu Dhabi be called off due to the Middle East war, the decisive round of the championship would be relocated to a European venue. That position reflects the organisation's preparedness to alter logistics in response to external events while preserving the integrity of the season.
The chief executive’s intervention underscored a separation between the perspectives of drivers or technical critics and the assessments coming from fan feedback. Domenicali argued that supporters are principally focused on the racing and spectacle rather than the underlying technical debates that occupy some participants. His comments were framed to reassure stakeholders that spectator satisfaction remains central to decision-making.
Domenicali’s defence of the rules and his confirmation of a European contingency for the finale synthesise two priorities for Formula One: maintaining fan engagement and ensuring the championship can conclude safely amid geopolitical uncertainty. The statements set out the organisation’s stance while leaving unresolved how dissent within the sport will be addressed in future discussions.
His remarks leave clear that F1 leadership views fan reaction as the primary barometer of the regulations’ success, and that calendar flexibility will be used if required by circumstances in the Middle East.