Formula One continues to evolve at breakneck pace, with CEO Stefano Domenicali juggling an agenda that spans Sprint races, the post-2026 regulations, and the pressure to keep historic circuits like Monza competitive. Speaking with the Italian press, Domenicali sets out his vision for the sport’s next decade, touching on everything from inverted grids to Africa’s bid to host a race.
Sprints are one of the hottest topics. Once divisive, the format now enjoys broad support from promoters, fans and even the drivers. “For the future it will be necessary to understand how to manage the theme of Sprints, whether to increase them, how to do it and whether to evaluate different formulas,” Domenicali said. “Except for us long-time fans, everyone wants Sprints. All promoters would like them and are willing to pay for them. Even the pilots now ask us to do them.”
Where once the grid voted 18 against, 2 in favour, Domenicali revealed the ratio has now flipped. “We talked about it during the dinner in Austria and everyone said that organising more Sprint events each year would be perfect. They are changing their minds. In the end, the drivers were born to race.”
Support now for inverse F1 grids
Its not just more Sprint weekends that’s on Deomenicali’s agenda for the Monza meeting but also the much debated inverse grid. “At first they thought it was nonsense, but in the last meeting they said ‘why not try it?’” Domenicali said. “It is something that in F2 and F3 has been standard for decades. It is an issue where I don’t believe there are right or wrong positions.”
With much fear and trepidation surrounding the new 2026 power units, Domenicali wants to shift the gaze of the sport to the next generation of F1 power units. F1’s CEO has already spoken about the excessive hybridisation which in part has made F1 cars heavy, complex and unwieldy.
“We want cars with weights and dimensions that return to the principles of the Formulas, agile and light machines,” he said. Simplifying engines could cut costs, attract more manufacturers, and reduce dependence on the fortunes of the automotive industry. “One of the attentions for the future will be the reduction of team management costs… It is important that motorsport has the opportunity to be as independent as possible from any other crisis that could affect manufacturers.”
“Learn from history” says F1 CEO
Before the hybrid era, manufacturers like Toyota, Honda and BMW all walked out o the sport, due to global economic headwinds and financial difficulties with their road car building programmes.
“However, we must also learn from history,” Domenicali warned. “We must develop a technological project that on one hand is very interesting for manufacturers, but on the other, in the event of an extraordinary crisis, allows us to have an alternative — let’s say an F1 branded engine — a plan that allows us to react.”
This is an interesting departure from Stefano’s previous comments. It seems he’s almost suggesting having a new F1 engine agreed and good to go at maybe a relatively short notice period. Domenicali again pressed Monza to complete urgent infrastructure work if it is to keep its place. “We are facing a situation in which the ACI has the possibility to invest in a single Grand Prix,” he said. “After the tunnels and underpasses, now we need work for the public who comes to the Grand Prix. The pressure from other circuits is increasing, even in Europe. It is right that Monza reacts.”
F1’s CEO says new engine cycle to be agreed in Monza
’12th team unlikely’ says Domenicali
Zandvoort itself will fall off the calendar after 2026, but demand for slots remains high. Portugal, Turkey and Hockenheim have all expressed interest in joining the rotation, while Rwanda and Morocco continue to develop ambitious long-term projects. “Africa is a medium-long-term issue,” Domenicali said, noting Rwanda has a circuit plan and a new international airport under construction, but emphasising infrastructure and commercial guarantees are essential.
On the teams’ side, Cadillac’s entry was green lit only after General Motors committed significant long-term investment. “At the moment Andretti had presented the first project, we had expressed a negative opinion because we did not see substance behind it. Now the project has totally changed, with a ten-year plan, so we said yes.” A 12th team remains theoretically possible, but Domenicali urged caution. “Unless there is another leap of great relevance, I believe we are already at the limit. Instead, I see a great interest from funds and investors in acquiring current franchises. The value of a team today is growing exponentially.”
So there you have it: Formula One’s future as told by Stefano Domenicali — more Sprints, maybe inverted grids, lighter cars, simpler engines, and Monza told to hurry up with its plumbing. In other words, everything’s on the table, provided someone else pays the bill.
F1 travelling from its ‘purist roots’
The irony is that while Domenicali lectures about “lighter, more agile” cars, the sport remains weighed down by its own contradictions: hybrid systems too complex for the engineers who built them, calendars too bloated for teams to manage, and circuits too slow to renovate compared to new-build wonders in far-flung places.
Sprints are the perfect example. Once derided, now universally “loved” — not coincidentally at the precise moment promoters realised they could charge more and broadcasters discovered Friday ratings. As for inverted grids, the very idea that Formula One is even considering copying Formula 2 shows just how far the sport has travelled from its purist roots.
And then there’s Monza, still the Temple of Speed, still in need of toilets that work. Domenicali’s message is clear: nostalgia doesn’t pour concrete. Budapest completely renovated in a year, so why not Monza? For all the talk of Africa, America and Asia, the irony remains that the survival of Italy’s Grand Prix will hinge on how fast builders can lay new tarmac and fit modern grandstands.
‘Tragedy in Red’ – Schumacher tears into Hamilton
Ferrari are having a Formula One season to forget. There have been few highs other than Lewis Hamilton’s victory in the Shanghai Sprint, although as is often the case for the Scuderia the lows are deep and right around the corner.
The team brought upgrades to the Hungarian Grand Prix and the paddock was abuzz that Ferrari was back – again. Charles Leclerc took a tremendous pole position from the two McLarens and his race pace was strong as he easily kept the McLaren duo behind for the first two stints of the Grand Prix.
Then in true Ferrari fashion, they threw it all away at the final stop for tyres. The team were concerned about the plank wear as the car had been visibility striking the ground at several locations around the track. So they pumped up Leclerc’s tyres by a few PSI to raise the car, but it cost Charles around half a second a lap in time and his race was run….. READ MORE
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Sprints are useless. No-one dares to try anything because if they crash the car they’re out of the main race. So they’re processions, of no interest to anybody. The only thing that might spice them up would be to have them AFTER the main race, maybe with reverse grids or something loony like that. But the teams would need B cars to take part in them. Come to think of it, B cars would solve the problem even if the sprint was earlier in the weekend, but it would be costly of course. Last years’ cars ? Wouldn’t it be embarassing if they were quicker than this years !