Latest news with #Domenicali
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
F1 eyeing reverse grids and one other major change as talks with drivers planned
Changes to the Sprint format are being eyed by Formula 1 and its chief executive Stefano Domenicali who said he wants to discuss his ideas with teams and drivers Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali wants to pitch the idea of reverse grid races. The Italian said he wants to hold talks with teams and drivers about potentially bringing in the format, which is already used in Sprint races in Formula 2 and the other FIA-sanctioned feeder series, Formula 3. The Sprint has been part of F1 for the last few years and, despite some opposition to the format, chiefs have doubled-down. There were three Sprint races in a year initially, but that total has been doubled to six meaning a quarter of the 24 events held per year now use the format. And it seems the sport is not yet done with its tinkering. According to chief executive Domenicali, the idea of introducing reverse grids for the short-form races is something that could be introduced in the coming years. The former Ferrari chief also suggested he is keen to explore the idea of further increasing the number of Sprint races held per year. "I do believe there are possibilities to extend two things, which we need to discuss, both with the drivers and the teams, and, of course, with the FIA," he told The Race. "There are: Can we apply that [Sprint schedules] with more races? And is this the right formula to have the possibility to have a reverse grid, as we are doing with F2 and F3? These are points of discussion. "I think that we are getting there to be mature to make sure that this point will be tackled seriously with the teams. The vibes to progress in this direction are definitely growing, and therefore I am ready to present and to discuss not only more sprints... but if there are new formats, new ideas." Reverse grid races have, for several years, been used at both F2 and F3 level. In the current format, every event in both feeder series features a Sprint race in which a certain number of positions are reversed from the result of qualifying. In F2, the top 10 qualifying positions are reversed for the Sprint race. That means the driver who qualifies on pole position for the main feature race, which gives out the most points, starts the Sprint 10th. In F3, because there are more cars in the field, the top 12 positions are reversed. Sky Sports launches discounted Formula 1 package This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more £43 £35 Sky Get Sky Sports here Product Description Up to now, though reverse grids have been suggested for F1 in the past, it is not a format that has been seriously considered for the top single-seater category. But Domenicali said he is keen to continue tinkering with the format in a bid to provide the best entertainment. He added: "We are open for that, because I think that is the right thing – to listen to our fans, to try to create something and not to be worried to do mistakes. The one who believes to do no mistakes doesn't do anything new."
Gulf Weekly
03-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Weekly
F1 boss expects Silverstone race to be on calendar ‘forever'
Silverstone circuit could stay on the Formula One calendar forever with no real rival to host the British Grand Prix, the sport's chief executive Stefano Domenicali said ahead of this weekend's race. The Italian told reporters he could not imagine a championship without Britain, home to seven of the 10 teams, but there was also no chance of the country having more than one race. 'I do believe that... Silverstone has the right characteristics to stay forever in the calendar,' said Domenicali, who is set to visit Downing Street with some drivers and team bosses to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer. 'There's no other places where you can develop such a huge event in the UK. I don't see any other places, to be honest.' Silverstone hosted the first world championship race in 1950 and has a contract until 2034. Last year it hosted the biggest crowd of any event on the calendar with 480,000 spectators. Miami and Austria's Red Bull Ring have the longest deals, both running to 2041, and Domenicali saw no reason why Silverstone could not join them although the circuit management had yet to seek an extension. The meeting at Downing Street is billed as an informal celebration of the 75th anniversary of the first F1 championship race at Silverstone, but it is also a chance to raise issues the sport wants addressed. Domenicali said he would highlight how much the 'F1 ecosystem' contributes to Britain as the beating heart of a global sport, and the risk of losing that primacy due to restrictions on staff and movement. Formula One figures calculate the sport brings 12 billion pounds ($16.48bn) annually to the UK economy with 6,000 people directly employed and a further 41,000 working in a supply chain of 4,500 companies. The Italian said visa issues post-Brexit had affected the deployment of staff from race to race around Europe, while costly and time-consuming paperwork had complicated logistics and made it harder to draw up the race calendar. 'It is impossible to think in the short term that the teams will move out from the UK because of this limitation but the teams will organise themselves maybe in a different way,' he warned.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
F1 chief Stefano Domenicali tells Keir Starmer what sets the UK apart: ‘The home of our sport'
Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali has revealed what sets the UK apart in the sport in a meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer ahead of Silverstone. Starmer welcomed a host of F1 personalities, including drivers Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon, Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon, to 10 Downing Street on Wednesday in celebration of the sport's 75th anniversary year. Advertisement With close to half a million set to flock to the British Grand Prix this weekend, Domenicali believes it is not simply the country's passion for motorsport that makes it so integral to F1, but also what it puts into the industry, highlighting the UK's burgeoning employment sector in F1 that is unmatched by any other. "Next year, nine of the 11 Formula 1 teams will have a base here. We have our office and technical centre here in the UK. No other country can make that claim, and we are very proud of it,' said Domenicali. "But this is not just about the presence here, it is about what we bring with fans, employees at 4,500 companies working with the sport, 41,000 jobs linked to the F1. And 25,000 highly skilled engineers. We generate over £12bn to the UK economy and help keep the country a leader in world-class innovation, technology and skills. "This country is passionate about Formula 1 motorsport, and very proud of it. Seventy-five years ago, Formula 1 started here in the UK at Silverstone in 1950. Since then, it has become a British institution with deep roots and a huge contribution to the country.' Advertisement Domenicali has run the sport since 2019 and recently agreed a new five-year deal to remain in his post. Other attendees at Downing Street included leaders of the incoming Cadillac F1 operation Graeme Lowdon and Daniel Towriss, F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff, and F1 legends Sir Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill, Martin Brundle and Jenson Button. Starmer added: "It is really great to have you and to celebrate that so many teams have chosen the UK as their base. This is pretty extraordinary - the sheer number of teams that are based here, just like the headquarters of Formula 1 itself. And next season's new teams on the grid - Cadillac, which opened a new facility at Silverstone, and Audi's building its technical centre near there as well. "So the continuation of the British stamp on the sport is absolutely there. In fact, there is only one team without a presence here, and I did wonder whether it would be too much of a diplomatic incident if I tried to lure Ferrari out of Italy, and whether it would increase our relationship or not!" The British GP is race 12 of the 2025 F1 season and will be nine-time winner Lewis Hamilton's first home race in Ferrari red.
The Herald
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald
F1 talks up Silverstone's ‘forever' future before Starmer meeting
The meeting at Downing Street is billed as an informal celebration of the 75th anniversary of the first F1 championship race at Silverstone, but is also a chance to raise issues the sport wants addressed. Domenicali said he would highlight how much the "F1 ecosystem" contributes to Britain as the beating heart of a global sport, and the risk of losing that primacy due to restrictions on staff and movement. Formula One figures calculate the sport brings £12bn (R290,826,680,000) annually to the UK economy with 6,000 people directly employed and a further 41,000 working in a supply chain of 4,500 companies. The Italian said visa issues post-Brexit had affected the deployment of staff from race to race around Europe, while costly and time-consuming paperwork had complicated logistics and made it harder to draw up the race calendar. "It is impossible to think in the short term that the teams will move out from the UK because of the limitation, but the teams will maybe organise themselves in a different way," he warned. "What we are asking is not to change the decision your country has taken, because it's not our mandate and our role, but to facilitate things that are having a burden on the economical side. "Also in terms of possibility to be, as a country, more attractive for keeping the central part of F1 in the country."
The Herald
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Herald
F1 ready with backup plan should Middle East races be cancelled
'To say something on that is difficult,' he replied when asked if he believed there was a real risk of the races not happening. 'So far, we don't have this sort of signal and we are hoping not. So I don't want to even think about it, mainly for the bigger picture and not for the racing itself, and in case of, we have a plan. But let's hope this will not be even thinkable.' Qatar and Abu Dhabi are the last two races in a triple-header on successive weekends that starts with Las Vegas on November 22 with the cars then flown straight to the Middle East. While weather conditions in December would make it tricky to host replacement races at some European tracks there are warmer options such as Portugal's Algarve circuit, which was used during the Covid-19 pandemic. 'Europe is big, the temperatures are quite mild in certain areas,' said Domenicali, who agreed one circuit might host both races. 'Definitely we cannot go in places where there will be snow. 'But I am not even thinking about that. We are not worried at all that this will have an effect on the championship.' Formula One raced in Saudi Arabia in 2022 despite attacks launched by Yemen's Houthis on an oil facility near the Jeddah street circuit. Domenicali said Formula One was there then because it was sure of the guarantees of safety but recognised situations could change fast. 'We need to be always ready and monitor the situation.'
