Domenicali confident that ‘action and sporting drama’ will continue in F1 as he looks ahead to sport’s future

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali believes that the increasingly competitive field that has developed during the 2024 season will continue into next year, while the Italian has also given his take on the importance of the new 2026 regulations.

Max Verstappen and Red Bull looked to be a powerful force during the opening races of the campaign, but the pack has closed in throughout the season so far and fans have been treated to some thrilling races. This has seen a total of seven drivers take a victory, while McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes are all chasing in the constructors’ battle.

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Referring back to his belief at the start of the season that the championship would not be dominated by one driver, Domenicali told Motorsport.com: “I'm very pleased to say what I said at the beginning of the year is exactly what is happening, when everyone was believing that I was saying that for political reasons.

“This will for sure continue until the end of 2025. This element of sporting action, and sporting drama, is definitely there.”

Amidst all the action on track, most in the sport are also mindful of preparing for 2026 when a range of new regulations will be introduced. This generation will feature lighter cars, new power unit rules, active aerodynamics, increased overtaking opportunities and improved safety.

In light of any concerns about how such changes could influence the level of competition, Domenicali has explained why the developments are “crucial”.

“There are always reasons why we are changing,” he commented. “First of all, because we need to be ahead of what we are doing.

“And this [2026] technical regulation was, at that specific moment that the decision was taken, related to a need for manufacturers to be involved in F1, with a different kind of technology that would need to be used. I do believe that is really fundamental and crucial.

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“Plus, the fact that now we have sustainable fuel at the centre of this technical project will speed up the process of making sure that this new technology will be available for the mobility world quicker. It will develop a drop-in fuel with a lower price that will be beneficial to the market around the world. That I'm pretty convinced.

“As you know today, the price [of sustainable fuel] is much higher, but F1 has been always very good in speeding up the process and helping technology to go in the right direction. So that's really what I'm expecting, and I'm sure that everyone will work in this direction.”

While Formula 1 has often undergone regulation changes every few years, Domenicali acknowledges that this cycle may not necessarily continue depending on the needs of the sport.

“This is a point of: is really now the time to do in 2030 another step change?” the former Ferrari Team Principal said. “We are not in a position to answer today, because we need to wait and see how this new technology will come in and how this will be developed.

“Therefore, there will be a point at which we need to discuss about it, and we need to understand if the need of the manufacturers, the need of teams and the need of the engineering, is definitely there as it was when there was the need to change the regulation.

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“The need for change normally is put on the table for two reasons. One is because we are the pinnacle of motorsport, and we are endorsing the top level of technology.

“The second in the past was that, because it was pretty clear: the objective was stopping a dominance period of cars. I remember when we were dressed in different colours [at Ferrari], so that's part of the game.

“But now with the new elements of regulation, budget cap and aerodynamics restriction, I think that this point is not anymore on the table of discussion.

“So the real thing is technological challenge in the future. Is it relevant that the change will be in such a short time cycle of five years? That will be the point of discussion for the future.”