The contract renewal confirming Stefano Domenicali on the helm of System 1 Group for the following 5 years got here nearly by acclamation. “Crucial side for me was receiving complete belief from the management of Liberty Media. They assured me most freedom in establishing the workforce and system that can be wanted to proceed this path of progress. Personally, I used to be additionally more than happy to really feel recognition from inside the sport.”
Right here is the previous workforce principal’s full interview for Motorsport Italy:
Gathering broad consensus just isn’t one thing to be taken as a right in System 1—fairly the alternative, it’s uncommon. Every thing evolves rapidly, and simply two days after saying the contract extension with Liberty Media, Domenicali signed the brand new Concorde Settlement, the industrial platform that defines System 1’s monetary future.
“The monetary features are settled; now we have to finalize the governance half, which entails not solely the groups but additionally the FIA. That is one other key step for the long run as a result of it ensures regulatory stability. One of many issues we need to change is to have a extra strategic and fewer tactical method to the problems affecting our world of System 1, so we want the involvement of each the FIA and the groups.”
Let’s keep on with strategic selections. In current months, there’s been a lot speak about varied engine philosophies System 1 may undertake within the medium and long run. What’s your stance on the matter?
“Two years in the past, I shared (in an interview with Motorsport.com) what was my strategic imaginative and prescient for the way forward for System 1, and that’s what’s rising now. In Bahrain, we had a gathering with the FIA and all the present and future engine producers, together with GM. I believe there have been some heavy-handed makes an attempt. As a result of future discussions have been on the desk, somebody tried to suggest an extension of the present rules. That may have been completely mistaken. We have to respect those that have invested massive sums in a posh and expensive undertaking; altering the foundations now would have despatched the mistaken message. If we had referred to as the earlier selections into query (concerning energy items), it could have been an enormous mistake.”
So, full steam forward with no second ideas?
“Nothing stops us from persevering with to work to enhance the package deal. The Worldwide Federation, together with the producers and groups, can all the time consider whether or not there are features that may be improved. We’re on the eve of a historic regulatory change, and personally, I imagine it’s crucial for the entire system to simply accept the thought of permitting quicker restoration occasions for a producer if we discover a major efficiency hole. I believe this can be a subject that completely should be addressed quickly—it’s a scenario that would have an effect on anybody.”
That received’t be straightforward, given the aggressive mentality that has all the time existed in System 1…
“I believe all of us must assume strategically. Having one workforce dominate for too lengthy just isn’t good for anybody. Our sport is experiencing extraordinary progress and has develop into a reference on a global stage. We ought to be happy with this, but additionally very cautious.”
You have been there in 2009–10 throughout the nice exodus of greater than half the automobile producers concerned in System 1. Given the worldwide economic system is much from secure right this moment, do you assume that state of affairs may repeat itself?
“It could be mistaken to not think about that risk, particularly as a result of the economic system goes by means of a troublesome interval—Renault left System 1 after a few years. I need to make clear one thing: for us, main producers are important, however we’re sufficiently big to know that if a serious disaster hits the sector, massive automotive teams could possibly be pressured to make troublesome selections.”
“That’s why I imagine it’s vital for us to contemplate simplifying issues and considerably slicing prices, whereas additionally working to keep up a technical hyperlink with the event of applied sciences which are additionally helpful for street mobility—like sustainable fuels, which may complement electrical automobiles available on the market. These are selections that may assist producers stick with us or, within the occasion of a serious disaster that forces manufacturers to droop racing packages, permit us to react independently and discover various options.”
Simplification is a recurring subject, nevertheless it all the time appears a bit obscure. What precisely does it imply?
“Longtime followers—individuals round my age—must rethink their technical views on what creates efficiency and technological curiosity. It’s a elementary subject. The deal with sustainable fuels is totally proper, however then again—and I say this considerably provocatively—seeing groups make investments large sums to design and construct their very own gearboxes not makes the sense it as soon as did. The efficiency delta you may get from that’s now mainly zero.”
“It’s additionally a know-how that followers have already absorbed, it doesn’t spark curiosity anymore. I believe it’s crucial to establish the areas the place we will speak about know-how as leisure. What was related previously is way much less so right this moment and is not sufficient to persuade a producer to spend money on our sport. We have to face this subject and have the braveness to simply accept that many issues have advanced.”
From mid-2024 onward, there’s been quite a lot of speak about versatile wings, with technical controversies returning.
“I’ve skilled loads of these firsthand—I keep in mind the case involving us (after I was Ferrari’s sporting director) in Malaysia in 1999, in addition to the double diffuser, the ‘frick,’ the mass damper, the F-duct… these tales have all the time been a part of System 1. I used to be virtually concerned each Sunday in dealing with regulatory technical and sporting points. I can say that years in the past, there have been a lot wider gray areas than right this moment, however there nonetheless stays nice mental capability amongst these working in System 1 to push every thing to the restrict. Personally, I really feel right this moment’s technical controversies are actually minor in comparison with the previous. In reality, I’d like to see a bit extra dialogue—they’re the spice of this sport.”
Has the Las Vegas mannequin, which you believed in and invested closely in, delivered what you anticipated—or, as some insiders declare, has it not been a terrific deal?
“It’s an enormous success, however as all the time with new initiatives, you’ll be able to’t anticipate to recoup your funding in a really quick time. If we decide the occasion itself—what Las Vegas has been and is for System 1—we’re undoubtedly taking a look at a hit. Past the media consideration and visibility, it has allowed us to strike industrial offers that might have been a lot more durable with out Las Vegas.”
Is it a showcase for the ‘System 1 system’?
“Completely. And I’ve no drawback confirming that the occasion’s prices for the Las Vegas neighborhood are very excessive. Beginning this yr, the Las Vegas Grand Prix is beneath our direct central administration—the working group for the GP now studies on to us, so we’ve revised the organizational construction to hurry up funding restoration. We need to contain native buyers extra. The financial influence of the Las Vegas weekend has, for 2 consecutive years, been very important—even better than the Tremendous Bowl. We’ve assured main monetary advantages to the neighborhood. We have to hold investing and believing in it. Let’s not neglect that whereas we’ve made nice progress just lately within the U.S. market, there’s nonetheless large room for progress. We have to increase consciousness much more.”
Is Africa on maintain?
“That’s not the suitable phrase. Earlier than we transfer ahead in that route, we want ensures in three areas. First, the investments should profit the area people, not simply because System 1 is there but additionally for the host nation’s economic system as an entire. Second, infrastructure: it’s not sufficient to have a observe; we additionally want inns, roads, airports, every thing. Third, there should be an financial basis able to supporting the occasion within the medium and long run. We’re not on standby—we’re nonetheless working to evaluate what’s lacking earlier than we will say, okay, let’s go. However we’re not there but.”
What has Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari dropped at System 1?
“Seeing it from the attitude of an Italian dwelling overseas, the curiosity it has generated has been huge—it’s given System 1 nice visibility. Then, in fact, this can be a sport, and curiosity can also be pushed by outcomes, and that takes time. Lewis spent a few years at Mercedes, creating interpersonal dynamics and technical understanding of the automobile that will not translate on to Ferrari. It takes some calm when altering environments fully. He received the dash race in China, however all it takes is one much less good weekend and opinions shift once more. We must be a bit extra cautious. In Japan, a McLaren one-two was taken as a right. In Bahrain, everybody anticipated a boring race, and in each instances, that didn’t occur—persons are too fast to evaluate.”
Talking of the Japanese GP, some discovered it very boring, whereas others praised the depth of a race unaffected by tire degradation, the place drivers may push from begin to end.
“We’ll by no means make everybody joyful. The Suzuka race was very intense. For followers who additionally learn the timing screens, it was a rare race. However there have been no overtakes, and I perceive that for a lot of followers, that’s probably the most thrilling a part of racing—it’s pure that individuals need extra on-track motion. That’s why we pushed for obligatory two-stop methods within the Monaco GP and requested Pirelli to retain a tire that degrades.”
Is a compromise between degradation and race depth doable?
“We’ve two fan bases. Some know every thing in regards to the sport, and others are newer and don’t have a deep System 1 tradition. I believe it’s as much as us to elucidate our sport higher—it might sound trivial and it’s not straightforward, however many features must be defined. After all, on-track motion stays probably the most charming component.”
System 1 has reinvented itself with a brand new era of drivers. Do you agree {that a} extremely proficient group has emerged?
“Sure. I believe we’re witnessing one thing distinctive. I’m more than happy as a result of it reveals the feeder collection are working nicely—it’s nice information for our sport. I additionally assume these younger drivers ought to be protected. I believed it was proper to provide Hadjar an encouraging message in Melbourne, and we’ve seen what he’s able to. I additionally assume it’s vital to help Lawson after his robust season begin—we have to humanize these younger males.”
“Kimi is doing very nicely—he’s 18 years outdated, let’s not neglect that—and I’m proud of how Mercedes is supporting and defending him. It’s good to see he’s staying grounded, nonetheless very a lot a younger man who desires his household by his facet for his System 1 debut.”
In the long run, System 1 has welcomed an eleventh workforce…
“The Cadillac undertaking will assist us make a good better influence on the American market. The discussions we had advanced—the second proposal we obtained was a lot stronger than the primary. Now it’s as much as the undertaking to show itself, select two good drivers, and transfer ahead. The arrival of such a serious model will profit the entire system—for instance, it may open the door to extra races in america.”
However will the variety of Grands Prix all the time stay 24, or may it enhance?
“I affirm—it can keep at a most of 24.”
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