Stefano Domenicali is feeling “totally positive” that the 2026 season will be an “incredible year”, with the President and CEO of Formula 1 explaining that there will be an opportunity to “learn” from the new regulations.
A rules reset has come into effect for the new campaign that will see sweeping changes to the cars alongside overhauled power unit regulations, meaning that the teams and drivers have been getting to grips with the latest generation of machines at the Barcelona Shakedown and pre-season testing in Bahrain.
While there has been much discussion about the new regulations, Domenicali explained to media during the second test in Bahrain that a key point to remember is “the fastest will always win”, as he added that “we don’t have to forget the genesis of this new regulation”.
“I want to say to our fans that it is an incredible spectacle, because I was just on the track to see outside with a fan eye,” said Domenicali. “I didn’t see any difference with [the] speed [and] sound.
“If there is anything that has to be addressed – with the FIA co-ordinating group, because that’s their duty – I have to say we have an incredible F1 Commission where there was a very open discussion to tackle what could be the points that need to be addressed to improve even better the show, understanding the more complex way to run the car internally from the driver point of view.
“But outside, and from the eye of the fan, this will not be seen. Therefore, I’m totally positive to say that it will be another incredible year, and that’s really what I can say. I don’t feel this anxiety.”
Reflecting on how past regulation changes first played out in F1 history, Domenicali continued: “We need to stay calm because, as always when there is something happening as a new regulation, there is always the doubt that everything is wrong.
“I remember in 2014, I remember in 2020, I remember in 2021. As always, F1 as a system has always been proving that the technical solution will have always helped the team to be fast and the drivers to be the best, so I’m totally positive for that.”
Domenicali went on to explain how learnings can be taken from the new set of regulations, and stressed that there will be improvements made if needed.
“In Melbourne everyone will be focused to win the race, and that’s the focus that has to be remembered,” he said. “The first will always be the fastest or luckiest or whatever it is. Nothing will be different from the past in that respect, and the evolution of the possibility to learn even more in this new set of regulations, I think is an incredible opportunity.
“That has always been, in my opinion, the greatest difference between other sports. F1 has been always a place where everyone can show that they are the best in all conditions – drivers, engineers, mechanics, all the system. Of course if there will be something to react [to], we’re going to react.
“But I don’t start with this panic – I’m starting with a great energy, and the energy is given by the fact we have a lot of fans that have already booked tickets, a lot of fans that are following, a lot of fans that are curious to understand.
“Of course, the debate is part of the nature not only about our sport, which is one of the most mature in that respect, but is part of what we are living today. There is a building up of an incredible season where a lot of people have different opinions, but as always, when we’re going to start the first race in Australia, we’re going to see the truth for that race because I think that is true.
“So far with the possibility that we can see, from track to track [it] will give different situations to understand, so I wouldn’t at all make a final conclusion after the Australia race, whatever it will be, because it would be very, very premature – believe me on that.”
