“Our traditional fans have a voice and we must listen to them,” he says. “But the world is changing and it is up to us to recognize that and react to it.
“It’s not any more only about racing. Today we want to have people come here, to have a fun experience. Of course, the focus is still on the racing – good racing otherwise they won’t come back – but then afterwards have the chance to stay connected, to do something more.”
As he seeks to raise standards across the board, Domenicali has not been afraid to play chickens with races such as Spa and Monaco, forcing them to up their game so as not to be left behind.
“As for the people saying ‘Historic grand prix, historic grand prix’, again I don’t want to be disrespectful to anyone… but there were places that were stuck in the past. Now they understand that if they don’t [move with the times], the law of competition means they will lose their race. No exceptions.”
We are nearly back at the pits. A few fans stop him to ask Domenicali for selfies. Of course he is happy to oblige.
He allows that F1 has much it can improve on; that last year’s Abu Dhabi finale was a disaster which shook many fans’ belief in the sport’s governance; that the ongoing budget cap row paints F1 in a bad light; that fans cannot be waiting hours for confirmed race results or final grid orders.
But he sees those issues as separate to the sport’s health as a whole which he believes is thriving. He has little time for those saying 24 races next season is too many (“We need to keep perspective. We are all privileged to do what we do.”), or that F1 is too in thrall to Netflix.
“Netflix didn’t change the racing on the track,” he says. “Social media didn’t change the racing. Post-race concerts didn’t change the racing.
“Believe me if the system was false, I wouldn’t be here. I used to run a team. If I had had any doubts back when I was running Ferrari, that we lost some races or championships because there was something against us… I would have walked.
As long as the racing is fair, and exciting – and I think it is – then I don’t see the problem with trying to maximize everything around it. I think the two things are totally separate, no?”
Ultimately, he says, he is satisfied that the sport is on the right path.
“Of course there are things we can do better,” he says when asked about recent issues such as the safety vehicle at Suzuka, or the budget cap row. “I think it would not be correct on my side to point fingers, but I take your point. Everyone of us needs to make sure we are at our best.
“But I want to focus on the bigger picture. I have to say that at this moment, I feel really positive. I believe there is a lot of trust in me; from all the teams, and all the drivers, on what we are doing. We are in a good place.”
