Formula 1’s commercial strength means the scrutiny surrounding its 2026 regulations carries none of the existential weight that might have defined previous regulatory cycles, according to President and Chief Executive Officer Stefano Domenicali.
The new rules have prompted sustained debate since the opening race in Australia, with drivers, teams and fans divided over energy management, qualifying format and safety.
That level of friction so early in a regulatory era would once have raised serious questions about the direction of the sport.
Domenicali is clear that the current moment is different – and that the sport’s position coming into the 2026 era is the reason why.
“The status of the championship, the status of Formula One – I have to think big – is fantastic, is great,” he told Autosport.
“We’ve never been in such an incredible position. And the reason why I’m saying that is because if it wouldn’t be in this position today, the actual situation that we have to face would have been seen totally different – with big question marks, with big doubts, which are not there at the table today.”
That confidence is built on sustained audience growth, expanding global reach and a commercial base that has fundamentally changed over recent seasons.
Rather than triggering structural alarm, the regulation debate has been absorbed as a refinement exercise – with the FIA, teams and F1 working through potential adjustments ahead of the Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix.
“We have to manage the political situation that we have to manage, but we are managing the right way – with no panic, with a solid foundation, being ready to have different options depending on how the world is going,” Domenicali said.
“Knowing that all the ecosystem is trusting in the decisions that we are taking – that is great. It’s not given for granted at all levels.”
The commercial shift
Underpinning Domenicali’s confidence is a deliberate change in how F1 positions itself commercially.
The sport has moved from business-to-business sponsorship structures towards direct consumer engagement, embedding itself across retail, entertainment and lifestyle sectors in a way that previous generations of the sport never attempted.
An observation during the interview about F1 logos appearing on KitKat wrappers prompted Domenicali to spell out the strategy explicitly.
“It’s not only the KitKat, it’s Lego, it’s Disney,” he said.
“We are moving from B2B to B2C – to the consumer side of it – to attract their attention in things that are part of their life.
“That’s the focus that we want to have to attract the younger generation, to see and touch and live Formula One in places that at our time you would not expect.”
The United States
In the US, that shift is taking a specific form. Apple’s coverage of the 2026 season has performed strongly despite the unfriendly time zones of the opening three rounds – and Domenicali confirmed a significant development for the North American market.
“The decision to go with streaming in the US has been very thoughtful because that’s a market that is very mature – the most mature if you compare with other markets,” explained Domenicali.
“Something new will happen in Canada. We’re going to have Apple and Netflix do together the broadcasting of that event.”
I will be very happy personally when one day in the US, we will wake up and on top of the big screen of the bar – when you have NFL, NBA, whatever sport – there will also be a small screen with F1 racing.
Stefano Domenicali
The ambition behind F1’s US push extends well beyond broadcast numbers. Domenicali outlined what he sees as the defining marker of success in that market.
“I will be very happy personally when one day in the US, we will wake up and on top of the big screen of the bar – when you have NFL, NBA, whatever sport – there will also be a small screen with F1 racing,” he said.
“That will be the moment where we will do the right cultural shift, because US sport is culture. It’s part of society.”
The drivers
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has been the most prominent critical voice during the opening phase of the season, publicly questioning whether the new regulations deliver the kind of racing he wants to be part of.
Domenicali addressed that directly, noting that Verstappen had been actively engaged in that same day’s meetings.
“He’s the best driver. He’s a multiple world champion and of course his voice has to be listened to,” Domenicali conceded.
“But he knows that his voice also has a weight, and he needs to respect that that weight can sometimes be taken in the wrong way by some people.”
“Don’t forget that all what we are doing is because we did the right thing together. Be respectful of a sport that gave to all of us an incredible opportunity to grow, to have a lot of money, to develop a personality in the world that other sports cannot give you.”
