“That’s the only thing that I would say is not right.”
– Stefano Domenicali
The Italian motorsport chief, who spoke via Sky Sports, again described the criticism from both drivers as wrong, calling it not the right thing to do.
“I think it’s wrong, in general terms, to speak negatively about an incredible world that is allowing all of us to grow. That’s the only thing that I would say is not right,” he said.
The 60-year-old, however, admitted his openness to listening to their criticism of the regulations, while emphasising that the new rules will still give the best driver the opportunity to win.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in Bahrain – Photo: Race Pictures
“But, you know, I always listen. Prudence, there is an evolution, an evolution of driving, which means that the best driver will be able to be the fastest,” he concluded.
Domenicali explains the reason behind the 2026 regulations
Domenicali also highlighted the rationale behind the sweeping 2026 regulation changes that the sport’s governing body has introduced.
The F1 CEO admitted the move to the new regulations was largely driven by the sport’s aim to attract new manufacturers.
“We wanted to attract more manufacturers. We knew that sustainable fuel would be an element that would be attractive to them. In terms of mobility, manufacturers should focus not only on electrification, and that’s also why this project started,” he said.
Domenicali expressed optimism about the development trajectory of the 2026 cars before detailing his belief that the sport will see faster cars very soon.