What is going on in Formula 1?
Love him or hate him Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is looking to change the landscape of Formula 1 over the coming years trying to bring more eyes to sport but what is really going on.
Stefano Domenicali has been Formula 1 CEO since 2021 after the departure of Chase Carey and is now looking to take the sport to yet another level. Formula 1 has seen a huge increase in fans since the hit Netlfix series 'Drive to Survive' took the paddock and fans by storm. With more sprint weekends coming in the 2023 season with the first set to be the next round at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
However the idea for sprint races has seen a push back from fans and drivers with fans wanting to have a more traditional weekend. Sprint races are viewed as more as a gimmick than something serious while Formula 1 and Domenicali believe that the sport is pushing to become even more accessible and bringing more race action than ever before.
In a recent interview Domenicali even said that he would like to see all practice sessions removed from the weekend making the teams and drivers head straight in qualifying then have the race on Sunday. This seems to limit F1 being accessible to fans rather than have even more eyes on the sport.
Meanwhile on track Red Bull are once again dominating the 2023 season winning three out of the first three races of the season. Both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have shared the top step of the podium so far this season with wins in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia. Red Bull already hold a strong lead at the top of both standings. The Milton Keynes team currently have a 58 point gap to second place Aston Martin and a 1-2 in the drivers standings with Verstappen leading the charge.
Domenicali believes that Red Bull's dominance so far this season won't put new fans off watching the rest of the 2023 season. The Italian insists that the season is early and there is a lot more to come with the competition being so close in the midfield and the fight between Mercedes and Aston Martin for second place being too close to call.
The F1 CEO is also banking on the cost cap penalty effect Red Bull later in the season allowing the teams and field all to close up again. However he is more worried by long term fans being bored of the new era of Formula 1 once again being dominated by a single team as was the case for 8 years when Mercedes won a record breaking 8 consecutive constructors championships and 7 drivers title.