Domenicali: “F1 working to continue both in Monza and Imola. Antonelli great talent, Hamilton-Ferrari explosive duo”

A Monza (partly) new. And a Formula 1 that is growing (always). Will Italy be able to keep up with the times? And even two GPs at home? “We cannot think of a F1 without a Italian Grand Prix” assures the president of F1, Stephen Sundayon the eve of the race at the Autodromo Lombardo where various works were carried out and completed, including that of a completely new asphalt on the track, the widening of the roadway in the First Variant and the replacement of all the kerbs. “After too many years focused on the past, Monza has begun a process of updating towards what for us had become essential, that is, working on the infrastructure. Now we must continue in this direction by modernizing what is above ground: the stands, paddock areas and hospitality. And do it with defined and certain timescales. There are many entities involved, each must do their part, we must move away from the feudal logic of Guelphs and Ghibellines and think as a system to speed up the processes. The government at the central level and the automobile club know the importance of the impact of the Italian GP also at an economic level, in the coming weeks we will be able to reach a conclusion”. The Monza contract expires at the end of 2025.

F1, Italy wants to keep Monza and Imola GPs

Just like that of ImolaDomenicali’s hometown, where perhaps it will be possible to recover in 2026 the GP that was cancelled due to last year’s flood: “We need to understand if the country system is able to support both initiatives or if one of the two promoters is able to raise investments at a private level, difficult but not impossible. There are no prejudices, it is a topic that we want to clarify within the year”.

Domenicali: “Antonelli has a great talent”

For now, Domenicali is clear about the value of this weekend: “I expect an interesting weekend from a sporting point of view at Monza, it’s the first time in a couple of years that more drivers and more cars can win”. There will be an additional reason for attraction, the debut of the 18-year-old from Bologna Kim Antonelli in the first free practice sessions on board the Mercedes: “As Italians we are proud but it is news appreciated by everyone: Kimi is a point of reference for a great team like Mercedes, it means that he is a champion, he has a great talent, in addition to being a very good boy with a beautiful family. Let’s not put too much pressure on his shoulders, but finally an Italian returns to F1”. After too long. And yet “the world of karting in Italy is a point of reference for everyone. The Ferrari centralizes and limits? No, I think it’s more a problem of quality than quantity. Aside from karting, we have championships and teams like Prema and Trident that train young people. Someone asks why Ferrari didn’t focus on Kimi? It’s not fair for me to answer. Kimi is a further push for Italian kids to believe. Next year 20% of rookies: new blood is always good”.

Domenicali: “Hamilton and Ferrari an explosive combination”

And the old one? The one from Hamilton at Ferrari next year? “Great news for F1: the first photos of Lewis dressed in red will go around the world. And it will attract a new audience, uniting the Ferrari world and the personal world, so different, of Hamilton. It will be something explosive. It is important that they feel the responsibility of following a champion who wants to end his career by winning and leaving his mark in Maranello, something that few have done”.

Domenicali: “F1 is no longer Eurocentric”

Would even a World Championship-winning red team help all of F1? “A Ferrari as a protagonist is certainly a very important factor. But in these years of domination by Verstappen interest in F1 is far from diminished. More and more countries want a GP, we are also in discussions with Africa, with Rwanda. We were Eurocentric, now Europe represents about a third of the World Championship. We will remain at 24 GPs. From the next few years, there will be room to increase the sprint races and we are discussing whether it will be possible to do as the MotoGp in the future, with all sprint races. MotoGP and F1 together? We are waiting for the European antitrust ruling on the transaction by the end of the year, I can’t comment before. In Abu Dhabi at the tests, maybe we will do a sprint for young people. We are opening many frontiers and there are many young people who follow us, to the point that we have started to do merchandising for children and many women. Such impetuous growth was not a given, especially after Covid which could have closed the World Championship”.

Domenicali: “The new Power unit will be a great challenge”

Instead, not only has it reopened (before other sports). But it is wide open at this level of the season. Domenicali rejoices: “I knew it would be a close one. Both titles are open and I would also include Ferrari among the Constructors. We are at the limit of developments and I see teams struggling with the correlation of simulation and performance on the track, in addition to the fact that the limitation of hours in the wind tunnel has allowed the approach to Red Bull. Would I throw out the 2026 rules in light of this competitiveness? No. One of F1’s goals is to try to anticipate changes. The new Power unit It will be a challenge for manufacturers as sustainable fuels will be crucial for mobility as a whole”.

Domenicali: “F1 at the Olympics is difficult”

An F1 in the Olympic world? “I see it as really very difficult, there are commercial limitations for example. I was in Ferrari when in 2006 we participated in the opening ceremony of the Turin Games, it was an intuition of the lawyer Montezemolo. But it was complex, the then director of events wanted us to remove the Prancing Horse from the front of the car, we had to fight until the end”.