F1 News: Stefano Domenicali Responds To Driver Backlash - "Part Of A Broader Picture"

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has responded to the backlash from some of the drivers of the recent changes brought into the sport.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has spoken out on the mixed response from drivers regarding the recent changes that have been brought into the sport. 

The changes have included the adjusted format for the sprint race weekends, which fans saw for the first time at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, as well as a new qualifying format which was due to be featured at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix before it was cancelled. 

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has been especially critical of the new sprint race format as someone who loves the traditional racing weekend and feels it does not need changing. 

Another couple of changes that have caused a stir have been the drivers' parade ahead of the Miami Grand Prix and the talk of increasing races to up to 30 in the coming years. 

During an interview with the Daily Mail, Domenicali explained:

“I don’t want a society in which people cannot say what they want.

“But drivers sometimes need to remember that they are part of a broader picture. We don’t need to be selfish.

“They are part of this sport and this business, and it grows because we are thinking bigger.

The CEO continued:

“Sometimes being out of our comfort zone is not easy, but we cannot be lazy or complacent.

“We can review some of the specifics of the sprint weekend format at the end of the season once we have tried it out on the intended six occasions. We won’t have sprints every weekend, either.

“But we have a new audience and need to provide value for money [in] every session, and not let everyone drive around in circles for the sole benefit of the engineers and drivers.”

Two-time champion Verstappen, who is currently fighting for his third championship, has said that he would consider retirement at the end of his current Red Bull contract if the sport changes too much. Domenicali has also recently acknowledged this, saying:

“He said he loved the sport and what he was doing.

“He is World Champion and is fighting for a third title. He was born in a car and I would say he is likely to stay longer than me. It’s not a problem.”