Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has delivered a pointed message to the paddock: drivers are free to complain, but they should not expect their views to outrank those of the people buying the tickets and tuning in every weekend.
Halfway through the first season of F1’s controversial 2026 regulations, the championship’s emphasis on electric power and energy management continues to split opinion.
Drivers have repeatedly blasted the new machinery, with Max Verstappen famously branding it “Formula E on steroids,” while others have warned that the cars can feel unpredictable and awkward to drive.
Domenicali, however, is looking at a very different set of numbers.
F1 says its 60,000-member Fan Voice panel has given this season’s races a higher entertainment rating than last year, with 66% judged “good” or “excellent,” up from 60% in 2025. Even Spa, despite widespread criticism from drivers about energy management, received a significantly stronger rating.
And that, in Domenicali’s eyes, is the statistic that matters most.
“I think the situation that we are living today is really great,” Domenicali said. “The championship is really at the highest in terms of people following, people that are coming to the track and people that are, in any case, new or old fans appreciating the success of the things we are doing.”
Drivers can talk – but F1 chooses the direction
The Italian made clear that F1 has no intention of silencing its stars, but he also drew a sharp line between expressing an opinion and setting the sport’s agenda.
“You know me, we are not here to put the tape on the mouth of anyone. I mean, the beauty of our sport is that everyone can have an opinion, but the opinion is an opinion.
“There is someone that has the duty, you know, to have a line. There are certain drivers that prefer, of course, certain things. I think that in the process we have highlighted the need to be constructive in that respect.”
That “line”, Domenicali argued, was shaped by necessity rather than fashion. When the rules were drafted, the automotive industry was moving aggressively toward electrification, and F1 feared losing manufacturers if it ignored that reality.
“I go back to the thing that this change was connected to a reason, and that was a vital reason,” Domenicali said. “Otherwise, we would be here to talk about our sport, another sport. So that has been adjusted.”
‘The fans are always a priority’
Domenicali also revealed that he has recently discussed the issue privately with Verstappen and insisted he prefers direct conversations to public sparring.
“I think that, as you know me, I prefer to discuss things [between] four walls to find solutions,” he added.
“But as I said, I think that the more you are vocal on certain things that are out of the scheme, the more the negativity is not on the sport. It’s becoming on the personal side. So, I think that everyone understood that.”
Then came the clearest warning yet to a driver group that has become increasingly outspoken in recent years.
“And in that respect, as I said, you know very well how much I respect the jewel that are our drivers. But of course, they need to understand that there is one path we need to take together.
“And the fans are always a priority on top of everyone, even me. They [the drivers] can have a personal opinion, but I have the duty to make a summary of what is the best for the sport.
Read also: Imola emerges as backup plan if Middle East F1 finale can't happen“But I think that the situation is very strong, very solid, with all the stakeholders today. So, we need to look ahead and make sure that the sport is growing, as I said, all together in the right way.”
In one blunt statement, Domenicali effectively settled the debate over whose voice carries the greatest weight in modern Formula 1. The drivers may be the stars, but the fans, he insists, remain the final authority.
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