Domenicali Responds to F1 Drivers' 2026 Regs Criticism
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- Stefano Domenicali said Formula 1 is 'not here to put tape on the mouth of anyone' in response to driver criticism of the 2026 power unit regulations, adding that 'the opinion is an opinion' and someone has the duty to draw a line.
- Max Verstappen described the 2026 regulations' 'yoyo' style of racing — with passes then re-passes — as 'anti-racing' and joked at the Belgian Grand Prix that someone would 'probably shoot me outside the door' if he criticised the rules, later saying he was 'fed up with repeating myself'.
- The FIA announced in May an agreement with teams to shift the power unit split from nearly 50-50 internal combustion/electrical to 58-42 for 2027 and 60-40 for 2028, following Verstappen's March warning that he was considering his F1 future if regulations didn't change.
- Domenicali said 'F1 is big enough for [Max] to be part of us' and expressed confidence Verstappen would stay, while noting the sport is 'much bigger than anyone else'.
- Every 2026 F1 event has sold out, with record attendances including Australia (484,000), Silverstone (564,000), Belgium (400,000), Canada (360,000), Austria (320,000) and Hungary (310,000).
- Domenicali cited a Saturday conversation with George Lucas in Hungary, saying the filmmaker told him new fans 'are not interested in how you drive the car' but rather want to see overtaking, citing Verstappen's Turn 1 overtake on Lewis Hamilton as 'a piece of art.'
Why it matters: Verstappen threatened his F1 future over these regulations in March, and the FIA already conceded by adjusting the electrical/combustion split for 2027-28 — yet Verstappen now publicly says he is 'fed up with repeating himself,' suggesting the concessions haven't changed his view on the on-track product. With sellout crowds at every 2026 race, Domenicali's argument is that fans vote with their feet even if purists gripe, but the underlying tension between driver satisfaction and the sport's commercial boom remains unresolved.
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