As the CEO of the Formula 1 Group, former Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has an awful lot to deal with in one of the most political and fast-moving sports in the world.
The F1 circus now travels to 24 races each year with increasing pressure on the teams, drivers and the media to keep up with matters on the off the track.
Domenicali was speaking to the German outlet Auto Motor und Sport about the health and the future of Formula 1.
The big talking point after the Canadian Grand Prix has been the announcement of the new regulations being introduced in 2026.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Formula 1’s new 2026 regulations
Teams are going to be under immense pressure to find a solution to the new ruleset with Sky Sports correspondent Bernie Collins suggesting all 10 teams will struggle with one particular aspect of the regulations that doesn’t seem realistic at this stage.
Domenicali has admitted that F1 is always looking to improve its offering to fans and that has seen the introduction of Sprint Races – which have received a mixed reaction – and the incredibly successful Drive to Survive Netflix show.
However, Domenicali has admitted that one aspect of the event at the Monaco Grand Prix should never happen again in F1.
While it was an incredibly emotional weekend for Charles Leclerc as he finally achieved victory at his home race, it wasn’t the most exciting Grand Prix for the fans.
Stefano Domenicali admits F1 must avoid a repeat of the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix
Formula 1 has been racing in Monte Carlo since long before the championship was first run in 1950.
It’s an incredibly difficult track for drivers to navigate with one mistake typically ending their race.
There was carnage at the beginning of this year’s race, with four drivers forced to retire before the end of the first lap.
Sergio Perez made contact with both Haas drivers heading up Beau Rivage before Esteban Ocon’s race ended following a collision with his teammate Pierre Gasly.
The damage on the track forced a red flag that effectively ended the race as a contest.
Overtaking is virtually impossible in Monaco, so nailing your strategy is sometimes the only way to find a way past your rivals.
However, teams were allowed to change their tyres while the race was stopped and Domenicali has admitted that it’s a scenario that can’t happen again in F1 as the four leading drivers drove within themselves to preserve their tyres to the end of the race.
F1 red flag tyres rules have to be changed to avoid repeat of Monaco Grand Prix
Talking about the current start of Formula 1’s rules, Domenicali said: “The rules are generally too complicated. Even on the sporting side. Nobody understands the penalty system.
“The Formula 1 Commission has set itself the task of making simpler rules and is putting forward proposals. It is already too complicated for the teams.
“Can you imagine what that means for spectators? In my role, I have to look at the sport through the eyes of the audience.
“Take Monte Carlo, for example. We know what to expect there.
“The track is what it is, our cars are what they are, and it’s almost impossible to overtake. But when there are pit stops during the race, there is also action.
“Then this year we have a red flag on the first lap and everyone has automatically already made their pit stop. Something like that must not happen to us again.
“We need to anticipate scenarios like this better and intercept them with the rules. That affects us all. Take a look at the scope of the individual regulations. They are thick novels. How thin the book was when I still had to work with it.”
Monaco has hosted some rather dreary races in the past and something needs to be done to try and encourage overtaking.
A unique ruleset might also be required, with drivers forced to use every tyre regulation or potentially a change to the layout of the track.
The post ‘Impossible’: Stefano Domenicali shares the one scenario in 2024 that ‘must not happen’ again in Formula 1 appeared first on F1 Oversteer.