Stefano Domenicali is looking to the second half of the 2026 season with \u201ca lot of positivity\u201d, the President and CEO of Formula 1 having reflected on the \u201cphenomenal\u201d evolution during the first half, as well as sharing updates on the calendar, regulations talks and other future plans for the sport.<\/p>\n
Following an action-packed opening 11 rounds of the championship \u2013 in a season that has witnessed the introduction of sweeping new technical regulations<\/a> \u2013 Kimi Antonelli<\/a> leads the standings<\/a> amid an increasingly competitive field, with a different name appearing on the top step of the podium at each of the last five rounds.<\/p>\n In the days after the Hungarian Grand Prix, Domenicali sat down with members of the media to give his take on the campaign so far and what lies ahead\u2026<\/p>\n More to come in a \u2018very fascinating\u2019 championship<\/p>\n With Formula 1\u2019s fanbase continuing to grow \u2013 and record numbers attending races<\/a> \u2013 Domenicali believes that the sport is currently in a \u201creally great\u201d place.<\/p>\n \u201cThe championship is becoming very, very fascinating,\u201d he explained. \u201cThere is a lot of action on the track. People are loving it.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking back at how the season has developed from the opener in Australia \u2013 the maiden event under the 2026 regulations<\/a> \u2013 Domenicali continued: \u201cThe evolution from the first race is just phenomenal.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s showing how much F1 is able to react to any kind of technical challenge or opportunity, because I remember very well at the beginning of the year, some were saying, \u2018The championship is already finished, we\u2019ll have a Mercedes<\/a> dominating the season, it’s game over\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cActually, it’s not the truth \u2013 there are still a lot of things that will happen up to the end of the year. There will be more teams that will be able to fight for the win. There will be more drivers where it will be possible for them to be the winner.<\/p>\n \u201cTherefore, all the elements on that side will be very, very fascinating, and I think that everyone will stay focused and tuned in up to the end of the championship.\u201d<\/p>\n In terms of the races coming up, Domenicali believes that the Dutch Grand Prix<\/a> will be a \u201cmoment to celebrate\u201d as Zandvoort marks its final event on the calendar, while he is also expecting an \u201cincredible event\u201d at Monza<\/a> as Antonelli prepares for his first home weekend since becoming a race winner. Madrid<\/a> then hosts its inaugural event just one week later.<\/p>\n \u201cIn a nutshell, we are looking forward to the second half of the season with a lot of positivity,\u201d the Italian summarised.<\/p>\n Update on calendar changes and regulations<\/p>\n Domenicali went on to reiterate his happiness over the recent announcement that Malaysia\u2019s Sepang International Circuit will host the Bahrain Grand Prix<\/a> on the weekend of October 2-4.<\/p>\n \u201cTogether, we have found a new way of hosting the Grand Prix in Malaysia,\u201d he said. \u201cIt’s a sign of cooperation, it’s the sign of thinking wider than what other people believe. And I need to thank the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Grands Prix, the Kingdom of Malaysia, to understand that there was a possibility to bring back a track that has been part of our championship in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking ahead at the remainder of the calendar, Domenicali also shared details on the timeline for making any further decisions.<\/p>\n \u201cWith regards to the end of the season, we are in touch with all the other championships,\u201d he continued. \u201cThe way that we are structured is that we will take the maximum time for us to see how the situation will develop, and we will take the decision at the right time.<\/p>\n \u201cThat moment will be not be before the middle of September. For us today, the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are confirmed.<\/p>\n \u201cBut of course, if the situation will not be cleared the way that we believe it should be, before the middle of September, we will take the decision. And in that respect, I just want confirm to you that if this will not be possible, that the end of the season would be in Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n As the season continues to progress, Domenicali says that Formula 1 will continue to take on board feedback when it comes to the regulations.<\/p>\n \u201cThe effect on the track has been widely super positive,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt is true that it’s the nature of a sport to talk and listen to the input of all the drivers and teams and the manufacturers.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that what has been decided in terms of evolution and regulation is the right thing for the sport, and it’s good that there is the opportunity for the FIA to listen to the comments of the manufacturers and the drivers.\u201d<\/p>\n And looking ahead to the development of the technical regulations for the future, Domenicali said that there are \u201ca lot of good talks going ahead now\u201d, adding: \u201cI think that for the drivers that have already driven the changes of next year on the simulator, it is going in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Incredible asset\u2019 Antonelli and thoughts on Verstappen\u2019s future<\/p>\n In terms of the on-track action so far this season, a key storyline has been the success of Antonelli<\/a>, the teenager becoming the youngest-ever driver to lead the championship after notching up six Grand Prix victories so far.<\/p>\n Domenicali believes that the Mercedes<\/a> racer is \u201creally great\u201d for the sport, saying of his fellow Italian: \u201cHe’s fresh, he is still very new and very open to any kind of things that are happening to him.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has brought a lot of new fans connected to him, because the nature of his way of engaging is fantastic. On the sport side, he has proven to be very strong. Don\u2019t forget that, without the two DNFs related to problems on the car, the championship for him would be an even a bigger gap. He\u2019s proven to be very solid.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd as you can imagine for the Italian fans, it’s even more important. The last Italian driver that won something important was many, many, many years ago. Therefore, he’s added a new dimension.<\/p>\n \u201cThe relationship today with the other drivers is fantastic. The relationship may be different, of course, if we start winning the championship, but that’s the nature of our sport. But as I said, I can only be very happy with the way that he’s engaged with our sport.<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve known him for many, many years, and he’s an incredible asset for the future and what we’re doing together.\u201d<\/p>\n Should Antonelli win the championship this season, the youngster would join the likes of Max Verstappen<\/a> in having a title to his name \u2013 and while the Dutchman is not experiencing the smoothest season so far in 2026, Domenicali is hopeful that he will continue on in the sport amid recent speculation over his future<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cMax is an incredible driver,\u201d he explained. \u201cHe loves Formula 1. I have an incredible relationship with him.<\/p>\n \u201cMy opinion is that Max will stay with us, and I really hope so.\u201d<\/p>\n The future beyond 2027<\/p>\n While there is plenty in the pipeline for the rest of 2026, Domenicali also shared an insight into plans going beyond this season.<\/p>\n In terms of the schedule for 2027, the Italian stated: \u201cSo far, the calendar that will be presented, let’s say in autumn, it would be as a sort of normal plan. But of course, in the case that the situation in the Middle East would be not solved, we have options.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the trigger for that is at the end of the year, so we have still a lot of time to adjust. We have different plans with different options ready in place that will accommodate the fact that we will keep, in any case, the target of 24 Grands Prix for next year.\u201d<\/p>\n Domenicali acknowledged that F1 is getting \u201cbigger and bigger\u201d and added that the sport is still receiving \u201ca lot of requests to host Grands Prix all around the world\u201d, with Portugal<\/a> and T\u00fcrkiye<\/a> confirmed to return to the calendar in 2027.<\/p>\n