Domenicali\u2019s views highlighted an apparent disconnect between traditional fans of the sport and those who have come to it more recently, very often via the Netflix Drive to Survive series. The F1 CEO voiced his opinion in a media call on Wednesday, during which he was asked about a lack of battery charge information in TV graphics that could add extra context to on-track battles between drivers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that the truth is exactly the other way around,\u201d he said. \u201cBecause no one is interested on how you drive your car. The people are interested if you are overtaking or not. That’s the vast majority of the people. I agree with you \u2014 that certain people are focused on this thing, that is very important. It’s like when you were opening the DRS, people that were not interested what was the point to pass.\u201d<\/p>\n
Domenicali referenced a conversation he had on the subject with a Hollywood legend in Budapest the previous weekend. \u201cI had an incredible and interesting discussion with George Lucas<\/a> on Saturday,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd he was giving me an incredible view on how the new fans are watching F1. And I think that it gave us an incredible clearance to see how we can really simplify things, because the new fans are not understanding the truth \u2014 what is behind the scenes. They are fascinated [by] the fact that there is a lot of action.\u201d<\/p>\n George Lucas, director of THX 1138 and American Graffiti.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I think, on that there is definitely the need for the ones that are so focused on that to have the right information. But for the vast majority of the people, trust me\u2014 they just want to see what is happening on the track. [They\u2019re] not interested on the angle of throttle, or the passages of brake pressure on how you can overtake a driver.\u201d<\/p>\n He cited Verstappen\u2019s spectacular double pass on Liam Lawson<\/a> and Lewis Hamilton<\/a> in the Hungarian race as a case study. \u201cFor example, an incredible overtaking of Max and Lewis, in Turn 1 in Hungary,\u201d he said. \u201cThese [moves] are a piece of [what], if I may say, that these people just want to see, and just [be] connected to the quality of the drivers. At the end of the day, this is a skill that the driver can have, on how you can maximize the performance of your car \u2014 no matter if it’s braking, accelerating, [using] power that is done by the electrification or not. That’s what I think is happening. Of course, for a niche of our fans, this data is relevant; and of course it is available. But as I said, for the vast majority [of fans], that’s what we receive as an information.\u201d<\/p>\n Domenicali also downplayed any frustration he might have felt at the ongoing criticism of the rules from drivers \u2014 notably Verstappen<\/a>, with Oscar Piastri<\/a> also having been very vocal in recent weeks. \u201cWe are not here to put the tape on the mouth of anyone,\u201d he said. \u201cI 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 to have a line. There are certain drivers that prefer, of course, certain things, that I think that in the process we have highlighted the need to be constructive in that respect.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know very well how much I respect our jewels that are the drivers,\u201d he said. \u201cBut of course, they need to understand that that there is one path that we need to take together. And the fans as a priority \u2014 on top of everyone, even me \u2014 that they can have a personal opinion. But I have the duty to make a summary on what is the best for the sport. 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.\u201d<\/p>\n NurPhoto\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"F1](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/90ff93a9-3602-4f41-a6e7-9ad32aacfd16.jpeg\" "\\"F1")
NurPhoto\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"F1](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/bc741e36-78f9-4ebd-8012-75f7aeec20ef.jpeg\" "\\"F1")
<\/p>\n