Domenicali rubbishes ‘boring races’ complaints

Michelle Foster
Sergio Perez Sakhir GP win

New Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali has rubbished claims that F1 is boring, saying the growing audience numbers don’t speak to that.

Last season Formula 1 hosted a 17-race championship, starting in Austria and concluding in Abu Dhabi.

Along the way there were some epic moments such as Pierre Gasly’s Italian Grand Prix victory and Sergio Perez’s win at the Sakhir race.

Fans voted the Turkish Grand Prix as the best race of the season, a weekend in which the drivers slipped and slid their way around Istanbul Park, Lance Stroll took his maiden pole position and Sebastian Vettel returned to the podium.

Even Lewis Hamilton winning by 31 seconds wasn’t a negative given that the Mercedes driver had to fight his way from sixth on the grid.

The race saw the British driver wrap up a record-equalling seventh World title.

The Italian Grand Prix, the Sakhir outer oval’s race, the season-opening Austrian GP and the Tuscan Grand Prix also wowed fans.

Domenicali says the numbers clearly show this.

“Boring races?” Grandpx.news quotes him as having told Italian broadcaster Rete4.

“I see the numbers and last year the audience was growing.

“There is a great desire for Formula 1 – millions and millions follow it.”

And of those millions, the Italian feels many have been drawn to the sport by the personalities on today’s grid.

He added: “There is a desire for passion, characters, drivers who remain unique, mythological, capable of attracting people’s interest.”

Formula 1 drivers on the presentation day for the 2020 season

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The former Ferrari team boss also touched on the 2021 calendar which has already seen changes.

The Australian Grand Prix has been pushed back from March to November while China and Vietnam have both been cancelled.

It has raised questions about whether Formula 1 will be able to race around the world given the continued pandemic.

“It can be done,” Domenicali said.

“Last year was very good, with a championship carried out despite the difficulties with very intrusive but necessary procedures. The desire is to continue on this path.”

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