Stefano Domenicali is satisfied with the current state of Formula 1 and promises that fans can look forward to even more competition in the future
Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali is satisfied heading into the 2026 summer break. While many observers at the start of the year still believed Mercedes would cruise to the world championship title, the situation at the top of the premier class has been much more balanced for the past few weeks.
Although the Silver Arrows had a clear lead at the start of the season and won all six of the first races, their rivals subsequently managed to close the gap. Of the past five victories, “only” two went to Mercedes, two to Ferrari, and one to McLaren.
With Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Kimi Antonelli, and Lando Norris, there were also five different winners in the five races leading up to the summer break. Formula 1 boss Domenicali expects this trend to continue in the second half of the season.
“When you look at […] how things have developed since the first race, it’s simply phenomenal,” he emphasizes, explaining: “This shows just how well Formula 1 is able to respond to any kind of technical challenge or opportunity.”
In addition to Ferrari and McLaren, Red Bull has also managed to close the gap to Mercedes—which was significantly larger at the start of the year—to some extent. Although the Bulls haven’t secured a victory in the 2026 season yet, Max Verstappen has stood on the podium in three of the past four races.
Domenicali: Don’t Listen to the Pessimists
“I remember very, very well that at the start of the year, everyone—well, not really everyone, I’m exaggerating, of course—said, ‘Oh, the championships are already decided. Mercedes will dominate the season. The game is over.’ But that’s not true at all,” Domenicali emphasizes.
The Italian expects that “a lot will still happen by the end of the year. There will be other teams fighting for the win,” he predicts, adding: “There will be more drivers who have a chance to take the win.”
He announces that Formula 1 will remain “very, very exciting” even after the summer break, “and I believe that everyone will stay focused and fully committed until the end of the championship,” says Domenicali, who is satisfied with Formula 1 as it stands.
“There’s a lot going on at the racetrack. People are thrilled. They’re glued to what’s happening on the track,” he emphasizes, noting that there had been significant criticism of the top-tier series’ new regulations, particularly at the beginning of the year.
However, Domenicali stresses that this criticism came mainly from a small group rather than the general public. According to the Formula 1 boss, the general public isn’t interested in overly technical details, which is why the overall feedback this year has been “extremely positive.”
