F1 CEO Believes Young Fans Aren't Concerned Whether Races Take Place in Monaco or Las Vegas.

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      Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali recently shared insights about the current state of the sport during his appearance on Italy’s popular podcast, The BSM. The Italian executive talked about the sport's evolution in recent years, the F1 movie, Netflix, and crucially, the changes F1 needs to adopt to stay relevant not only in motorsports but also in the entertainment industry.

      In the hour-long podcast, host Gianluca Gazzoli posed numerous questions to Domenicali, many of which revolved around the removal of Imola from the 2026 season calendar. Domenicali clarified that Imola’s recent inclusion on the calendar resulted from the limitations imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed the smaller venue to be part of the championship.

      (Note: The quotes below have been translated from the original Italian interview.)

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      “Imola returned to F1 due to COVID, when we experienced the opposite situation [compared to now]. We had restrictions regarding availability, travel, and more,” Domenicali explained. “We were at risk of shutting down a world championship, so we had to create protocols and bubbles that allowed us to work, race, and deliver a product for television.

      “However, with F1's global demand increasing since then, it's challenging to justify the sport's presence in such a small location with limited infrastructure that doesn't significantly benefit either the sport or its fans,” he added.

      While discussing the Imola situation, Domenicali paused to elaborate on his reasoning for phasing out traditional venues, indicating that their presence on the calendar is becoming increasingly endangered each year.

      “Undoubtedly, a Grand Prix's historical significance is a bonus, but it alone is insufficient. It provides a sense of heritage to fans like myself who have followed F1 since childhood, but for new fans, it may not hold the same weight,” stated Domenicali.

      “Looking at the data, the likelihood of quickly scrolling through media and forgetting who won last year is quite high. For many young followers of F1 today, racing in Monte Carlo versus a new track in Las Vegas holds no significance. Hence, this historical aspect and heritage of a race must be preserved, but with a forward-looking structure,” he explained.

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      With F1 set to host 24 races worldwide next year, Domenicali detailed the recent growth of the sport and emphasized that F1 is no longer merely a racing series but an entertainment powerhouse competing against other large events. There is a clear strategy in place to maintain its existing fanbase while simultaneously striving to attract new audiences.

      “F1 is currently experiencing remarkable growth. We are in a period that just a few years ago, only a handful of us believed our sport could achieve this level of expansion,” he noted. “Most importantly, we are drawing in new and younger fans who are passionate about our sport, and we are engaging a female audience.

      “I often say that F1 is beyond just a sporting dimension; it has transitioned into an entertainment dimension. Entertainment is uplifting and invigorating, and we are competing in this space, but we must stay vigilant about our surroundings. F1 competes for people's attention, which could be captured by a film, a podcast, or a concert,” he added.

      “While F1 exists in a different context now, we must keep the interest of our long-time followers while simultaneously attracting new audiences so that they think, ‘Wow, everyone is going to the F1 race, and it looks fantastic and vibrant!'”