Stefano Domenicali: F1 will continue to grow in popularity

In 2023, after a season marked by Max Verstappen’s overwhelming dominance, Buzz Radar compared the popularity of Formula 1 on social media between 2022 and 2023. Specializing in artificial intelligence, the results were clear: F1 has lost some of its appeal.

A sharp drop in viewership.

According to the study, the number of new subscribers to the discipline’s accounts had decreased by 46% and mentions on social networks had fallen by 70.2% in the first half of 2023 compared to that of 2022. Compared to 2022, F1 experienced significant decreases in overall mentions and alarming growth in new subscribers, explained the report from Buzz Radar. As long as F1 is dominated by a single driver and a single team, it will lose much of the audience gained recently during the Liberty Media era.

However, since Liberty Media purchased the rights to F1 in 2017, the popularity of the sport has continued to grow. This is thanks in particular to diversified seasons and the Netflix series “Formula 1: Drive to Survive,” which has provided fans with unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the sport.

The 2023 season therefore dampened this enthusiasm for Formula 1. Spectators lost interest in races where the winner seemed known in advance. However, at the start of the 2024 season, expectations were more moderate. Many expected a new domination by Red Bull. But unexpectedly, after 14 races, the season turned out to be very different. Although Red Bull remains competitive, it has already been beaten 7 times by 6 different drivers, making 2024 the most varied season in terms of winners since 2012. This uncertainty has revived the interest of fans, who are increasingly following the Grand Prix.

A new impulse given by an uncertain 2024 season

For Stefano Domenicali, this return of Formula 1 to the forefront is not surprising. The Italian always knew that the new regulations on the budget cap and aerodynamic tests would tighten the gaps between teams. The F1 president is delighted that his predictions have materialized on the track. “What I said at the beginning of the year is exactly what is happening, when everyone thought it was just politics. This will definitely continue until the end of 2025. This sporting spectacle is definitely here,” he admits.

According to the CEO, the 2025 season could offer a similar situation since the regulations will remain the same. This will further tighten the pack. The big teams have almost reached the maximum performance of their cars, as explained by Pierre Waché, technical director at Red Bull. If the regulations remain stable for long enough, you can almost be sure that the pack will tighten.

This excitement could, however, fade as early as 2026, with the introduction of new regulations. These changes could upset the hierarchy, as happened in 2014 with Mercedes and in 2022 with Red Bull. Adrian Newey also shared this view earlier this year. « Just as everything starts to come together and fans get what they want, we have an even bigger change. The chances of this shaking up the grid are therefore very significant. » he had acknowledged.

Despite the criticisms, Stefano Domenicali is confident in the new regulations, which he considers more advantageous than handicapping. “I think the [Renault’s] decision was related to another condition rather than the difficulty of building a new engine for 2026,” he said. However, he acknowledges that there are still areas for improvement to make Formula 1 even more exciting. “I believe that what will always be on the table in the future will be the weight and dimensions of the cars. We are in a situation where cars are big and heavy. With this new development, we could consider going back to lighter engines that maybe have a good sound,” he said. Other possibilities are being explored, such as extending the time between new regulations to give teams the opportunity to adapt.