Stefano Domenicali shares 'most important thing' about key F1 future discussions

F1 boss Stefano Domenicali has explained that the "most important" aspect for him in framing the future of grand prix is having enough "time to debate" with other stakeholders.

The FIA retains overall responsibility for forming the technical regulations, with input from F1, drivers, and the teams and manufacturers, with president Mohammed Ben Sulayem signalling that for the next regulatory cycle, F1 will return to V8 engines. 

This is expected to be in either 2030 or 2031, with the rules on offer for current and prospective manufacturers needing to be presented soon, with the '26 rules first unveiled as far back as 2022.

Domenicali expects that by the end of this calendar year, a framework will be in place for the structure of the next rules cycle, but that for him, the most important aspect is having a discussion to cleanly shape that structure to ensure all parties find the package agreeable. 

"I think that for me, the most important thing is that there is the right time to debate," Domenicali told media, including RacingNews365. 

"As we know, the FIA has the final call on the technical regulations, but the discussion we are having together, also involving manufacturers, fans, teams, and drivers, I think is in the right spot.

"It is incredible how things can change from month to month. I remember at the beginning of this change of regulation, there was maybe a circle of negativity with the big worries, but now this has shifted quite significantly. 

"This is the evolution or the nature of our sport: to always try to find problems at the beginning instead of thinking about the opportunity that change can bring.

"I think that the main target of the future regulation is to keep the things as simple as possible, to bring to Formula 1, lighter cars with a sustainable fuel, with of course electrification, and keep the chance for the driver, above all, in certain modes to push as hard as they can, because that has been always one thing that they have requested as F1 drivers.

"All the other technicalities, I will rely on the FIA to prepare the right thing, and I do believe that by the end of this year, we're going to be in a position to have a package ready to be discussed, because there are two options. 

"If we wait until the end of the cycle to be finished, in 2031, there's nothing that prevents the FIA from presenting a totally different regulation, and of course, if the teams want to be part of it, they can; otherwise, not. I'm exaggerating, but you understand the principle. 

"If there is a consensus on what we are doing to anticipate it, there is a need to find the governance in place with the teams, with the manufacturers, and therefore that's another opportunity that I think will be on the table between all of us before the end of the season. 

"So I think there are a lot of good talks going ahead now. There are a lot of, as you can imagine, different angles that everyone is pushing for different reasons. But by the end of the year, we're going to be in a position to have the right package for the future."