F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali gave his two cents on the future of the sport and the lack of competition that currently exists in it. The Italian discussed the 2021 title battle involving Mercedes luminary Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull star Max Verstappen. The two exceptional drivers produced an epic championship fight, arguably the most intense in the sport’s history. However, a last-lap controversy made it a salty experience for many, primarily Mercedes and Hamilton.
The entire season saw a back-and-forth between the two drivers, with Max clinching 9 victories and Lewis taking 8. The duo reached the final race in Abu Dhabi with equal points. By the final stages of the race, Lewis gained a decent advantage and looked set to take the record 8th title home. However, a safety car controversy inadvertently put Max on a higher advantage and he pulled off a brilliant last-lap overtake to take the victory and championship home.
So disheartening for the night for Hamilton that he did not respond or publically appear for months, raising suspicions of retirement. The first title of Max Verstappen didn’t turn out to be as special as he would have imagined. It still carries a lot of tainted memories for the Dutchman, even after an exceptional display from him week in and week out. Recently, Domenicali talked about the same, with reference to what the future holds for F1.
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It’s important for F1 to have Icons to inspire younger racers: CEO Domenicali
Recently, F1 is facing a lot of allegations about being a boring and predictable sport. This is for a simple reason that Max Verstappen and Red Bull are not facing any challenge from the rest of the field. Since the change in regulations, Red Bull has been miles ahead of the rest of the grid and Max is dominating the scene like anything. Red Bull has taken 11 straight wins this season, in every race held so far.
The sport is in the process of introducing various new concepts to make it interesting for newly-inducted audiences. When asked about a competitive grid, Domenicali gave a rather interesting answer. “Due premise: Max is fully deserving of the success he is enjoying, you have to take your hat off. Obviously, I don’t deny that I’d like to see championships with a comparison drawn up to the last lap of the last race, like in 2021, but without the Abu Dhabi controversy,” said the Italian boss
At the same time, for the new fans we have acquired, it is important to have icons who become representatives of the sport on an ongoing basis,” added F1 CEO.
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