Stefano Domenicali once again defended his view on fans’ interest in the technical aspects of Formula 1. After being criticized on social media, the category’s CEO made an unusual comparison, saying that many could associate the term ‘clipping’ with a hair clip.
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The controversy began during the August break, when Domenicali stated that the ‘vast majority of fans are not interested in technical details’. The new rules for power units have increased the importance of this type of knowledge, and his statements provoked reactions from fans who expressed on social media interest precisely in this area of F1.
In an interview with De Telegraaf, Domenicali said that social media often amplify negative opinions, and said that the numbers show a different reality. As an example, he cited a race in Malaysia, scheduled for early October, whose grandstands were already sold out weeks in advance, in addition to the sale of 1,500 tickets for the Paddock Club.
“This shows the strength of Formula 1 at this moment. Negativity doesn’t get us anywhere. The numbers show that our business is growing. I also take seriously the people who are critical, but my job is to look at the bigger picture,” he said.
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Explaining his position again on the public’s technical interest, the executive acknowledged the existence of fans deeply connected to motorsport, but pointed out that they do not represent the entire audience: “There are die-hard motorsport fans who talk about ‘clipping’ during a Formula 1 weekend, but there are also many who think of a clip to be placed in the hair,” he added.
Domenicali also commented on drivers’ criticism of the new power unit rules, mentioning Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton in contrast with younger names like Kimi Antonelli and Arvid Lindblad. For the executive, it is important to consider different generations and listen to everyone involved, recalling that other past changes, such as gear shift alterations and the introduction of the halo, also caused strangeness before becoming a natural part of the category.
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