Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1, spoke about the recent statements by Max Verstappen, who expressed dissatisfaction with the 2026 rules and raised doubts about his future in the category.
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The executive’s position comes amid increasing speculation about a possible departure of the four-time champion, who has also been exploring other categories, such as Endurance and GT3 racing. The scenario gained strength after the driver’s public criticism of the technical changes.
Domenicali avoided direct confrontation but called for caution in the tone of discussions: “We are a global sport, with more than 800 million fans. We need to remember the scale we have,” he said. He also warned that negative approaches do not contribute to the growth of the category.
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The CEO emphasized that this type of debate does not add value to F1 and reinforced the need for a more constructive attitude. At the same time, he made a point of praising Verstappen and expressed a desire to keep him on the category’s grid.
“Max is a four-time champion, an incredible driver, perhaps the best. I really hope he continues,” Domenicali said. The executive also highlighted that F1 offers a unique level of challenge and excitement, indicating that upcoming changes, including the updates planned for the Miami GP, may influence drivers’ perception of the current regulations.
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