Stefano Domenicali and the F1 of the future: ‘New teams yes, more races no’

The cars on the track may increase in the future, the number of races on the calendar may not.

Formula 1 increasingly at the center of the interests of the public, nations, automakers and investors. So much so that the number of GPs on the calendar could already have been much larger this 2023. The twenty cars on the grid, however, could soon increase again. This was guaranteed by Stefano Domenicali, speaking in Melbourne at the ‘SportNXT’ summit on the sidelines of next Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.

“Just three years ago our assessment was about whether to stay in the United States or leave. Meanwhile, Formula 1 has three races there,” Domenicali noted. “Already today we could have had more than 30 Grands Prix, maybe even 32. Everybody wants one. But today’s 24 rain dates already represent a fair balance.”

What could instead go back to increasing is the number of drivers and teams entered in the various races. Until 1995, up to 26 single-seaters were allowed to take their place on the starting grid; before then, the number of cars entered was even higher (but only 26 could qualify for the race). Well, the current number of 10 teams and 20 drivers could grow again. “If there are adequate proposals, Formula 1 teams will increase. They will not, however, if there is a lack of good options,” Domenicali explained.