F1 boss Stefano Domenicali says he was attentive to Sebastian Vettel's recent criticism of the sport's slow change towards sustainability and is taking the four-time world champion's comments "seriously".
Since 2019, Formula 1 has embarked on a green quest with a number passive and active initiatives to make the sport more sustainable while aiming to having a net-zero carbon footprint by 2030.
As part of its sustainability efforts, F1 is upgrading this season to E10 fuel, a blend that of 90 percent petroleum product and 10 percent sustainably produced ethanol, while its next generation hybrid engines that are expected to be introduced in 2026 will hopefully run on fully sustainable fuel.
Although the F1 community has embraced the sport's environmental ambitions, Vettel feels that Grand Prix racing's green push isn't moving fast enough. The Aston Martin driver feels F1 could do more to become environmentally relevant.
"I think we live in a time where we have innovations and possibilities to arguably make Formula 1 green and not lose any of the spectacle, of the excitement, of the speed, of the challenge, of the passion," Vettel said last year.
"If anything, we have so many clever people and engineering power here, we could come up with solutions. But the current regulations, I think they're very exciting, the engine is super-efficient, but it's useless.
"It's not going to be an engine formula that you will buy on the road in two years when you decide to buy a new car, for example. Therefore, you can argue, what is the relevance?"
Addressing Vettel's remarks, Domenicali made clear that he isn't dismissing the German driver's concerns and actually views the latter's criticism as constructive.
"I don’t want to see this as criticism," he said, quoted by F1 insider.
"I see this as a positive impulse from someone who is seriously thinking about the future. I’ve talked to him about this countless times. For me, this is constructive criticism."
However, Domenicali is focused on the bigger picture and insists Formula 1's sustainability ambitions are a work in progress.
"We have to be realistic," added the Italian. "Formula 1 has long been thinking about the idea of sustainability and will continue to point the way in the right direction in the future.
"We have had by far the most efficient power units since 2014. We are planning to have sustainable fuel, a move that will have a major impact on global mobility and the automotive industry.
"And at the same time we are urging the promoters of Formula 1 events to organize the races in a CO2-neutral manner. But when Seb reminds us to do more and to be even better, I take it seriously."
©AstonMartin
Domenicali also emphasized the importance of achieving the right balance between the sport's environmental ambitions and its prerogatives as a business.
"It's always about finding the right balance," said the former Ferrari team boss. "In the end, Formula 1 is also a business and you have to find a compromise between all parties.
"In Formula 2 and Formula 3 we will act faster. But there we have standard cars, standard engines, standard fuel.
"In Formula 1, on the other hand, there are big manufacturers that require a certain time frame for their developments."
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