Domenicali misses F1’s ‘spicy’ technical controversies of the past

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has admitted that he misses the era when technical controversies regularly added "spice" to the championship, reflecting on his own experiences during Ferrari’s intense battles in the 2000s and 2010s.

In a recent interview with Motorsport.com, Domenicali recalled some of the pivotal moments of controversy he witnessed firsthand while climbing Ferrari’s ranks – from the commercial department to sporting director, and eventually team principal.

One standout memory was the dramatic 1999 Malaysian Grand Prix, when Ferrari was disqualified for illegal bargeboards, seemingly handing the title to Mika Hakkinen.

However, on appeal, Ferrari successfully overturned the decision based on a 5mm tolerance loophole, keeping the championship alive until the Japanese Grand Prix, the final race of the season.

“I’ve lived through many of those: Malaysia ’99, the double diffuser, FRIC, mass dampers, F-ducts… all part of F1’s story,” Domenicali said.

"I used to be hands-on with technical and sporting regulation debates almost every Sunday. Years ago, there were far broader grey areas than today – but F1 people still know how to push everything to the limit."

Domenicali noted that while the regulations today are much tighter, he believes that the sport would benefit from a touch more unpredictability

“Personally, I feel today’s controversies are relatively minor. In fact, it’d be nice to have a bit more of that again – they’re the spice of the sport.”

Rethinking Technology for a New Generation

Beyond nostalgia, Domenicali also addressed how Formula 1 should evolve its technological landscape to match modern viewer expectations.

He suggested that while innovation should remain a cornerstone, some areas – like gearboxes – no longer justify the massive investment teams pour into them.

“Fans of my generation need to rethink what creates performance and technological interest," he explained.

"Focusing on sustainable fuels is absolutely the right path. But – and this may sound provocative – having teams invest huge amounts in designing their own gearboxes no longer makes sense.

“The performance gains are minimal. Fans no longer see it as an exciting area of development. We need to identify areas where technology and entertainment overlap."

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Domenicali concluded by emphasizing the need for boldness in adapting F1’s technical priorities.

“Many things that once seemed cutting-edge no longer justify major investment. We must have the courage to accept that the landscape has evolved.”

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