Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says history is “not relevant anymore” as traditional races come under pressure to keep their calendar spots.
A record-breaking 23 Grands Prix are pencilled in for 2022, with the Miami GP joining the schedule along with the planned returns of Australia, Canada, Singapore and Japan post-Covid.
Looking ahead, China and Qatar are also set to return in 2023 while South Africa is pushing hard to bring back F1 for the first time since 1993.
In fact, while a 25-race calendar almost seems inevitable in the coming years, Domenicali admits that number could easily be higher.
“We are living in a great moment for Formula 1, there’s no doubt,” the F1 CEO told The Race.
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“In terms of sporting intensity on the track, in terms of interest from stakeholders, from the public, a new audience coming in and a new way of talking with the new audiences, and having a clear path in the regulations for a future that is very relevant to our DNA and the future technology and sustainability with this type of fuel and hybridisation.
“And therefore, it’s true that there is a big interest for new places – or old places! – to be part of our calendar. I think that with no doubt, without any kind of limitation that is correct to keep, there could be easily over 30 venues that we could do [a deal with] tomorrow, but we cannot go in this direction.
“It’s a good problem to have, to manage the most important in terms of strategy, in terms of business, in terms of the future of where we have to go.
“It’s something that we are now understanding as to what is the best Grands Prix that we want to keep in a stable base, or we may think for certain places where there could be a rotation. These are thoughts that we are elaborating on.”
When Liberty Media first took over F1 back in 2016/17, a promise was made to protect the sport’s traditional venues while also adding new events like the Dutch, Qatar and Saudi GP’s that joined the calendar last year.
However, as the money offered in race fees and invested into shiny new circuits only goes up, Domenicali appears to be going back on his predecessor Chase Carey’s words.
“Of course, we’re aware of the importance of tradition and it gives you the ingredients for the future, but if you live by tradition you don’t live long. We need to build foundations for the future,” he said last year.
“Where races take place could change because Liberty wants to push the bar to an even higher level.
“Therefore, the new venues offer such fantastic events that the older, more traditional venues are having to step up their game. That’s the beauty of this current situation – everyone is motivated to be better.
“These places also understand that the world is changing. Monza, to give you one example, is unique, but Monza also needs to invest in the future. The people who go there deserve that. You need to grow, you need to react.
“The positive pressure the newcomers are putting into the system is great.”
And as for where Liberty was prioritising for future new races, the F1 chief had a clear vision.
“North America and Asia are two important regions for developing the business, but we’ve also had big interest from South Africa,” he said.
“China and South Korea offer a massive younger audience, so there is plenty of potential on a global scale.
“It doesn’t matter if a race has been held at the same venue for 100 years, that’s not relevant anymore.”