Formula One’s chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, has come to the defense of the sport’s new technical regulations, asserting that fans are genuinely enjoying the racing, even in the face of criticism from some drivers. After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Domenicali remarked that “people are loving it,” emphasizing that most viewers are more interested in the thrilling battles on the track rather than the nitty-gritty of technical specifications. He also mentioned that Formula One is ready to wrap up the 2026 season in Europe if the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix are called off due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Domenicali maintained that the wider fanbase does not share the concerns raised by drivers. He said, “There is a lot of action on the track, people are loving it. They are focused on what is happening on the track. They don’t understand our technology, ‘clipping’ or whatever it is, because it’s too technical.”
Why F1’s Missing Battery Graphics are Still Under Scrutiny
Stefano Domenicali thinks that most viewers don’t really need all the technical details, but the debate over Formula One’s battery graphics is still going strong. One of the main gripes this season has been the removal of the on-screen battery state-of-charge graphic, which made a brief appearance earlier in the year before disappearing from race broadcasts. With the new 2026 regulations, the battery level has become crucial since it plays a significant role in overtaking, defending, and energy management during races.
During a recent media session, Domenicali was asked why Formula One doesn’t show this information during critical moments, especially as the championship aims to grow its audience in the United States, where fans often expect detailed stats during live sports. He replied that only a small group of fans is interested in that kind of data, while most are just focused on the racing action. He likened it to the early days of DRS, suggesting that fans were more excited about the overtakes than the technicalities behind them. Domenicali also shared a chat he had with filmmaker George Lucas in Hungary, noting that newer fans are more captivated by the excitement than the engineering aspects.
On the flip side, critics argue that battery information is vital for understanding the current rules and doesn’t complicate the broadcasts. They highlight that Formula One already incorporates various live graphics, telemetry displays, and AWS-powered strategy insights, making the lack of battery data hard to defend.
