Throughout a go to to the opening spherical of the MotoGP season in Portugal, Domenicali was interviewed by Portuguese channel SportTV for his ideas on varied subjects.
However it was one comment that induced a stir because it instructed that he was taking a look at a daring shake-up of the F1 weekend timetable.
“I’m a supporter of the cancellation of free observe periods, that are of nice use to the engineers however that the general public does not like,” he informed the broadcaster.
With F1’s proprietor Liberty Media not afraid to push new boundaries in terms of overhauling the grand prix format – having launched dash races – Domenicali’s remarks inevitably triggered ideas of one thing bolder being deliberate.
Nevertheless, the potential for F1 eliminating observe periods utterly is one thing that might be unpopular with rivals and followers.
Follow stays a vitally essential a part of a grand prix weekend, as it’s important for drivers and groups to work on set-up and tyre methods previous to the aggressive components of qualifying and the race.
Moreover, with in-season testing banned, the Friday periods are essential for permitting groups to check out new developments within the bid to assist transfer them nearer to the entrance of the grid.
For followers too, stable attendances at occasions on Fridays present that there’s an curiosity in seeing vehicles working extensively all through the day even when there isn’t any reward up for grabs.
Domenicali’s feedback shouldn’t be interpreted as F1 pondering the removing of observe periods utterly although.
As a substitute, it’s understood that it’s extra about ongoing discussions which are happening at F1 Fee stage concerning potential future modifications to the grand prix weekend format to assist make the present quantity of working extra thrilling.
For there may be an argument that on a typical grand prix weekend, three observe periods are too many.
Alex Albon, Williams FW45, Nyck de Vries, AlphaTauri AT04, Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo C43, Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-23, observe their begin procedures on the finish of FP1
Photograph by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Photos
The priority is it offers groups virtually an extreme period of time to hone their set-ups and technique for qualifying and the race, and due to this fact take away any potential jeopardy that comes from being under-prepared.
One of many successes of the dash weekend format is that the discount in observe working, with only a single session earlier than qualifying, has added a higher depth to the occasion.
Groups and drivers really feel extra on the again foot and which means the possibilities of slipping up are higher, one thing that makes issues much less predictable.
What Domenicali is actually referring to together with his feedback is whether or not there are methods that F1 can revise its timetable to make extra periods depend for one thing over a weekend.
It’s a matter he was open about final 12 months when, in an interview with Corriere della Sera, he talked about concepts like awarding factors for topping observe periods, or introducing a shoot-out format.
“In a standard weekend, the one consisting of free observe one and two on Friday, every session must be awarding both factors, or single qualifying laps, or a qualification for a special and shorter Saturday race, as an alternative of the third free [practice], maybe with the mechanism of the reverse grid,” he informed the Italian newspaper.
“We’re placing a number of issues on the desk. Lots of people say no, however we’ve got seen on some events the wonder (of blended grids delivering) extra overtaking.”
F1 has already talked about shifting the dash weekend format, to do one thing higher with the just about meaningless Saturday morning free observe session that takes locations after qualifying however earlier than that afternoon’s shorter race.
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-23, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL60
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photos
One technique to do it might be to have Saturday’s working as a whole standalone.
So Friday afternoon’s qualifying session would resolve the grid for Sunday, whereas Saturday would function a timed session within the morning to resolve the beginning order for a points-scoring shorter race later that day.
Whereas adopting the dash format in every single place just isn’t on the agenda, for the extra common weekends, F1 may take a look at providing factors for topping observe, which might assist add some curiosity for followers and make the periods extra partaking.
However such a change wouldn’t be with out its critics, as it might transfer F1 distant from the traditions of the championship.
It may additionally open up the chance of a world championship being selected a quiet Friday, moderately than on race day, if a driver wanted only a single level to place himself past the attain of his rivals.
Nothing is ready in stone simply but, and the discussions about what to alter are removed from nearing a conclusion, however what is obvious is that Friday working is right here to remain.
The true difficulty is how a lot observe is the correct amount for suiting what will be conflicting calls for between what the groups need and what’s good for the spectacle.
