Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali insists drivers are entitled to voice their opinions on the sport's power unit regulations and are not being silenced when they raise concerns.
The 2026 technical regulations have proven divisive, with Max Verstappen among the most vocal critics of rules that have altered the style of racing and driving seen on track.
Verstappen previously labelled the yoyo-style racing - where cars pass and are then re-passed - as "anti-racing", and joked at last month's Belgian Grand Prix that he might get shot outside the door if he spoke out against the regulations.
The Red Bull driver offered further clarity a week later at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
I've spoken my mind about these regulations already a long time, and in the beginning, most people were saying, 'ah, he's complaining; he should shut up'.
But I have to say that the last few races, more and more people are seeing the same thing that I could see coming already a long time, and it's not about me not liking not winning anymore.
It's just because I care about the product, and because I've said it many times, and at one point that's also enough, right? But of course, when people keep asking you, then yeah, maybe it's not appreciated always, but I'm just speaking. I'm just speaking my mind because you see certain things coming, and then sometimes people say, 'yeah, but this was a great race'.
I say, 'yeah, but it's not really realistic the way we are racing'. And then you arrive to some tracks, and yeah, you're driving on not a lot of horsepower for F1 standards, and it's a little bit painful, which I could see coming already for years. It's then, of course, not the most exciting. But at one point, I'm also a little bit just fed up with repeating myself because it's already hard enough just having to drive it.
Domenicali says he would rather tackle such issues privately in search of solutions, but stressed that he respects the views of every driver on the grid.
You know me, we are not here to put tape on the mouth of anyone. The beauty of our sport is that everyone can have an opinion, but the opinion is an opinion.
There is someone who has the duty to have a line. There are certain drivers that prefer, of course, certain things. That in the process we have highlighted the need to be constructive in that respect.
Domenicali: F1 is bigger than any driver
Back in March, Verstappen indicated he might reconsider his F1 future if the regulations were not amended for the following season, given his frustration with the new power unit rules, which carry a greater share of electrical power than in previous years.
The current balance sits at close to 50-50 between internal combustion and electrical power, though the FIA confirmed in May it had reached agreement with the teams to shift that ratio to 58-42 for 2027 and 60-40 for 2028.
Verstappen has since dropped any suggestion of walking away from the sport, although uncertainty persists over whether he will remain with Red Bull or move elsewhere. That uncertainty has been fuelled by comments from Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies, who revealed the team have been fielding interest from "good drivers" eyeing a future seat as the outfit works to retain Verstappen and close the gap to the front of the grid.
Verstappen has also addressed the wider upheaval at Red Bull, admitting frustration over recent exits from the team while insisting the departures are neither dramatic nor especially unusual within Formula 1.
Domenicali was unequivocal in his praise for the Dutchman.
Max is an incredible driver. I've stated so many times that maybe I'm getting older to repeat that!
Max is in a situation where if he loves Formula 1. We discuss together the regulations for the future. I have an incredible relationship with him.
F1 is big enough for him to be part of us, but of course he will decide his future, the way that he prefers to do. The sport will look ahead but my opinion is that Max will stay with us, and I really hope so, and that's what I'm stating. The sport is big, much bigger than anyone else, all of us.
Every race weekend this season has sold out, with attendance records tumbling across the calendar: 484,000 in Australia, 360,000 in Canada, 320,000 in Austria, 564,000 at Silverstone, 400,000 in Belgium and 310,000 in Hungary.
Fans focused on action, not technical detail
Domenicali pointed to F1's continued growth and recounted a conversation with Star Wars creator George Lucas, who suggested most fans care little about the technicalities of driving and far more about whether overtaking is happening on track.
I had an incredibly interesting discussion with George Lucas on Saturday. He was in Hungary, and he was giving me an incredible view on how the new fans are watching Formula 1.
He gave us an incredible clearance to see how we can really simplify things because the new fans are not understanding the truth, what is behind the scenes.
They are fascinated by the fact that there is a lot of action. There is definitely the need for those who are so focused on that to have the right information.
But, for the vast majority of the people, trust me, they just want to see what is happening on the track, not interested in the angle of throttle or the percentage of brake pressure on how you can take and overtake a driver.
For example, the incredible overtake of Max on Lewis at Turn 1 in Hungary, that was a piece of art, if I may say, that these people just want to see and just connect to the quality of the drivers.
Domenicali's defence of the regulations has extended beyond this latest comment. According to the Guardian, he has since doubled down on the claim that fans are "loving it", framing the backlash over the 2026 rules as coming largely from insiders rather than the broader viewing public.
Historical context and pre-season warnings
The concerns did not emerge suddenly. According to the Guardian, Domenicali held talks with all 22 drivers in Bahrain during pre-season testing and said F1 stood ready to make adjustments if the racing failed to meet expectations. Reports at the time, per Motorsport.com, indicated driver complaints centred on lift-and-coast driving and reduced intensity in qualifying, with Domenicali arguing the sport would make whatever changes were required.
Domenicali has also drawn on F1 history to counter the criticism. Per Sports Business Journal, he said critics have "short memories", pointing to the turbo era of the 1980s as a previous example of F1 grappling with similar energy-management challenges. He also told Yahoo Sports that the regulations were introduced for a specific reason and that the FIA remains open to listening to feedback from manufacturers and drivers to refine them, describing the current power unit split as roughly 50-50 between combustion and electric power - a balance that has been central to complaints about cars being "power-starved".
According to Autosport, Domenicali has repeatedly stressed that F1 is "not here to put tape on the mouth of anyone", while making clear he wants criticism to remain constructive and for discussions to take place behind closed doors rather than in public.
What happens next
Per the Guardian, F1's leadership says it will continue reviewing the racing product as the season progresses and will make changes if necessary, though no specific decision date has been made public. Domenicali has reiterated, according to Autosport, that the sport wants ongoing constructive dialogue with teams, drivers and manufacturers to shape future regulations.
Elsewhere on track, the title picture has continued to develop, with Verstappen and Lando Norris both praising the form of teenager Kimi Antonelli, whom Verstappen has described as rock solid during his start to the 2026 campaign, even as Mercedes boss Toto Wolff cautions it remains too early to crown him a title favourite.
The Formula 1 season resumes after the summer break with a Sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix from August 21-23, with every session live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime.
