Formula 1 is preparing for a leadership change: will Stefano Domenicali renew or leave?
10/12/2024 03:50 AM
Stefano Domenicali has had a prominent career, starting at Ferrari where he held various roles, including Team Principal of the Maranello team. In 2020, he became president and CEO of Formula 1.
The Italian manager has been a key figure in transforming F1, which today is significantly different from the era when he was part of a team. However, his contract is expiring, and it is still unclear if and when he will sign a new agreement as CEO of Formula 1. The Italian was supposed to renew his commitment last summer, but the deal did not materialize. Currently, his contract has one year remaining.
According to the Daily Mail, Stefano Domenicali's supporters claim that there is nothing unusual and that the former Ferrari boss is handling negotiations his way, maintaining control over his future. However, the British newspaper also reports that Greg Maffei, the head of Liberty Media (the owner of Formula 1’s commercial rights), is seriously considering a leadership change at the helm of Formula 1.
Recently, legal director Sacha Woodward Hill left the company after 30 years of service, and perhaps Stefano Domenicali could follow her. A source told the Daily Mail: “The Americans might want to do some cleaning up. I believe Greg wants full control," which could also lead to Stefano Domenicali’s resignation.
The British newspaper is already speculating on who might succeed Stefano Domenicali. Among the candidates are Christian Horner, team principal of Red Bull Racing, Toto Wolff, boss of Mercedes, and Zak Brown, head of McLaren. Could there be another fierce battle, this time not on the track, but for the most important managerial position in Formula 1?
Perhaps a change at the top of F1 is necessary, but it’s risky to put figures like Toto Wolff, Christian Horner, or Zak Brown in such an important position. Why? Currently, these names are TPs or CEOs of their respective teams, which could create conflicts of interest and give them the opportunity to favor their own teams. For this reason, if Domenicali were to be replaced, it would be advisable to choose someone from the world of F1 who hasn't had direct ties to the teams in recent years.
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