Stefano Domenicali says Formula 1 fans rate 2026 season higher amid regulation and calendar debates
Formula 1’s Fan Voice programme, which surveyed about 60,000 spectators, showed that the share of fans rating the 2026 races as "good" or "excellent" rose by 6 percentage points to roughly two‑thirds of respondents. The sport’s president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali highlighted the positive trend while acknowledging criticism of the newly introduced technical rules.
Domenicali also warned that the 2027 race calendar, normally released in autumn, could be delayed because of the unresolved Middle‑East conflict. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were cancelled in April; the Bahrain round is planned to be moved to Sepang in Malaysia, with a tentative date of 2‑4 October.
In a separate interview, Domenicali cited a recent meeting with filmmaker George Lucas as the reason for gradually removing battery‑charge data from the televised graphics, a move that has drawn criticism from fans seeking more technical insight. The organisation also considered additional regulatory tweaks to suit driver Max Verstappen, but said insufficient support from teams and engine manufacturers prevented a more aggressive overhaul.
Overall, the sport’s leadership emphasised that Formula 1 remains “more and more fascinating”, pointing to strong global demand for races and ongoing adjustments to the championship’s technical and commercial framework.
Entities: Bahrain Grand Prix · FIA · Formula 1 · George Lucas · Max Verstappen · Stefano Domenicali
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Battery‑charge data has been gradually removed from televised F1 graphics since the start of the 2026 season. (264f7703-31c5-4e0c-a45b-3231d2001559)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Stefano Domenicali said the 2027 calendar will be published in autumn but may be delayed to year‑end because of the Middle‑East situation. (ff61eecc-ecd1-4bd1-8c77-1c7a3a479913)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Formula 1’s Fan Voice survey of about 60,000 fans showed a 6 percentage‑point increase to roughly 66 % rating the 2026 races as good or excellent. (94bfb5c3-190a-4242-8827-d1de27c0629c)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Domenicali said the sport is becoming “more and more fascinating” with high global demand for races and confirmed Sepang will host the Bahrain Grand Prix on 2‑4 October. (d058cae1-5b72-41a3-a655-4bccab4f8043)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Formula 1 considered further regulatory changes to better suit Max Verstappen, but lacked sufficient support from teams and engine manufacturers. (e10833c4-688e-4ecd-bdfc-7476bedae70c)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Max Verstappen was critical of the 2026 technical regulations, while Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord noted recent adjustments and positive impacts. (3eb41c64-aae5-458d-8374-8e3c2b7fd131)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were cancelled in April, with the Bahrain race to be relocated to Sepang in Malaysia over 6,000 km away. (ff61eecc-ecd1-4bd1-8c77-1c7a3a479913)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Domenicali cited a recent meeting with George Lucas as the reason for removing battery‑charge data from broadcast graphics. (264f7703-31c5-4e0c-a45b-3231d2001559)