P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali expects Red Bull’s rivals to reduce the reigning champion’s consistent advantage in race trim next
Red Bull dominated the past year of Formula 1, winning all but one race and securing the Constructors’ Championship well in advance. Max Verstappen set a new record for consecutive victories, with 19 wins out of 22 races, surpassing Sebastian Vettel’s career wins. Despite Red Bull’s dominance, they were outpaced in qualifying on multiple occasions. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali hopes that the field will close up in race trim next season, citing the competitive qualifying sessions, where 20 cars were separated by less than a second. Domenicali believes that McLaren’s progress this year proves that teams can still develop their cars despite the budget cap. He expects the battle at the front to be closer next season, as teams showcase their engineering capabilities. Domenicali also dismissed concerns that Red Bull’s dominance has affected the popularity of the sport. He emphasized the continuous growth of Formula 1 and the importance of engaging both dedicated fans and those new to the sport.
