Former Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali is poised to make a surprise return to Formula 1 as the CEO of the sport, RaceFans has learned from a source with knowledge of the situation.
The role of CEO will be relinquished by Chase Carey, who took up the position in January 2017 following Liberty Media’s takeover, and has recently overseen the successful completion of negotiations to extend F1’s Concorde Agreement with all 10 participating teams. Carey, who also holds the role of F1 chairman, is expected to retain links to the sport in an outward-facing role.Domenicali, 55, is well-connected both to Formula 1 managing director Ross Brawn and FIA president Jean Todt through his spell at Ferrari. Born in Imola and educated at the University of Bologna, Domenicali joined Ferrari in 1991. He took over from Todt in charge of the team in 2007 and oversaw its most recent championship success the following year, before standing down in 2014.
In December that year Domenicali took over as the head of the FIA’s single seater commission. Two years later he became the CEO of Lamborghini, which is now believed to be up for sale by parent company Audi.
Domenicali is expected to take over the role before the start of next season. Liberty Media declined to comment when approached by RaceFans.
The appointment of Domenicali means the top roles at both F1’s governing body and commercial rights holder will be held by former Ferrari principals. However Todt, who became FIA president in 2010, has indicated he will not seek re-election when his current term expires at the end of next year.
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2020 F1 season
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falken (@falken)
22nd September 2020, 21:53
Ferrari stich up. They’ve locked out the top three spots.
Josh Holland (@josh5holland)
22nd September 2020, 22:11
It’s the only top spots they can get at the moment.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
23rd September 2020, 1:44
Savage.
Good one.
BasCB (@bascb)
23rd September 2020, 7:14
Ha, good one @josh5holland!
Todfod (@todfod)
23rd September 2020, 6:36
@falken
Doesn’t change much. It’s not like that they will start winning even if they have every policy in their favour. Heck, they couldn’t win with illegal engines that were a second a lap faster than their rivals.
emuLOAD
23rd September 2020, 14:02
Considering how they treated Domenicali… not so sure that’s an advantage.
Jeffrey Powell
22nd September 2020, 21:55
I am not sure of the politics of this but I always liked this guy definitely the most personable character in recent F1 managment.
Retired (@jeff1s)
22nd September 2020, 22:02
Same here. He is a good bloke, let’s hope he is a good F1 CEO.
Shimks (@shimks)
23rd September 2020, 11:43
Agree.
Robbie (@robbie)
23rd September 2020, 16:06
Certainly in yesterday’s round-up @dieterrencken gives him a glowing review as a very good man and the perfect man for the job, so I’m good with that and happy to trust Dieter’s insight.
Aleš Norský (@gpfacts)
22nd September 2020, 21:55
Well, I would say that is a surprise…
Uzair Syed (@ultimateuzair)
22nd September 2020, 21:56
Another ex-Ferrari man as FIA boss, colour me shocked.
Uzair Syed (@ultimateuzair)
22nd September 2020, 21:58
*misread F1 as FIA, my bad.
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
23rd September 2020, 18:39
When I read the title I misread it too, and thought Mattia Binotto was being replaced by Stefano.
Jimmi Cynic (@jimmi-cynic)
23rd September 2020, 7:30
Getting the old band back together.
falken (@falken)
23rd September 2020, 8:46
Ferrari International Assistance (retirement division)
Kringle
22nd September 2020, 22:09
The Mafia of Formula One.
Bill Shorter
22nd September 2020, 22:25
I’m not sure what you mean by “mafia”. Can you elaborate please?
Chaitanya
23rd September 2020, 2:31
Burned bridges by this team with both Brawn and Domenically so these people dont have much motivation to help the maFIA.
William
23rd September 2020, 21:12
So Ferrari are Mafia?
This is a racist comment towards white Italians.
Just as bad as saying hamilton must be a drug dealer as he is black.
Paul Duggan
22nd September 2020, 22:11
“I think that anybody who’s been an active and important player in a certain team within the last few years, to take on that responsibility at F1 would automatically create conflicts of interest, perceived or otherwise,”
So said Louis Camilleri. So we should expect Ferrari to veto the appointment then?
Ronald (@mosquito)
23rd September 2020, 6:19
He left 6 years ago. Does that still count as last “few” years.
Paul Duggan (@pdduggan)
23rd September 2020, 9:54
Many of the people there are people he worked with and/or hired. So, I think that if Camilleri’s objection is valid then – for sure – it applies to this appointment.
Perhaps it was a BS objection in the first place though?
ian dearing
22nd September 2020, 22:12
I can’t decide whether to make a remark about ”so its a no no for a team boss like Wolf, but not this guy?’ Or ‘so Ferrari have total control over the sport now?’
But I’ll settle for ‘what a left field, completely brilliant pick.’ From what a few others have intimated; got out of Ferrari when he saw the ‘unique’ way they intended to go about their business in the future. Hope it turns out to be true.
cduk_mugello (@cduk_mugello)
22nd September 2020, 22:14
It’s mad how many exclusives this site has! I used to think “it’s not official until its reported by autosport”. I now think “it’s not official until its reported by RaceFans”. Bloody great job.
James
22nd September 2020, 22:24
Sycophant
Nick T.
22nd September 2020, 22:25
And to think how many more readers completely worthless sites like PlanetF1 have. It’s criminal.
bob (@riptide)
23rd September 2020, 8:48
If racing lines put up a decent system for us to comment on this site would be massive.
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
23rd September 2020, 16:42
i like their quizzes
ColdFly (@)
22nd September 2020, 23:00
Impressive indeed.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
22nd September 2020, 23:04
I have seen the famous Italian Motorsport magazine Autosprint citing RaceFans as a source with regard to a story broken about a new Mercedes sponsorship deal.
https://autosprint.corrieredellosport.it/news/formula1/2020/06/243092208/mercedes_possibile_nuovo_sponsor_e_la_rokit_ex_williams/
James (@knewman)
23rd September 2020, 1:59
yo for real!
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
23rd September 2020, 7:00
True. I read it first at Russian sport media quoting RaceFans.
JC
23rd September 2020, 7:05
Benson at the beeb must either have the same source(s) or wants to keep up with Racefans!
https://www.bbc.com/sport/amp/formula1/54259817
ColdFly (@)
23rd September 2020, 7:30
He was still 8.5 hours later and after Reuters referenced racefans.net and confirmed the rumours.
ian dearing
23rd September 2020, 8:46
He tweeted great scoop by Racing Lines.
Steven (@modtl)
22nd September 2020, 23:03
He was a good pundit last year on Channel 4. Came across as extremely likeable and knowledgeable. I’m sure he will do a great job as Formula 1 CEO. Hopefully he can get his old mates at Channel 4 the TV rights from 2025 onwards
😉😉
Matt
22nd September 2020, 23:24
Huge shoes to fill, Chase Carey has been brilliant. We are very lucky that CVC haven’t been in control of the sport during Covid as one shudders to think what might still be left.
Task number 1 for Stefano – please tell Ross & Co where to shove their silly reverse grid Idea. Grazie.
ColdFly (@)
23rd September 2020, 7:35
Huge stache to match!
DEfusion (@defusion)
22nd September 2020, 23:37
When I was watching the buildup to the Tuscan grand prix and they had him on talking about Ferrari I had 2 thoughts “wow I haven’t seen him in a while, wonder what he’s doing now” and also “he always seemed a great guy, a shame Ferrari shredded him up he should still be in F1”.
Probably his history with Ross Brawn helped him get a foot in but I can see him being a steady and sensible hand at the tiller.
And before anyone says anything I’m really not a huge fan of Ferrari.
Witan
22nd September 2020, 23:53
I am not at all sure it is healthy to have four ex-Ferrari senior staff at the top of the F1 pyramid: Todt, Brawn, Domenicali, Tombazis.
anon
23rd September 2020, 10:45
Witan, you could also ask whether it is necessarily entirely healthy for there to be an even greater personal conflict of interests for Todt when his son also manages Charles Leclerc – therefore creating a financial interest for Todt’s family with regards to the success of Ferrari and Leclerc.
Bio
23rd September 2020, 11:16
Brawn is ex-Mercedes as well and basically wrote the hybrid formula on their behalf…
MEGATRON M12 (@megatron)
23rd September 2020, 13:08
Brawn did not write any hybrid rules, he is not an engine man. Gilles Simon, on behalf of the FIA, lead the team which included representatives from Merc, Renault and Ferrari and observers from Cosworth and Porsche and possibly Honda as well. Last minute Ferrari forced a change from a I4 to a v6 delaying the change by at least a year. Stop repeating nonsense lies.
Bio
23rd September 2020, 13:33
Yep, this is the official version but Bernie thinks differently and I believe him more than anything Megatron (or anybody else) has to say. Btw your avatar doesn’t help either…
Agris Rūmītis
23rd September 2020, 0:32
so the question really is will Ferrari/Domenicali will take on to beat INEOS/Mercedes.
Green Flag (@greenflag)
23rd September 2020, 1:01
Domenicali resigned from Ferrari in April 2014, went to Audi and has been CEO of Lamborghini since March 2016. So his connections with Ferrari are no longer strong. But he’s an extremely competent manager who understands cars, motorsport and marketing, so F1 will in good hands for a long time – he’s young – 55 years old.
BasCB (@bascb)
23rd September 2020, 7:19
I think he still has quite a good line to many people within the team @greenflag. But then he seemed to work together well with many of the other teams when needed as well, and everyone speaks of him as a good guy.
This is a very good pick in my view. He understands the way of F1, Ferrari will have a hard time fooling him, he knows his way within German motorsports as well from the last few years and he seems to be a good manager with people skills to get things going.
Jim from US (@jimfromus)
23rd September 2020, 1:20
Diversity hire? Let’s see, former Ferrari employees hiring another former Ferrari employee. Maybe next year they can branch out and hire a Sicilian?
Scrough of Richland
23rd September 2020, 3:46
It would be Liberty hiring him, a US company.
I think his departure from Ferrari wasn’t amicable. I expect he would look after the interests of F1 as that’s what he’s paid to do and if he doesn’t he may end up back at Lambo.
BasCB (@bascb)
23rd September 2020, 7:20
Its the americans hiring an Italian here. And Brawn, while also an ex ferrari guy, then had his break and return with Honda/Brawn GP and Mercedes, so you can hardly call him a Ferrari man anymore @jimfromus
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
23rd September 2020, 2:49
I’m not sure I would accept this if I were Red Bull or Mercedes. It’s nearly ludicrous to have Brawn,Todt, and Domenicali in those positions. This can only be a joke. I’m sure that Helmut Marko has already accepted the position of President of F1 and Norbert Haug will be in charge of all engine development change decisions.
BasCB (@bascb)
23rd September 2020, 7:22
Yeah, I am sure Mercedes hugely objects to having Ross Brawn in a top role in F1 … @freelittlebirds. As for Red Bull, I think I even read that Red Bull had been in talks with Dominicali over Audi/VW/Lambo engagement in F1, so they too will feel very badly done for with this pick.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
23rd September 2020, 14:05
@bascb I agree that Brawn has ties to both Ferrari and Mercedes but it just seems that these folks have way too many ties to Ferrari.
Without a doubt Audi and Porsche should have had their own teams and engines in F1 and hopefully will in the future. It’s quite incredible that they are not competing in F1.
BasCB (@bascb)
23rd September 2020, 18:27
I think that it is just a case of VW weighing the cost vs rewards and also the strategy to get as far away from dirty dieselgate ICE units @freelittlebirds – with that, it was the sensible step to go Formula E with Audi.
And since VW seems to now be offloading both Bugatti and Lamborghini as well as Bentley (well, and SEAT, but who cares for that brand) I think it is even less likely we’ll see any of their brands anywhere near F1 soon.
Adam
23rd September 2020, 19:17
You do understand that toto wolff & Mercedes FIRED Ross Brawn right? How many favours do you think that bought them?
Andy Bunting (@wildbiker)
23rd September 2020, 5:49
Will this mean that fuel sensor gate decision will be reversed then?
emuLOAD
23rd September 2020, 14:04
This is F1 Management not the FIA
Qeki (@qeki)
23rd September 2020, 6:16
This came out of nowhere. Silly season is really going strong..
Jere (@jerejj)
23rd September 2020, 6:30
I didn’t see this coming, but a good choice if this happens. BTW, he became TP in 2008. Todt was still in that role the previous season.
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
23rd September 2020, 7:00
So it’s time for Toto to signed one year deal with Mercedes.
Scary Terry (@hatebreeder)
23rd September 2020, 8:58
So Ferrari vetoed Toto Wolff from taking that position claiming it’ll be unhealthy for the sport and then put their own man there? Did I understand this wrong?
emuLOAD
23rd September 2020, 14:03
If by their own man you mean the guy they kicked out unceremoniously after he dedicated his life to the firm? sure…
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
23rd September 2020, 14:07
yeah, the poor guy became the CEO of Lamborghini.
Alex Limpkin
23rd September 2020, 17:25
If your life is F1, Lamborghini is a huge disappointment.
Richard C (@rich156)
23rd September 2020, 11:29
lol, that’s going to put the conspiracy theorists amongst the pigeons.
Mikus Trikus
23rd September 2020, 12:45
So, Domenicali on top of Formula One Management
And Gerard Neveu stop WEC engagement at the end of 2020 and goes for FIA president in 2021
And, behind all of that you can see one person pulling the strings, but officially it’s someone who retired
Yes, I can see Jean Todt having a legacy
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
23rd September 2020, 14:08
LDM?
Mikus Trikus
23rd September 2020, 14:23
Luca has no chance today to say anything for Ferrari or FIA
No
G (@unklegsif)
23rd September 2020, 14:52
@keithcollantine @dieterrencken
Isn’t it the case that he CANT seek re-election, having run 3 terms?
G
Dieter Rencken (@dieterrencken)
24th September 2020, 10:58
There was talk that the FIA membership had discussed revisiting the election statutes given the havoc caused by Covid, although I believe it is no longer the case.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
23rd September 2020, 16:07
You forgot to mention my conspiracy on faceless, characterless yet opinionated critics. You can do better, write a counter argument, the least one can do.
NS Biker (@rekibsn)
23rd September 2020, 16:48
If Domenicali is taking over for Chase C. aka The Stache, then he is employed by Liberty Media.
This is a business. A BIG business. His involvement with the teams, the FIA and past employers should assist him in running THE BUSINESS.
There must be a reason that Liberty selected him to run their business and it is most likely with the expectation of making the business more profitable. And in the current climate(s) that is going to be a challenge.
Does Chase C. stay on as Chairman of Liberty Media.?
Alex Limpkin
23rd September 2020, 17:27
Not enough caps and bold.
Please amend for your next post.
Sav (@savizzo)
23rd September 2020, 18:23
i like domenicali but really he’s 55 . does he moisturise? .
Francesco
23rd September 2020, 20:25
Go against Domenicali only why was in Ferrari 7 years ago is undeserved; it should consider the entire carrer of the guy and his competence in automotive and motorsport. who compares the situation with the ban to Wolff is disingenuous. Wolff is now (not in the past) the boss of the most important team
William
23rd September 2020, 21:13
So Ferrari are Mafia?
This is a racist comment towards white Italians.
Just as bad as saying hamilton must be a drug dealer as he is black.
Dave
24th September 2020, 13:24
Yes please!