Stefano Domenicali exclusive: F1 boss defends credibility and ‘trust’ after Abu Dhabi controversy

Watch the extended interview with the Formula 1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali and Martin Brundle during Sky Sports F1’s Bahrain GP coverage this weekend

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Formula One Group chief executive, Stefano Domenicali insists that fans can still ‘trust’ in the sport after the controversial finale to the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi.

Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali has denied that the sport needs to rebuild trust following last year’s dramatic Abu Dhabi GP title decider, insisting that “personal” decisions “are not relevant to credibility”.

In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle ahead of the 2022 season-opener in Bahrain, Domenicali also reiterated that F1 needs to “move forward” from the notorious finale last December – and hopes the FIA reveals what the lessons are from the event this weekend.

The controversial decisions from race director Michael Masi that culminated in Max Verstappen overtaking Lewis Hamilton on the last lap of 2021’s Abu Dhabi GP for the race and title win have understandably dominated much of the off-season in F1, despite the many exciting changes coming in for this year.

Brundle, interviewing Domenicali, says that many fans still believe the last race was a “fix” – which the F1 CEO and president vehemently denied.

“I have not for a single second in my mind thought that was something built on purpose,” he said. “As a sportsman, if I thought that was the case, I would not be there.

“And I can guarantee that from Formula 1’s perspective, that is not the case.”

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Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz says the FIA’s new Safety Car rule changes do not answer the questions surrounding the controversial season finale in Abu Dhabi last year.

Domenicali was also asked about “rebuilding trust”, to which he replied: “I think to be honest the trust is already there.

“We had last week a meeting with all the promoters. Almost all of where we’re going are sold out, that means Formula 1 is not that problem and it means the trust is there.”

The FIA, F1’s governing body, has conducted a review into the Abu Dhabi decider. They are due to reveal their findings from how the final laps unfolded after a World Motor Sport Council meeting this Saturday, although have already made changes with the under-fire Masi dropped as race director for 2022.

Domenicali believes his removal was a way of “protecting” Masi, and defended F1’s credibility.

“What we need to avoid is a personal discussion,” he said. “We are all human beings. you may say you are performing well as a driver, as a team, as a referee – but this is not relevant to the credibility of the sport if the sport will can take all the lessons in order to improve that.

“The credibility is passing through this kind of action and this is what we’re expecting the FIA to take on board in preparation of the next year.”

More to follow.