Method 1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali, has dismissed the notion that the game was adversely affected by the controversial finish to the 2021 season.
Max Verstappen and Sir Lewis Hamilton entered the ultimate spherical of a pulsating 12 months degree on factors, and it was the Dutchman that may begin the race on pole.
Nevertheless, Hamilton bought forward off the beginning and, regardless of the intervention of Verstappen’s team-mate, Sergio Perez, it seemed as if the seven-time champion was about so as to add an eighth, as he held a dominant lead over the 24-year-old.
However the Security Automotive was deployed late on after Nicholas Latifi crashed, and race director Michael Masi initially dominated that not one of the lapped automobiles might be allowed via attributable to time constraints.
READ: Lewis Hamilton reveals how Starbucks chairwoman and Star Wars director stopped him from retiring
The Australian modified his thoughts on the penultimate lap, and allowed solely 5 of them to get their lap again, inflicting confusion and controversy.
Verstappen took full benefit, passing Hamilton on the final lap to take the victory and his maiden championship, however followers had been outraged.
Some mentioned they might by no means watch a race once more; former driver Stefan Johansson revealed that there have been outstanding motorsport figures that instructed him they’d no real interest in tuning on this 12 months.
However the figures would recommend that, as soon as the storm blew over, followers had calmed down and plenty of of them got here to phrases with the truth that 2021 was performed; it was time to look forward to this 12 months.
Tv viewing figures have gone up 4.9 % worldwide on final 12 months, whereas the British and Australian Grand Prix each topped their attendance data.
Due to this fact, in Domenicali’s eyes, there was no harm performed to the game’s picture, and he believes that is all the way down to the motion the FIA have taken since December.
Masi was faraway from his place and changed by a mixture of Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich, with a digital management room applied to assist them out, in addition to the return of Herbie Blash as deputy.
“By way of picture, it’s like when there’s a soccer World Cup [final] and there’s a referee that’s making a mistake and there’s a penalty given that’s not there, but it surely’s there,” mentioned Domenicali, quoted by Racefans.internet.
“So I don’t suppose that may be a harm of the repute, of the solidity of the championship, as a result of that’s one thing that may occur.
“What I see, to be trustworthy, is that the FIA has taken significantly that truth and so they wish to change it and to enhance the system.
“However on the finish of the day, the efficiency of all of the individuals concerned in F1 has one thing associated to his private functionality or private expertise or private good choice or private errors, and that is one thing that might be at all times in each sport.”
The Italian additionally waved away any suggestion that the race was rigged in Verstappen’s favour.
“What I can, as a result of in any other case I wouldn’t be on this place, I by no means, ever suppose that somebody is doing one thing on function to be in opposition to somebody,” affirmed Domenicali.
“That is one thing that I can not settle for as a result of if I’d have just a little doubt about it, I wouldn’t be right here.
“You may have errors, sure, 100%, you possibly can say errors, groups or drivers, everybody can do it, however I don’t wish to choose one thing that might have been due to a private imaginative and prescient of one thing that has occurred as a broken repute for F1.”
The truth that the attendance and viewing figures haven’t taken successful, and the truth that extra huge numbers are anticipated within the coming races, is suggestive to Domenicali that F1 has solely grown for the reason that weird race eight months in the past.
“In the event you look [at] what’s the follow-up on what we’re having this 12 months, it’s immense,” he said.
“So if that may be so unfavourable, I wouldn’t see the numbers of individuals which might be coming to the races or following all over the place world wide.
“From Belgian as much as the tip, all of the grand prix are offered out, so lots of people have already booked the tickets to return.
“So Belgium every single day might be greater than 120,000 individuals; Zandvoort, you possibly can think about, the identical; Monza greater than 250,000 tickets offered; Singapore offered out and that’s actually one thing that’s already a reserve.
“So, I actually hope that we’re going to have an ideal race and an ideal second a part of the season.”
With eight wins to his identify in 2022, Verstappen leads Charles Leclerc by 80 factors within the Drivers’ Standings heading into spherical 14 in Spa this weekend, however the former Ferrari boss continues to be optimistic that this 12 months’s battle can go all the way down to the wire.
“From the industrial perspective, I’d like to see one other season the place you going to reach on the final lap of the final race – possibly with much less this confrontational level – as a result of that may be terrific, it might be incredible,” added Domenicali.
READ: Lewis Hamilton makes retirement admission after being ‘cheated’ by Michael Masi
“80 factors, they’re so much, however in F1, additionally from my earlier expertise, it’s important to say ‘by no means say by no means’.”
Domenicali cited his first season accountable for Ferrari in 2007, when Kimi Raikkonen overturned a deficit to beat Hamilton to the championship within the last spherical in Brazil.
“Bear in mind 2007, two races to go, we had been behind by 17 factors and Kimi was in a position to win the championship in Brazil and nobody was anticipating that,” he said.
“I do know it’s a giant quantity, however I don’t see why Ferrari ought to [not get] again once more within the battle with Purple Bull.
“Purple Bull is a really sturdy crew, Mercedes will develop. However actually the one factor that I can say – as a result of I can not touch upon what due to my place, as you possibly can perceive – is that they shouldn’t quit in any respect as much as the final second.
“As a result of we’re going to have loads of a surprises, I’m positive, within the second half of the season, in all dimensions. So errors, reliability, climate situations, who is aware of?”
Purple Bull lead Ferrari by 97 factors within the groups’ battle, with Mercedes an extra 30 factors again.