Stefano Domenicali

Early Life & Education

Stefano Domenicali was born on May 11, 1965, in Imola, a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy — the same city that hosted the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, a circuit intimately connected to the history of Formula 1 and Scuderia Ferrari. Growing up in a region steeped in motorsport culture — the Emilia-Romagna “Motor Valley” is home to Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Ducati, and Dallara — Domenicali developed an early affinity for the sport.

He pursued higher education at the University of Bologna, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world, where he studied economics and business administration. His academic background in business finance would prove formative in his later ability to manage the commercial and strategic dimensions of both Ferrari and, ultimately, Formula 1 itself.

Career at Ferrari (1991–2014)

Rise Through the Ranks

Domenicali joined Scuderia Ferrari in 1991, at age 26, in an administrative role within the sporting department. Over a 23-year association with the Maranello team, he rose steadily through the organization — working across personnel management, logistics, and operations. His ascent was notable for spanning both the late-Barnard/Alesi era of Ferrari and into the transformative Todt-Schumacher dynasty that delivered five consecutive Constructors' Championships (1999–2004).

During the Schumacher era, Domenicali served in supporting operational management roles, working alongside technical director Ross Brawn and sporting director Jean Todt — gaining an inside view of what the most dominant constructor in the sport's history looked like from within. His progression was rewarded when he was appointed to the senior management structure ahead of the team's post-Schumacher transition.

Team Principal (2008–2014)

Following Jean Todt's departure to become FIA President, Domenicali was appointed Ferrari Team Principal ahead of the 2008 season. He inherited a competitive package — and in his debut season, Kimi Räikkönen had just won the 2007 Drivers' Championship. In 2008 he oversaw a season in which Felipe Massa came agonizingly close to the Drivers' title, losing to Lewis Hamilton by a single point on the final lap of the final race in Brazil.

Ferrari won the 2008 Constructors' Championship under Domenicali's leadership — the team's most recent constructor title to date. The following years were marked by fierce competition with Red Bull Racing and the emergence of Sebastian Vettel as a dominant force. Ferrari challenged strongly in 2010 and 2012 with Fernando Alonso at the wheel, with the Spaniard twice finishing runner-up in world title battles with Vettel that went to the final race.

Departure (April 2014)

On April 13, 2014, following a difficult start to the season — with Ferrari struggling against the new turbo-hybrid regulations introduced that year — Domenicali resigned as Team Principal. In a dignified statement, he accepted responsibility for the team's results and expressed personal conviction that a change of leadership was in Ferrari's best interests.

“I have decided to take responsibility for the current situation and to leave my position as Team Principal. This decision is one of the most difficult — and painful — that I have ever had to take. But I felt it was the right one for Ferrari.”

His departure was widely characterised as graceful. He remains the only Ferrari Team Principal to have voluntarily resigned rather than been dismissed — and his reputation within the paddock remained intact. He was subsequently involved with the FIA in various advisory capacities before his transition to Lamborghini.

CEO of Automobili Lamborghini (2016–2020)

In 2016, Domenicali was appointed CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, the iconic Italian supercar manufacturer also headquartered in the Emilia-Romagna Motor Valley. The appointment returned him to a senior executive role within the Volkswagen Group's prestige portfolio, alongside brands such as Bentley, Bugatti, Porsche, and Audi.

During his tenure at Lamborghini, Domenicali oversaw the launch of the Urus — Lamborghini's first SUV — in 2018, a vehicle that would prove transformative for the brand's commercial profile. The Urus effectively doubled Lamborghini's annual sales volume and opened the brand to a broader global demographic, while also generating significant criticism from traditionalists who saw an SUV as antithetical to Lamborghini's identity.

Under Domenicali, Lamborghini posted record sales figures in 2019 and expanded its presence in Asian markets. His ability to navigate the commercial expansion of an aspirational performance brand — growing revenues while preserving brand cachet — directly informed the strategy he would later apply to Formula 1.

President & CEO of Formula 1 (2021–present)

Domenicali was announced as President and CEO of the Formula One Group in September 2020, succeeding American business executive Chase Carey, who himself had replaced the long-serving Bernie Ecclestone after Liberty Media acquired Formula 1 in 2017. Domenicali formally assumed the role on January 1, 2021.

His appointment was greeted with near-universal enthusiasm in the paddock. As a motorsport insider who had spent 23 years at Ferrari and understood the technical, sporting, and political complexities of the sport from the inside, Domenicali brought credibility that none of his recent predecessors could match. He was of Formula 1 in a way Chase Carey — a cable television executive — was not.

Commercial Expansion & Revenue Growth

The most immediately striking achievement of Domenicali's tenure has been the commercial transformation of Formula 1. In 2021 — his first full year — the sport's revenues reached approximately $2.1 billion, recovering from a COVID-impacted 2020. By 2023, total revenue had surpassed $3.2 billion, and 2024 and 2025 figures have continued to grow, driven by race promotion fees, media rights, and sponsorship.

New Grands Prix & Calendar Expansion

One of Domenicali's defining contributions has been the deliberate expansion of F1's race calendar, particularly into the United States and Middle East, which he identified as high-growth commercial markets.

• Miami Grand Prix (2022) — Formula 1's second US race, held at the Formula 1 Miami International Autodrome around Hard Rock Stadium. Became an immediate cultural phenomenon, attracting celebrities and generating more than $400 million of economic impact for the region in its first year.
• Las Vegas Grand Prix (2023) — F1's third US race and the most commercially ambitious addition to the calendar, held on the Las Vegas Strip. Liberty Media owns and operates the race directly — a unique arrangement that allows maximum revenue capture. The inaugural event generated over $1 billion in local economic impact.
• Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (2021) — A street circuit in Jeddah, added to bring F1 to the Gulf region as part of a lucrative long-term deal. Controversial due to Saudi Arabia's human rights record, but commercially significant.
• Qatar Grand Prix (2023) — Added to the permanent calendar as part of F1's Middle East expansion, complementing the existing Bahrain and Abu Dhabi rounds.
• Madrid Grand Prix (2026) — Confirmed for 2026, replacing the Barcelona Spanish Grand Prix at a new street circuit layout in Madrid's IFEMA exhibition complex.

Media, Digital & Entertainment Strategy

Domenicali has embraced and accelerated the entertainment-first strategy that Chase Carey began with the commission of Formula 1: Drive to Survive for Netflix. Under Domenicali's tenure, the series — which provides behind-the-scenes access to team and driver narratives — expanded to six seasons and is widely credited with driving a generational shift in F1's fanbase, particularly in the United States, where viewership on ESPN grew by over 50% between 2018 and 2023.

Beyond Netflix, Domenicali has overseen:

• New broadcast deals in the US (ESPN), UK (Sky Sports), and emerging markets including India and Southeast Asia
• The expansion of the F1 Arcade hospitality and entertainment brand to major global cities
• A partnership with EA Sports covering the official F1 video game franchise and esports competition
• Aggressive social media and short-form video strategies on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, targeting younger demographics
• The development of F1 TV Pro — Formula 1's own direct-to-consumer streaming platform available in markets where traditional broadcast rights are not exclusively licensed

Controversies & Criticisms

Calendar Overload

Domenicali's expansion to 24 races has drawn sustained criticism from drivers, team personnel, and commentators who argue the calendar is too demanding on both human and mechanical resources. Multiple drivers — including Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Fernando Alonso — have publicly questioned the sustainability of a 24-race season, raising concerns about burnout and the erosion of race prestige when Grands Prix become weekly occurrences.

Human Rights & Sportswashing Criticism

The addition of Saudi Arabian and Qatar Grands Prix, alongside the existing Bahrain and Abu Dhabi rounds, has subjected Domenicali to persistent criticism from human rights organisations who accuse Formula 1 of facilitating “sportswashing” — using the sport's global brand to improve the reputations of authoritarian governments. Domenicali has consistently defended the presence, arguing that “engagement is better than isolation” and that F1's presence creates a platform for positive dialogue. Critics remain unpersuaded.

Traditional Circuits Under Threat

F1's pivot toward high-fee city circuits and new markets has put pressure on historic European venues — including the Belgian Grand Prix (Spa-Francorchamps) and the Spanish Grand Prix (Barcelona, replaced by Madrid in 2026) — which struggle to match the race fees paid by Gulf sovereign wealth funds and American city promoters. Many within the sport view this as a commercial prioritisation that risks alienating the European fanbase that built F1's foundational audience.

Personal Life

Domenicali is married and has children. He is known for maintaining a low personal profile compared to his public executive role, rarely engaging in gossip or personal controversy. He speaks fluent Italian, English, and French— a linguistic range that reflects the international nature of both the Formula 1 paddock and his years operating across European corporate environments.

He is based in the London area, where Formula One Group is headquartered, while maintaining close ties to Italy and the Emilia-Romagna motorsport community. He is widely regarded in the paddock as approachable, political in the best sense — able to manage the fiercely competing interests of 10 constructor teams — and deeply knowledgeable about every dimension of the sport.

Legacy & Assessment

It is difficult to overstate the scale of Formula 1's transformation under Domenicali and Liberty Media. When he took over in January 2021, the sport was emerging from its worst commercial year in decades (COVID-impacted 2020). Five years later, F1 is arguably the fastest-growing major sports property on the planet — with revenues more than 85% above pre-pandemic levels, a younger global fanbase, growing US footprint, and a cultural presence it has never previously enjoyed.

The “Domenicali formula” — if it can be called that — consists of three core elements: (1) expanding the calendar into high-fee, high-visibility city markets; (2) leveraging media partnerships to tell human stories behind the technical competition; and (3) treating Formula 1 as an entertainment brand, not merely a sporting competition. Critics argue this dilutes the sporting purity of the championship; supporters point to the numbers.

“Formula 1 is not just about what happens on the track. It is about everything that happens around it — the culture, the energy, the global conversation. That's what we are building.”

Whether the infrastructure of multiple US Grands Prix, expanded Middle East dates, and 24-race calendars proves sustainable — financially, operationally, and from a sporting quality standpoint — will likely define the final assessment of his tenure. For now, the commercial record is unambiguous.

See Also

• Formula 1 — The Complete Guide
• Formula1.com — Official Website
• Stefano Domenicali — Wikipedia
• Formula One Group — Wikipedia

References

1. Formula1.com — Domenicali appointed President and CEO of Formula 1, September 2020
2. BBC Sport — Domenicali resigns as Ferrari team principal, April 2014
3. Autosport — Ferrari under Domenicali: A statistical review
4. Motorsport.com — Domenicali's commercial transformation of F1
5. Forbes — Formula 1's revenue growth and business model analysis
6. The Guardian — Formula 1 calendar controversy and calendar expansion