McLaren boss Andrea Stella says Formula 1 teams need to be “open to reinventing” as he gave his view on the sport rejigging how Grand Prix weekends are run.
Since Liberty Media acquired the commercial rights to F1 from Bernie Ecclestone in 2017, the sport has been progressing towards an ‘Americanised’ model of live entertainment.
This approach has paid dividends with F1 amassing a whopping $3.6 billion in terms of revenue last year.
A core strategy adopted by both Liberty Media and the FOM has been the revamping of the inherent format of Grand Prix weekends.
An idea that started with just three events in 2021 has now become a mainstay on the F1 calendar, with six Sprint Races littered across the board since 2023.
Stella applauded the efforts to increase fan engagement while also suggesting that the Woking-based team, along with the other teams on the grid, have a “responsibility” to uphold this rapid upturn in F1’s popularity, which includes being “open” to further ideas transforming the core of the sport.
“First of all, let me take the opportunity to praise the work done by Formula 1, by Stefano [Domenicali] and the F1 management because they have certainly led the growth of the business, which we all benefit from,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“We all have a responsibility to sustain this journey that F1 as an overall business is going through.
“As part of this responsibility, we need to be open to reinventing ourselves if this is needed to sustain this growth.
“The success of the Formula 1 business at the moment should not be taken for granted. Not all sports are having this kind of success across the board.”
Stella open to reviewing possible reverse grid suggestions
F1 CEO Domenicali has expressed his intention to propose a possible expansion of the Sprint Race format as well as the possibility of including reverse-grid races.
The particular topic of reverse grids has been a hot topic of debate within the F1 paddock and among the fans.
That said, the Italian stressed how it was at least necessary to give the idea its due regard, but, at the same time, strive to keep the sport’s DNA intact.
“We understand also that the fandom has changed, and it could be that there’s a need to review the way we approach free practice, the way we approach the entire race weekend,” he continued. “I think we have to be open to that.
“Obviously, we will try to be reasonable, we will try and protect some elements of the DNA of Formula 1, but definitely, I think it’s part of our responsibility to contribute.
“This is something we discussed recently in the F1 Commission, and it’s always going to be at the top of the agenda.”
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