Italy is increasingly a protagonist in Formula 1. The feats of Andrea Kimi Antonelli are attracting an ever younger audience, also thanks to the spontaneity of the twenty-year-old local driver. Certainly, the presence of an Italian at the top of the world championship encourages Italian politics to invest in Formula 1, particularly in the modernization of the Monza Circuit. Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1, spoke about future projects for the Italian race in the Monza paddock together with the local press, including FormulaPassion, announcing Brianza as the venue for one of the many Sprint weekends in 2027.
Increasing Sprint
On the eve of the Italian Grand Prix, Domenicali confirms what had already leaked in recent months regarding next year: “Yes, there will be Sprint at Monza”. In 2027, moreover, there will no longer be six Sprints. The number of weekends with the alternative format is set to increase, although it will not become the entirety of the season: “There will be more, but not like in MotoGP, that is the whole calendar. They will be less than half”.
“Today’s youth are not interested in Fridays when testing takes place”, Domenicali reiterates. “They are interested in the content. I am the first who, being old-fashioned, had some doubts when we proposed this thing, but in the end the data does not lie. Among promoters, the press and fans, the vast majority defined it as a dynamic format that also brings interesting things from a commercial point of view”.
Italy returns to the spotlight
Speaking of Monza, Domenicali positively comments on the projects underway: “When a track is lucky enough to have an important history like Monza, it is a competitive advantage compared to others. What has been done in the past, however, must be projected into the future, to the evolution of infrastructure. The possibility for fans to share a historic track with a tradition of over 100 years is certainly a strength, if it is interpreted in a way to continue investing”.
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“Some investments that were supposed to be ready this year will be next year. As an Italian, I understand that when talking about public administration and certain regulations, there are somewhat slower processes and projects proceed at a different pace compared to Formula 1. I can say, however, that I see a clear willingness to leverage the history of this place to look to the future. If this were not the case, Monza would be in a different situation for next year”.
According to Domenicali, all this reflects a different vision of politics towards Formula 1: “There has been some awareness that this sport is not limited to the sporting dimension, but also generates interest outside of it. For example, while we were talking about the renewal and who should be part of the agreement, I saw that everyone wanted to pull water to their own mill. Formula 1 is therefore recognized as a new sports platform with a larger dimension and has seen our country return to the spotlight. I see that the president of the ACI is very present in the discussions and that our country has also understood the political relevance of this sport”.
The Kimi factor
Speaking of Italian identity, Antonelli is also playing an important role, whose charisma is attracting a younger audience. “He is a boy who faces this great responsibility of being at the top of the world championship with a lightness typical of all young people”, reflects Domenicali. “This naturalness and freshness in presenting himself as he is is an element that attracts. Young people his age identify with him and so he is a driving force. Obviously he remains a serious professional, but maintains the joviality typical of that age. He does not yet have the weight, which I hope he never has, of feeling trapped in having to be the professional driver who must behave in a certain way. This naturalness of his personally pleases me”.
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