Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Monza, 2025

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says the series’ classic venues must not assume they have a right to remain on the calendar.

He wants historic circuits to invest more to upgrade their facilities in order for F1 to keep visiting them.

Asked whether the heritage value of F1’s classic venues is enough to ensure they will feature on future schedules, Domenicali told BSMT: “No, in the sense that obviously if a grand prix has this historical value it is a plus in the table of considerations, but it is not enough.”

The new F1 fans he is keen to court do not distinguish between older tracks and new ones, Domenicali believes. “It is an element that gives history and is important for those, like me, who have been following Formula 1 since they were a child,” he explained.

“But for the new fans who come to follow Formula 1 now – it will seem strange to you, but if you look, and we have this data because they are fundamental to us, the ability to turn the page and scroll through the news and to forget what he won last year is very high. So for many young people who follow Formula 1 today, going to race in Monte-Carlo compared to the new Las Vegas circuit makes no difference to them. So this is not a fundamental element for us.”

Since Liberty Media took over F1 in 2017, the series has continued to shift away from heritage European venues to new circuits in the Middle East and elsewhere. Some venues have been dropped entirely while others, such as Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, will only host races in alternate years.

Domenicali says older circuits must invest in their facilities in order for F1 to keep coming back.

“Just to give you the idea, history must be supported by a structure that looks to the future, that allows investment in infrastructure to improve – since tickets are not exactly cheap – to provide services to fans at all levels,” he said, “and to allow countries to be financially present in a calendar that I think won’t grow beyond the number [of rounds] we have today.”

The 2026 F1 calendar will feature 24 rounds, matching the peak seen in the previous two years. However there are spaces for new venues to join the calendar after then as Zandvoort will drop from the schedule and Spa’s race will become rotational.

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