Horner Confident of No “Love Towards Ferrari” as Stefano Domenicali Becomes F1 CEO

We’ve had teams changing names as well as ownerships this season. In addition, we’re anticipating drivers swapping teams in the hunt for success.

Formula 1 is on the verge of a major change from 2021 season and we are to see a new F1 CEO. Replacing Chase Carey, Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali will be taking charge soon enough. Even though the confirmation is yet to arrive, the news is creating quite a buzz in the circuit.

Backing the expected appointment, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner issued a statement in favor of the Italian. The former Ferrari Team Principal was on the receiving end of some compliments from his past rival.

“The news about Stefano seems to be a fairly open secret,” said Red Bull’s Christian Horner. “If he takes that role I think it’s great for the sport. He’s one of the good guys, having competed against him when he was the team principal of Ferrari.

“He had a lot of integrity, he was a racer, a competitor, he understands the business. Obviously he spent life in the commercial world outside F1 last few years. He’s done a great job at Lamborghini, and I think he will be a great asset to F1.”

Stefano Domenicali will not play the nepotism card

The appointment of Stefano Domenicali came with speculation that he’ll be favorable to Ferrari. Since he headed Ferrari for some years and he himself hails from Italy, the speculation holds some weight upon itself.

However, Horner is quick to mention that these men of honor who occupy the rank above are not particularly biassed towards any specific racing unit.

“You look at the make-up of the top end of the sport, with Jean Todt, Ross Brawn, and Stefano and it looks like a mid-nineties or early 2000s [Ferrari] set-up, but I don’t think that there’s any particular bias or love towards Ferrari from any of those individuals.”

Other principals back him as well

The support is not only restricted within Red Bull. McLaren chief Andreas Seidl and Renault chief Cyril Abiteboul extend their support as well. Managing the Ferrari unit for seven long years gave him quite an exposure to the management side of the game. His successful contribution as the CEO of Lamborghini too will be coming handy to manage F1.

His stint away from F1 gave him the perspective to look at the sport from the viewers’ point of view. Therefore, the upcoming changes in F1 will be favorable for the viewers and help in increasing the popularity of the sport.