Stefano Domenicali requested Mercedes and Red Bull to repair their tumultuous relationship that got a lot worse in 2021.
The championship tussle between the two teams this year went right down to the wire. The two rivals couldn’t be separated, with each winning one championship each.
The hatred between the two teams started off as a simmering flame and became an absolute volcano towards the business end of the season. There were clashes during press conferences, media meetings and even on track.
The ugly nature of the dynamic between the two teams spilled over to cast a dark shadow over the sport. As such, Domenicali requested Mercedes and Red Bull to repair their relationship.
“Those who live with certainties mean that they sleep well!” the F1 CEO said, as quoted by motorsport.com.
“But we have many doubts and we have to face them. We have issues that will eventually have to be managed.
“We will have to evaluate day-by-day the relationship that must be recovered between Red Bull and Mercedes, to avoid the personal clashes that we have seen that serve no benefit.”
Time for change
Domenicali also gave his thoughts on the new FIA president, and welcomed him to the F1 family.
“We have already spoken with the president. We talked about the priorities he will have to face, and there are many,” he said.
“But, at this stage, it is right to remain silent so as not to create further controversy in an area that was very overheated. But I would like to say that we come from an extraordinary season, followed by more than two billion people.
“The last Abu Dhabi GP was the most followed sporting event in 2021. These are stratospheric numbers that we must be proud of.
“With the change of presidency within the FIA there may also be a change in the balance within the FIA, which for us has an absolutely fundamental role,” he concluded.
Read more: Domenicali surprised to see Hamilton snub in fan poll – “Drive to Survive has played a big part”