Hamilton: F1 couldn’t have chosen a better CEO than Domenicali

Lewis Hamilton doesn’t think Formula 1 could have picked a better replacement for Chase Carey than Stefano Domenicali as he labelled the news as “amazing”.

F1 confirmed on Friday ahead of the Russian Grand Prix that the former Ferrari team principal has been named as the new president and chief executive officer of the sport, replacing Chase Carey, who will become non-executive chairman.

Domenicali headed Ferrari from 2008 until 2014 and has since worked with the Volkswagen Group and as the CEO of Lamborghini, a role he has relinquished to take up the F1 position in January next year.

Six-times world champion Hamilton welcomed the news following Friday practice in Sochi.

“I know Stefano really well,” Hamilton said. “He’s one of the nicest guys that I know.

“Actually, I don’t think they could have really chosen someone better to replace some big shoes that Chase has. He’s done an amazing job and has always had such a great approach.

“Stefano, I think he’s got a great heart, he’s got a good family and good morals. So the future’s positive.”

Meanwhile, Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul said he believes Domenicali will have “plenty to offer” F1 given his vast experience in motorsport.

“He’s obviously got a very good knowledge of the sport itself, he’s got very good knowledge of how the sport can support the manufacturers,” Abiteboul added.

“Lamborghini obviously not being in Formula 1 but he also knows, probably, why they are not in Formula 1. So I guess he’s got a different, interesting perspective to offer in relation to that.”

Domenicalli’s appointment means that F1’s commercial rights holder and governing body will both be led by former Ferrari team bosses, while ex-Ferrari technical chief Ross Brawn is also heavily involved in the championship’s running in his position of managing director of motorsport.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner reckons Domenicali will prove to be a “real asset” for F1 and is sure the Italian will be “scrutinous in his impartiality”.

“I think it’s great for the sport,” Horner explained. “He’s one of the good guys.

“Having competed against him, when he was the team principal of Ferrari, he has a lot of integrity, he was a racer, a competitor, he understands the business.

“He’s spent life in a commercial world outside of Formula 1 for the last few years. He’s done a great job at Lamborghini and I think that he would be a real asset to Formula 1.

“Obviously you would look at the make-up at the top end of the sport with Jean Todt, Ross Brawn and Stefano and it looks like a mid-1990s or early -2000s Formula 1 set-up.

“But I don’t think that there’s any particular bias or love towards Ferrari from any of those individuals. So, I’m sure Stefano will be scrutinous in his impartiality.”

Asked if McLaren had any concerns about another ex-Ferrari boss being at the very top of F1, team principal Andreas Seidl replied: “Not concerned at all.

“I know Stefano very well. I’m sure he would handle being in that position. He’s the right guy to handle that in the right way.

“I personally rate him very highly, not just because of his experience that you mentioned in all these different jobs he did so far, but I also rate him very high as a person, as a character, and as a passionate motorsport guy.

“I think with all this experience he is having, running a track at Mugello, doing different jobs at Ferrari including team principal position, being the CEO of Lamborghini, I think he would be a great choice.”