Domenicali: Asia Is Important in F1’s Growth Ambitions

Joining us now exclusively ahead of that is Stefano Domenicali, the sports president and CEO. Stefano, always good to have you with us. Thank you, Haslinda. First of Haze. I mean, it's making the city, I think, the most polluted in the world. Will that be impacting your race? Not really. I mean, we see that is a different kind of visibility, but it gives you a little bit of magic. And, seriously, no, that will not affect us. And, of course, that should be passed away. Actually, we know there could be some thunderstorm around that will, allow us to have an incredible weekend in Singapore as normally it is. And to think that... Actually, I think it's the seventeenth years that we are here. It seems to be here for the first time, the magic and the enthusiasm, the energy, and the business around our races is is phenomenal. So very, very happy to be here. So enough visibility, but is there a contingency plan in case it doesn't work out that way? No. It's alright. We have always contingency plan because, you know, we have a very important health and safety department. This monitor everything, but there's no there's no signal that this will be a problem at all during this weekend. And, of course, the race in Singapore comes on the back of the race in Malaysia. Some say that could mark the return of Malaysia onto your calendar. Well, it was an incredible event because people normally have a short minded memory because we were able to organize, you know, an incredible event in just two months from the first week of August to organize events like this dimension. It's it's incredible. Of course, there has been some logistics issue for some people at the exit, but that's, I would say, in the biggest picture, something that will be improved in case we gotta be back to Malaysia. What we are seeing, it's an incredible enthusiasm of a younger and younger audience in Malaysia cheering for the fans for... As a good fans to the drivers teams. And, of course, the prime minister, we met there, really expressed the interest of Malaysia to be back in the calendar. So it's great news. We're gonna discuss it. Let's see. But if I may ask, Linda, I think that what you said at beginning is very important. Everyone is talking where, you know, f one is growing. It's growing everywhere around the world, but Asia as an important objective for us. It's it's important for us to grow and to attract not only business, but also new fans. And, actually, the average people and the diversity we are we are getting here is fun... Is really good. So what kind of growth are you anticipating? We know that you have a huge fan base in China, for instance. We're talking about 200,000,000, and that's in China alone. What kind of, you know, growth can we see from this part of the world? So part of the world, we have more than 500,000,000 fans. That means it's a quite big dimension. We saw that But have billions in terms of population. But that's what I'm saying. When when everyone is asking me, what's next? What's next? What's next? We have done an incredible growth in the last five years. But the next five years, even more, but I would say stay focused on the next five, is is huge because the world is so big. So we need to think big, and the dimension of the population that you just said, Haslinda, in this head of the world is incredible. They are young. They are... They want to follow us. We are a a platform where sport is at the center, but we have business. We have technology. We have lifestyle. We have fashion. We are trying to get everyone around us to make sure that the Internet is growing. We need to be relevant. We need to be more relevant with the younger generation that have a span of attention that may be different. But if we're able to get in contact with them, with the right content, with the right quality things to say, I think that we should also evolve on what we're doing a sort of a social responsibility message. Sport unified the world. Sport has to be seen of something unique, and f l one wants to play a very important role about it. 24 races on your calendar right now. Everybody's trying to get a slice of the pie, and some are saying that perhaps Japan might have a second race after Suzuka. What are the chances of that? Well, to race in Japan, I would say quite difficult. We have a long list. Thanks god. It's a quality problem or a quality opportunity, let me say, in that way, because a lot of country wants to host events that is allowing us to push for quality improvement for the fans who are coming to leave events that are different one to one. That's what we want to do. And 24, I think, is the right number. The the the the the queue is very long, but that's really what I think will stay for the future. It might be nice. Bangkok is also looking to to to host this race. Might you be seeing more cities in Asia? There is an incredible interest from Thailand, from Japan, as you said, from Vietnam, from from China. So it's just up to us to find the right balance and knowing that the number is a limited number. For someone is too big, for somebody too small, I think that's the right number. You talk about growing the base. Perhaps India is the one to be looking at. It is 1,400,000,000 people. Might you take it there? Yeah. We we were there a couple of years ago. We went out because I think at that time, there was not the right foundation. I think the different strategy of India market is really try to create awareness. And then when the awareness is there from the people perspective, from the business perspective, be ready to go back. So it is a, for sure, a country with a lot of attention for us. We need to be there with the right products to attract the Indian population for sure. In terms of capital, do you see a lot more capital coming into the sports? Yes. Can you quantify that? Well, difficult to say. Reliant on Asian capital now? I think that, you know, we see partners out from this area of the world that they invest in Formula One. That is great. Also, some of them are based in in Singapore. And I think that everyone is understanding that the bigger... In the bigger picture, this sport is giving them an incredible opportunity to to be a globe, and that's where we are. You know, you talked about how 24 is the right number. I spoke to Jensen Button, the F1 world champion, and he talked about how 24 could be too many. He's getting old. Oh, my dear, You're getting old. Anyway, I love it. What is the trajectory for Ev One, you think, in the next twelve to twenty four months? Well, the trajectory is is keep growing, the attention, the awareness, in... Involving more and more diversified people. You know, almost 40, 50% depend on the region of the... From the female world landscape. Average age of 35 is getting younger and younger. That's what we love. And that is the beauty of our sport. Of course, here in our sport, you're racing the track, having great, you know, great race, great personality, great drivers, all young, all different. That's what we want. But we are inclusive in the way that we want to bring around more and more people that are watching us. Can you be inclusive if your ticket prices keep climbing? I think that's very... The answer is very simple. The market is giving you the answer. We have sold out everywhere. Sold out everywhere with a queue list of waiting, people who would like to host. Therefore, the the... I think that the balance of what we are offering is the right one. Otherwise, you know, we wouldn't be in that position. Of course, there are different proposition of pricing. GA, from the top end exclusive experience, is a world of experience, you know, thing. So I would say that's the answer. Stefano, we have to talk about about AI because AI is is invading every sector. To what extent is it, you know, shaping how the car is made, how the design is done, how perhaps even the sport is run? Well, definitely, it's a it's a big topic that we have discussed with the government body that is the FAA and the teams because one thing is very clear. Our sport is done by men and women who has to drive, who has to design. And so AI is a tool that if this helping technology to be faster in taking decision, is there a way to go? But no more than that. Could you be too data dependent? I mean F one is already data dependent because we have the best sport in making sure that they analyze what is happening on the track. Are all drivers at risk of losing their instincts? The driver will always use their instincts, and that would be a nonnegotiable factor. People wants to see human being taking the right decision, be brave, being unique. We have only 22 drivers, so we have only 11 teams in the world that are able to do that. That's the standard we have. And if I may, look back couple of years ago where four one was. Look today where it is, and I'm looking tomorrow. Four zero one will be one of the most important and incredible sport business platform that will grow significantly in the course of the next couple of years.