Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has spoken positively about the current working relationship between the commercial rights holder and the FIA, praising the level of cooperation between the two entities that govern the sport.
Domenicali’s comments reflect the operational dynamic between Formula 1 and the FIA as the 2026 season unfolds. Formula 1, owned by Liberty Media, manages the commercial and promotional aspects of the championship, while the FIA serves as the sport’s governing body, responsible for technical and sporting regulations, race control, and licensing.
Partnership Under New Regulations
The relationship between F1 and the FIA has taken on heightened importance in 2026, the first year of the sport’s most significant regulatory overhaul in a generation. The new technical regulations, featuring revised chassis designs and power units with approximately 50 percent electrical output, required years of collaborative development between the two organizations.
Active aerodynamics, another cornerstone of the 2026 rules package, demanded close coordination on both the technical framework and the policing mechanisms needed to ensure compliance. The introduction of Cadillac as the sport’s eleventh team and Audi’s entry through the former Sauber operation added further complexity to the regulatory landscape.
Governance Structure in Modern F1
The division of responsibilities between Formula 1 and the FIA has evolved since Liberty Media acquired the commercial rights in 2017. While the FIA retains authority over sporting and technical regulations, race stewardship, and safety protocols, Formula 1 controls race promotion, broadcasting, sponsorship, and the commercial calendar.
Recent years have seen both organizations navigate sensitive areas including cost cap enforcement, technical directive interpretations, and stewarding consistency. The working relationship requires constant dialogue, particularly when commercial interests and sporting integrity intersect.
Domenicali, who previously served as team principal at Ferrari before joining the FIA as Single-Seater Director and then moving to lead Formula 1 in 2021, brings experience from multiple perspectives within the sport’s governance structure. His tenure has coincided with record commercial growth for the championship, including expanded race calendars and new market entries.
Looking Ahead
As the 2026 season progresses through its opening races, the F1-FIA partnership will continue to be tested by the demands of implementing new regulations, managing an expanded grid, and responding to technical challenges that emerge during competition. The next major checkpoint comes with the Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for early May, where teams will have had several race weekends to refine their understanding of the new ruleset.
The strength of the working relationship between Formula 1’s commercial leadership and the FIA’s regulatory authority will likely prove central to how smoothly the sport navigates this transitional period and addresses any unforeseen complications arising from the most ambitious regulatory reset in modern F1 history.