F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has once again annoyed many loyal fans. At the start of the summer break, he already raised eyebrows when he stated that ‘fans have no interest in technical details’. At Zandvoort, he again questions the involvement of the average supporter. While many drivers have complained in recent months about excessive clipping due to the new regulations, Domenicali thinks many fans don’t even know what that term means.
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In Formula 1, clipping occurs when the battery can no longer deliver power at the end of the straight. Due to the lack of electric support, acceleration levels off or the car even loses speed, even if the driver fully presses the accelerator pedal. Because cars in 2026 increasingly rely on electric drive, many drivers complained about superclipping in the first half of the season.
‘Many fans see a clip as something to put in your hair’
Drivers like Max Verstappen – and with him many of his most loyal fans – believe that the lack of speed on the straight undermines the core of the sport. The Dutchman has therefore often spoken out against the current direction of Formula 1. Steps will be taken in the future to reduce the emphasis on energy management, but according to Domenicali, many F1 fans are satisfied with the product anyway.
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“There are passionate motorsport fans who talk about clipping during an F1 weekend,” he responded in an interview with De Telegraaf. “But there will also be many who see a clip as something to put in your hair.” His statements are widely shared on social media and there is now a downpour of negative reactions from the fan community. Domenicali was already unpopular before the summer break when he said that fans are not waiting for technical details. “The vast majority just want to see what happens on the track,” he dismissed the criticism of the regulations.
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Read everything about the Dutch GP in Zandvoort here
