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Domenicali tells F1 drivers to stop being "selfish" over criticisms

Formula 1 drivers have been told by its CEO Stefano Domenicali to stop being "selfish" in criticising the efforts of series bosses to improve the show.

Despite F1's dramatic boost in popularity under owner Liberty Media, there has been some kickback from drivers about certain aspects of grand prix weekends.

As well as some disapproval of the recent Miami pre-race entertainment show, F1's switch to a sprint race format at several weekends has not been universally popular.

Most recently, double world champion Max Verstappen suggested that if F1 continues down the path of more sprint races as part of a big expansion of the calendar, then he would have to consider his long-term future in F1.

But Domenicali, who helped lead the push to introduce sprint races, thinks it is wrong that drivers criticise aspects of F1 that have helped make grand prix racing more popular because it has helped to boost their own popularity.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Domenicali said: "I don't want a society in which people cannot say what they want. But drivers sometimes need to remember that they are part of a broader picture. We don't need to be selfish.

"They are part of this sport and this business, and it grows because we are thinking bigger.

"Sometimes being out of our comfort zone is not easy, but we cannot be lazy or complacent – just as we can review some of the specifics of the sprint weekend format at the end of the season once we have tried it out on the intended six occasions. We won't have sprints every weekend, either.

Source: Autosport

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