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F1 will not manipulate championship to slow down Red Bull

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says it would be an unfair “manipulation” to change rules mid-season to stop Red Bull running away with the championship.

Red Bull has been in a class of its own so far in 2023, with drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez winning all the races and already looking out of reach in the championship standings.

The scale of its advantage has left many anticipating that Red Bull could be set for a historic run of winning every race this year.

The lack of a fight at the front has, however, triggered concerns about F1 being a turn off for fans that could result in a downturn in television and fan interest.

Domenicali accepts from an excitement perspective it would be better for there to be a much closer fight for victory.

However, he is clear that it would be wrong for F1 or governing body the FIA to get involved in matters and impose any mid-season rule changes to help hold back Red Bull.

Speaking to the F1 Beyond the Grid podcast, and asked if he had considered stepping in, Domenicali said: “I think it is not fair to say that.

“It's not correct because we cannot be seen as part of manipulation. This is not correct, and this is not fair. I am not [imagining] at all this kind of approach.”

Rather than trying to engineer rule changes to make things more exciting, Domenicali thinks F1 is actually better off keeping things exactly as they are because that will better help Red Bull’s rivals close the gap.

“I think that's the right approach now, also because the rules have been changed not many years ago,” he said. “Therefore, this will happen for sure.”

Source: Autosport

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