Why Domenicali is good for junior racing

The appointment last winter of Stefano Domenicali to the presidency of the FIA Single Seater Commission brought a rare reaction: not only was the hierarchy of the sport's governing body happy, but so were most of the notoriously cynical and battle-hardened teams.

The ex-Ferrari Formula 1 team chief is renowned as 'a good bloke', someone with a passion for the sport and who, let's face it, is well equipped to deal with any behind-the-scenes machinations after his lengthy stint at Maranello.

Had Domenicali not been forced into making technical chief Aldo Costa the Ferrari sacrificial lamb during the 2011 season, then arguably both would now be feted as having brought Formula 1 title glory to the Prancing Horse, especially in light of Costa's vast contribution to Mercedes' current success.

Now Domenicali is charged with continuing the work put into place by former Single Seater Commission president Gerhard Berger.

I must admit to admiring the way Berger kept to his vision of sledgehammering the path for a new, and vastly successful, Formula 3 European Championship, and putting into practise the concept of FIA Formula 4, although we shouldn't forget that F4 was a plan that originated from the initial commission president, Macau Grand Prix 'overlord' Barry Bland.

Some say that Berger killed national F3, but I'm not convinced. He took over at the Commission in time for the 2012 season, when British F3 had a slender field of 12 cars in the top class, the Euro Series was similar in number, and no other European-based F3 championship was running to FIA regulations.

'Good bloke' Domenicali was key player and popular character in Formula 1 © LAT

Something needed to be done, and Berger's biggest fault - if you can describe it that way - was that his relentless commitment to what he thought was right ruffled feathers and left some of those who make their living from the sport feeling as though he wasn't listening to them.

Then again, in a sporting arena, how often do things get done when committees are in charge? The history of Indycar competition is a case in point.

Domenicali takes over at a point where there are 36 cars in the F3 European Championship, around 50 current-spec F3 Dallaras in Europe, and well over 100 cars worldwide in F4, with the 'baby' category set to expand further in 2016 - that's a pretty decent legacy for Berger.

So, apart from finding a concept for the new FIA Formula 2, the Italian's task is one more of consolidation at F3 and F4 level.

Whereas Berger's drive was in streamlining the ladder to make a clear path for drivers from karting to F1, it's clear that Domenicali has widened the horizons towards making them into more-rounded competitors.

"When you are talking about young people, sometimes when they come to F4 we pretend they are already in F1," he offers. "The approach of the FIA has to be from one side the regulator, to make sure everything is done properly, but on the other hand we have to teach them, and help everyone who is involved in motorsport to grow."

Previous president Berger ruffled feathers but left impressive legacy © LAT

Then he illustrates a point using his F1 experience: "On top of what is written in the Sporting Code, there is a way of behaving on the track that you have to learn. I can say from the F1 perspective that we moved too much to a very clinical way of approaching races, so you are not accepting something that from the show point of view could be really good. But on the other hand, what is the right balance?"

Domenicali's appointment of Le Mans legend Emanuele Pirro - all-round good egg and a great 'father' figure to competitors if ever there was one - as an interim permanent steward for European F3 is surely a good way to find such a balance.

"He knows not only the sporting side but how to teach the young guys to improve," explains Domenicali.

The remit also seems to have expanded from simply bringing on drivers to training technical staff, with Domenicali talking of "when the system is stabilised, not only for the drivers but for the teams, the engineers and mechanics".

All this is worthy, but what are the teams' early impressions of Domenicali?

It's probably fair to use the phrase 'cautiously optimistic' when it comes to their view. One of the biggest gripes for the F3 squads is the costly trip to Moscow Raceway, and during the Valencia test in March they let the organisers know in no uncertain terms that they didn't want to go this year.

Berger focused on F3/F4; Domenicali's eyes are higher up the ladder © LAT

A couple of weeks later at the Silverstone opener, Domenicali (who wasn't at Valencia) told the teams he'd listened to what had been said and that a decision on the Russian event will be taken this weekend at Hockenheim.

Then again, according to one of the teams, the Silverstone meeting was one at which they and Domenicali were comfortably outnumbered by various people in FIA shirts - not really a getting-to-know-you session then, but at least a start.

My personal view? I'm optimistic. I had no idea that, while at Ferrari, Domenicali had been instrumental in the Fiat group getting behind Italian motorsport, a move that meant that for 2010 Formula Abarth began with 35 cars, and the new Fiat spec engine for Italian F3 exploded the grid to 30. (Sadly, the politicking within Italy reduced that scene to rubble within three years.)

I like his hints that F2 could be for open competition, that he is keeping an eye on tacit support for a reinstatement of national F3 in the future, and working on a world final for F4, initially discussed during Berger's presidency.

On the other hand, I'm not convinced I like the sound of age and experience restrictions in any of the categories on the FIA's ladder. For all the good intentions behind rules such as this, there is usually a deserving case who ends up being short-changed. And anyway, why can't the young guys have a solid barometer against which to measure themselves?

Still, the very likeable Domenicali has generated a positive mood. He's definitely an engaging bloke, a little bit more consensual than Berger and who, judging by the frequency with which he says 'at the end of the day', has obviously been watching a lot of English Premier League football!

That gives him the thumbs-up for now.

This week's AUTOSPORT magazine - available in shops and online now - includes an exclusive in-depth interview with Domenicali about his plans for Formula 2 and much more