How Stefano Domenicali Went From Parking Cars in Imola to Running Formula 1

Having grown up in Imola, just minutes away from the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari–one of the most iconic race tracks in motorsport history–it is perhaps unsurprising that Domenicali’s dreams were geared towards racing. 

“There were races at Imola almost every weekend,” he told Luxury London in 2022, “so my passion for cars and bikes started when I was very young. 

“When I was at school, I spent most of my time at the circuit doing anything at all. Working in the paddocks to help teams park, for example, simply because I loved it so much.”

That passion stayed with him through his young adulthood, and after graduating from the University of Bologna in 1991 with a degree in business administration, he followed through on that big dreamer mindset and applied for a job at none other than Ferrari itself. And the dream came through when he was hired to work in the team’s finance department.

Guesting on the Beyond the Grid Podcast, Domenicali joked about working in every area of the team except production during his time there. From business administration and sponsorships, to human resources and team management, he spent the next 17 years doing whatever he could within Ferrari, much like he did as a teenager working all sorts of jobs on the tracks of Imola out of passion and a desire to keep going forward in the world of motorsports. 

What’s more, he was surrounded by people who constantly strived for more. From drivers like Michael Schumacher to team leaders like Jean Todt, Domenicali’s environment was shaped by some of the most driven players in the sport. 

Todt’s approach to running a team left a particularly strong impression on Domenicali. “I spent more time with him than with my family,” Domenicali told Motori Online in 2018.

“Jean Todt's approach and leadership were the key to Ferrari's success. He made sure that everyone within the team was motivated and working in one direction. There was never time to relax whether in victory or defeat. When he arrived at Ferrari we went through a difficult moment, there was skepticism and restlessness, but he brought calm back to the team and we focused on the things to improve.”

Learning from Todt prepared Domenicali for the next big chance that appeared for him in 2007, when he got the call that he was being promoted to Team Principal for the following year. 

Domenicali took the responsibility head on, and stayed at the helm of Ferrari for the next six years, leading them to a Constructors’ Championship in his debut season. 2010 and 2012 were likewise particularly notable years under his direction in which Fernando Alonso earned numerous victories and just narrowly missed out on the Drivers’ Title. 

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Yet after over two decades with Ferrari, Domenicali was ready for the next big leap. And in 2014, he officially resigned from the team to become CEO of Lamborghini.

“I went to Audi for a different challenge,” Domenicali said to Luxury London, “to be part of a different organization. Audi is the shareholder of Lamborghini and they decided to give me the responsibility of running it.”

He expanded on what the challenge for himself was in an interview with Haute Living, saying, “When I went to Lamborghini, it was a new world for me — I’d never been involved in the production of cars.”

The lessons he learned from working in the various departments and levels of Ferrari carried on into this new chapter of Domenicali’s life and helped him leave a lasting impact on the company. 

“We doubled the revenues,” he said to Haute Living on his accomplishments, “protected the people in Italy, even during Dieselgate when electrification seemed like the only way forward. I had big discussions with our shareholder to protect the brand. And now the results are there.”

Indeed, his ability to get results continued opening doors for Domenicali until he reached the biggest one: leadering F1 itself.

In January of 2021, Domenicali officially became the President and CEO of F1, taking over for his Ferrari mentor, Todt, once again.

“Working through the levels at Ferrari gives you a chance to see the picture from every angle, with experience I then took to Lamborghini, before I came here to F1,” he said in an interview for F1.

The title may have changed, and the responsibilities may have grown, but the mindset that carried him forward stayed the same. Whether he was doing jobs on the track, working finance for Ferrari, or taking on major leadership roles at Lamborghini and F1 itself, Domenicali approached each one the same way; say yes, do the work, and move forward. 

“When I was 14,” he reflected in Haute Living, “I was at my high school, going to Imola to be one of the guys helping the organization park the trucks in the paddock. And now I run the organization. That is something I’m very proud of — but also lucky. 

“I took the opportunity.”

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Cover photo via Red Bull Media Pool

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