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Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali has promised fans that the sport will remain "an incredible spectacle", despite complaints from drivers about their new cars. Max Verstappen led complaints after the first period of pre-season testing in Bahrain last week when he claimed the new generation of racing machines felt "like Formula E on steroids".

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton also said the cars "feel" like they are slower than Formula 2 machinery and complained that they are "ridiculously complex" and may be difficult for many fans to understand. And while current champion Lando Norris was initially more positive, he U-turned on Thursday to admit his new McLaren is "absolutely not" as enjoyable to drive.

There are also concerns that the racing might be less entertaining, given electrical energy management will be crucial to success and that will require drivers lifting off the accelerator more than previously. Speaking to select media, including Express Sport, from the Bahrain International Circuit on Thursday, Domenicali insisted: "I want to reassure the fans that it will [remain] an incredible spectacle.

"I was just on the track to see outside with a fan eye - I didn't see any difference, whether it was the speed, the sound. And if there is anything that has to be addressed with the FIA, because that's their duty, we have an incredible F1 Commission."

The F1 Commission met on Wednesday in Bahrain, where it was decided that "no immediate major regulatory changes are required" despite the complaints raised by drivers, because "premature change carries the risk of increased instability ahead of the new race". But the door was left open to changes later in the year if necessary, as an FIA statement added: "Further reviews will be carried out once more data becomes available."

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Domenicali said: "There was a very open discussion to decide what could be the point that needs to be addressed to improve understanding of the more complex way to run the car internally, from the driver point of view. But outside, from the eye of the fan, this would not be seen. Therefore, I'm totally positive to say that there will be another incredible year and that's really what I can say.

"We need to stay calm because, as always, when there is a new regulation, there's always the doubt that everything is wrong. I remember in 2014, I remember in 2020 and I remember in 2021 and, as always, F1 as a system has always been proving that the technical solution will have always helped the teams to be fast and the drivers to be the best. So I'm totally positive for that."

Pre-season testing concludes on Friday with one final day of running, ahead of the weekend when, for logistical reasons, teams will need to send important car parts, such as their engines, to Melbourne ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 8.