Domenicali grew up in Imola, the town that hosts the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. As a child he spent weekends at the circuit helping in the paddock and the media centre, an early exposure that shaped his lifelong involvement in motor racing. He studied business administration at the University of Bologna, graduating in 1991.
Upon graduating, Domenicali joined Ferrari and began his career in the finance department. Between 1992 and 1994 he served as race director at the Mugello circuit and gained experience with DTM and other series. In 1995 he was appointed head of personnel within Ferrari's sporting department, handling sponsorship liaison among other duties. He was promoted to Team Manager in December 1996, a role he held until January 2001. After a period as Logistics Manager he became Sporting Director in 2002.
On 12 November 2007, Ferrari announced that Domenicali would succeed Jean Todt as Director of the Formula One team, effectively becoming team principal in 2008.
Domenicali's first season as team principal delivered immediate results: Ferrari won the 2008 Constructors' Championship. The 2009 season proved less competitive, with the team taking only a single race victory. In 2010 the team improved to five race wins and third place in the Constructors' Championship, behind Red Bull Racing and McLaren. The 2011 season saw Fernando Alonso finish fourth in the Drivers' Championship, two places ahead of teammate Felipe Massa.
The 2012 season was Domenicali's most notable in competitive terms. Despite Alonso's teammate finishing 156 points behind him, Alonso came within a single race win of the championship. Ferrari claimed three Grand Prix victories and finished second in both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships. Top Gear magazine named Domenicali one of its "Men of the Year 2012" for keeping Ferrari competitive against the odds of Red Bull's dominant machinery.
Domenicali resigned as Ferrari team principal in April 2014, after the team's form had declined and internal pressure mounted.
In October 2014 Domenicali was hired by Audi and also took up a position as head of the FIA's Single-Seater Commission. On 15 March 2016 he was appointed CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, overseeing the brand's expansion during a period of record sales. He was succeeded at Lamborghini by Stephan Winkelmann on 1 December 2020.
In September 2020 it was announced that Domenicali would replace Chase Carey as CEO of the Formula One Group, taking up the role from the start of the 2021 season. The position places him at the commercial and strategic apex of Formula One, overseeing calendar development, broadcast deals, new venue negotiations, and the sport's broader growth strategy. His appointment was seen as bringing a figure with deep racing credentials back to the leadership of the commercial rights holder.
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