F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali carries Olympic flame as Italy prepares for 2026 Winter Games

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali carried the Winter Olympics torch to Lake Carezza ahead of the games taking place in his home country, Italy, from 6-22 February 2026.

Domenicali was joined by cross-country skiing Olympian Franco Nones, curling gold medallist Amos Mosaner and former athletes Daniela Ceccarelli, Isolde Kostner and Karen Putzer to serve as torchbearers on 28 January. 

During the day, the torch was carried from Canazei through Campitello di Fassa, stopping at various landmarks in the Ladin territory, across Lake Carezza and ending the morning in Soraga and Moena.

In the afternoon, the torch continued its journey to the Predazzo ski jumping stadium and Masi di Cavalese, before ending the evening in Cavalese.

This comes after Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli also carried the torch ahead of private testing in Barcelona for the upcoming F1 season. 

The Italian driver joined gymnast Tara Dragas, basketball player Michele Antonutti, former footballer Luigi De Agostini, Olympic fencing champion Mara Navarria, footballer Alessia Tuttino, cross-country skier Venanzio Ortis and Olympic volleyball champion Rachele Sangiuliano. 

As the F1 grid prepares for the upcoming 2026 season, which introduces a new set of regulations to the championship, Domenicali looked back on 2025 during an interview with Sky Sports F1. The Italian described the season as "phenomenal" for the series and revealed that it has drawn "a lot of interest from the sport's commercial partners."

He added: "We want to make sure that we feel this energy now, to make sure that we keep growing our sport at all levels with the fact that everyone is important to grow this sport.

"I'm expecting everyone to feel that at all levels, so that's my hope [for 2026]."

The 2026 season will begin with the Australian Grand Prix from 6-8 March at Albert Park.