Liberty Media expects F1 groups to drive a tough discount throughout their upcoming negotiations with the game’s business rights holder over Grand Prix racing’s 2026 Concorde Settlement.
Talks are already underway to work out the phrases of the long run model of the all-important covenant that dictates income sharing and governance between Method 1, the groups and the FIA.
Moreover, the discussions are set to unfold in opposition to the backdrop of the game’s exceptional financial progress and F1’s 2026 regulation overhaul.
Talking on the most recent James Allen on F1 podcast, Liberty Media chief government Greg Maffei believes that securing a brand new take care of the groups, who might be desperate to capitalize on the game’s present growth, gained’t be a easy rubber-stamping train.
“I credit score the management of Chase [Carey] and the management of Stefano [Domenicali], they’ve undoubtedly tried to set a tone for the groups that we’re not going to chop one-off offers,” Maffei defined.
“That is an open course of. The groups are making much more cash – progress and sponsors – and that pleasure has created goodwill.
“The groups and we are going to absolutely arm wrestle over numbers. You recognize, the groups would really like extra money, I wouldn’t be shocked, and we would need extra money, they shouldn’t be shocked. That’s going to occur.”
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Whereas the groups discover themselves in a robust bargaining place to battle for a bigger slice of the income, Maffei feels that discussions have kicked off on a constructive tone.
“On the whole, there’s fairly good feeling and settlement, and the issues are working properly, and it’s in our collective curiosity to get one thing solidified,” he added.
“There have been occasions once they began racing, with out an agreed company settlement, and right here we’re a number of years earlier than [it expires], and we’ve got confidence, we’re going to get it performed properly upfront.”
The upcoming Concorde Settlement negotiations are more likely to see groups desk as soon as once more their issues over the rising variety of races that make up F1’s schedule and the bodily and psychological toll the calendar exerts on staff personnel and on the game’s complete on-site workforce.
Maffei insists F1’s agenda gained’t develop previous its present 24-race docket as the game seeks to prioritize a sustainable workload for everybody, even because it explores growth
“We had an incredible race in China this 12 months. I believe there’s a chance in south-east Asia,” commented the American government.
“We’ve got curiosity from locations like Thailand, and we’ve got Indonesia and South Korea, can we meet all of them now? No, we’re locked. We’re not going above 24 races, that’s set.
“We even have the correct to go to 25 within the Concorde Settlement, however I believe there’s frequent settlement that 24 is the place we’re at, we’re not going to go greater.
“We’re additionally making an attempt to consider the nice historic venues, how will we steadiness them in opposition to new races?
“These are challenges, all people needs to have a race. That’s the excellent news. Who can have a race that’s thrilling for followers, that helps develop the bottom.
“That may be a nice expertise that really makes good cash for the groups, and in order that’s a steadiness to attempt to take into consideration the place to develop.”
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