'Liberty Media considers new format for F1 weekend, with MotoGP'
F1 News
- Ludo van Denderen
The announcement is expected within days: F1 owners Liberty Media will also become owners of MotoGP. So the main racing classes on two AND four wheels will fall under one group. According to Italian newspaper Corriere della Serra, the Americans are already thinking about how to create a symbiosis between the two championships. One notable concoction: the Super GP.
Liberty Media has owned the commercial rights to Formula 1 since 2016, and it is likely that MotoGP will join them. With both championships under one roof, it is also theoretically possible to see them compete at the same circuit on the same weekend. A name has already been thought of: Super GP, a kind of Superbowl on wheels. However, Liberty Media does realise that the idea still has drawbacks.
Logistical problems for F1 and MotoGP
First, not every track is equipped to accommodate both bikes and cars simultaneously. The problems mainly concern logistics: space in the garages, paddocks, offices, and hospitality areas. One solution could be to skip the support programmes—such as Formula 2, Formula 3, Moto2, and Moto3—at some events. In that case, Formula 1 and MotoGP would 'only' require space for two championships and all their accessories.
F1 and MotoGP now share five circuits: Qatar, Barcelona, Austria's Red Bull Ring, Silverstone, and Austin. The future Madrid circuit is also designed for both Formula 1 and MotoGP. From a technical point of view (barriers and other safety measures) and a technological point of view (cameras), it is possible to race cars and motorbikes in one weekend.
Once Liberty Media also owns MotoGP, the company will launch new initiatives to give new impetus to both sports.