F1 and MotoGP won’t compete under Liberty - Domenicali

Jul.26 (GMM)  Stefano Domenicali insists Formula 1 and MotoGP will remain distinct entities despite now falling under the same Liberty Media umbrella.

Following the European Commission’s recent approval of Liberty’s €4.2 billion acquisition of Dorna Sports, the F1 CEO clarified how the two motorsport giants will interact moving forward.

“A few days ago I was in Madrid with Dorna shareholders and managers to discuss the issues to be addressed,” Domenicali told Corriere della Sera at Spa. “The two business units will remain separate, as will the managers who lead them.

“However, we will organise ourselves so that F1 can provide technologies and expertise, and vice versa.”

The European Union had previously examined the merger for potential antitrust risks, but concluded there were no significant concerns. Domenicali sees the arrangement as an opportunity for both series to grow through technical and operational cross-pollination.

“They're similar but complementary worlds; we don't step on each other's toes. Both for the fan base and for the development areas. We've planned synergies.

“We'll start working on them at the end of the summer. They'll give a further boost to the bikes, bringing benefits to everyone. Liberty has made a significant investment and has clear ideas.”

He stressed that while F1 is gaining ground in North America, MotoGP’s geographic focus will likely remain more global, especially across Asia.

“America is important, but the Far East is crucial for two-wheelers,” he said. “Carmelo Ezpeleta and Carlos (his son, ed.) are thinking about building commercial packages and redesigning the sporting aspect. The races are very popular despite the dominance of one rider and one motorcycle manufacturer.”

While the two championships may share ideas and infrastructure, Domenicali pushed back against suggestions that MotoGP would simply follow F1’s recent playbook of digital-first marketing and entertainment.

“F1's audience is almost 50 percent female and very young,” he said. “I'd be the least likely to understand Generation Z's tastes, not being on any social media. But I understand where the communication and engagement strategies are headed. With Netflix and now the film, the average age has dropped dramatically.”

That film, F1, starring Brad Pitt, has defied early criticism and delivered strong returns at the box office.

“I was sure the film would be a hit in the US,” said Domenicali. “But I was amazed by the box office in Europe. Apple has experimented and could be an important partner for future projects. But I don't want to overindulge.”]]>