Stefano Domenicali warns: some F1 circuits may have to make room for new locations. Stefano Domenicali has discussed the potential entry of new circuits in the future.

With as many as eight GPs expiring in 2025, Stefano Domenicali has discussed the potential entry of new circuits in the future at the expense of some events currently on the calendar.

In the next season, just like in 2024, the circus will circumnavigate the globe 24 times, with Formula 1 and Liberty Media seemingly not wanting to exceed this limit, considered the ideal compromise between the right number of GPs and not making the calendar too prohibitive for drivers and teams.

With as many as eight GPs expiring in 2025, Stefano Domenicali, speaking on the investor call during the presentation of the first quarter financial results, talked about the possible entry of new circuits in the future, with some of the events currently on the calendar that may inevitably have to make room for new locations.

“The interest and demand for our races worldwide continue to be enormous. Our goal is to maintain the right strategic balance between localization opportunities, while being aware that a 24-race calendar is the optimal number of events.”

“What you have seen and what we have seen happen over the last few years, thanks to the strong demand for our products and the standards we are demanding and working on with our promoters, we are seeing everything increase in terms of event quality, obviously from an economic standpoint, but for both the promoters and us.

“The strong demand we are receiving shows that the strategy is the right one. The other point is the balance between the different continents that require the various grand prixs.”

“I would say that in the next two years I expect to see and to also announce some new venues that could be very interesting for growing the business of Formula 1.”

There has been much talk recently about a possible return of Formula 1 to Kyalami, absent from the calendar since 1993, with Africa, along with obviously Antarctica, being the only continent not yet covered by the premier class.

Currently, there are as many as eight GPs expiring in 2025, including our Imola and Monza. Several renewals have recently been announced, with Bahrain securing a slot until 2036, Australia until 2037.

Following are Las Vegas and Losail until 2032, in addition to the recent addition of Madrid which has signed a ten-year deal until 2036.

Is 24 GPs the maximum limit?

“For a long time it was thought that growth and promotion would come from incremental races,” added Greg Maffei, CEO of Liberty Media, picking up Stefano Domenicali’s point.

“We have gone from 18 or so to this level of 24, which is where we do not foresee further growth. However, this creates a great scarcity of incentives, which allows us to pit promoters against each other, not to take advantage of them, but simply because of the number of requests we have, both from fans and promoters, to host an event.” – he pointed out.

“We have managed to find interesting prices and good increases. We continue to find new venues and locations, given the amount of demand we have and the opportunities that others have seen to pursue. So, for now, everything is going well as far as promotion goes. I think it continues to be an area of growth.” – the former Ferrari boss concluded.