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TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Monaco GP scores with US viewers despite criticism
The Monaco Grand Prix delivered the third-largest Formula 1 audience in history in the US despite heavy criticism of the iconic track after Sunday's race. The race started at 9am and drew 2.3-million viewers on ABC, the most ever for the Monaco Grand Prix. The only F1 races to draw more viewers were the Miami Grand Prix in 2024 (3.1-million) and 2022 (2.6-million), according to Front Office Sports. This year's Monaco race brought in more US viewers than Miami (2.1-million) earlier this month. Through seven races in 2025, F1 is averaging 1.3-million viewers. Each of the past two seasons averaged 1.1-million, though the first half of the year does include the popular Miami and Monaco events. F1 signed an extension with Monaco last year that runs through to 2031. However, despite F1's experiment to require teams to make at least two pit stops, Sunday's race featured a largely unchanged top 10. McLaren's Lando Norris won the event from the pole, though he did overtake Max Verstappen on the second-to-last lap when the Red Bull star was forced to take his second required pit stop on the penultimate lap. That drew widespread criticism from drivers and fans, but F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali defended rule change. "We know the width of the street is (limited) and the cars are quite big, so the attempt is to create attention to that," Domenicali told Sky Sports F1. "It was great to see the day before everyone was thinking that everyone has to (do a pit) stop on the first lap, and a lot of discussion, so no one understood exactly anything. I think it was the right attempt and the attention was definitely there." A decision on whether the two-stop rule will return for 2026 has not been made, but Domenicali pushed back against critics of the race. "The Monaco event has been amazing," he said.
The South African
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- The South African
F1 boss questions ‘long-term sustainability' of South African GP
The return of a South African GP has been top of mind for F1 bosses for some time now. For Liberty Media, under F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali's reign, the goal was to have every continent represented on the F1 calendar. As such, the only continent missing from the current world championship is Africa. However, of the three separate projects brewing – including a South African GP in either Kyalami or Cape Town, and a Rwandan race – 'progress has slowed.' This is the viewpoint of the F1 supremo, speaking this past weekend in Monaco. Insiders say Kyalami is still in pole position for a South African GP bid. Image: File 'Negotiations are ongoing, we are gradually moving forward and working together to find the best solution. However, when a new opportunity arises, it is important to make sure that it has long-term prospects. We cannot go to a new place once or twice, without a guarantee that we will stay there for a long time,' Domenicali said. 'Of the three venues, I do not expect any decisions in the short term. As you know, we are really interested in holding a GP on the African continent but, for now, we're trying to find the right plan. Hopefully we will be able to tell you more about this project soon,' said the Italian. Since a formal South African GP bid went ahead with government backing, things have taken a turn for the worse. International relations with the United States are at an all-time low. And US President Donald Trump's proposed trade tariffs could impact an international business like F1. Moreover, rebel fighting in central Africa represents an entirely new and unwanted type of trouble for Formula One organisers on the continent. As such, trouble in Africa could be music to the ears of race organisers in Europe ready to pick up the pieces. Madrid is taking over the official title of Spanish GP title from 2026, with this week's race being the last year of the Circuit de Catalunya's existing contract. Senna, Prost and Schumacher battle in the 1993 South African GP. Image: File At the centre of negotiations for a new deal is Miquel Samper, who doubles as President of the Barcelona circuit. 'Negotiations are going very well, moving forward. That's the reality, but it also means absolutely nothing. This type of negotiation, with so many circuits currently wanting to host a grand prix, forces us to be very discreet. Like when we were able to close the agreement with MotoGP and Dorna,' concluded Samper. – with GMM Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
African F1 race return still looks a long way off, says Domenicali
Formula One still hopes to return to Africa and is talking to three possible venues, CEO Stefano Domenicali said on Saturday, but any race deal looks a long way off. The continent is the major omission on a record 24-race calendar and last hosted a grand prix at South Africa's Kyalami circuit in 1993. The Liberty Media-owned sport is keen to rectify that but wants a stable venue that can become a fixture for the long-term. Financial issues have also been an obstacle in the past. 'We cannot go to a new place ... without staying for a long time,' Domenicali said at a Monaco Grand Prix media event to announce a partnership extension to 2030 with the MSC Cruise Division. 'We are progressing our discussion with I would say three places in Africa. Realistically speaking, I don't think we're going to have an outcome in the very short term,' added the Italian, speaking on board the cruise ship Explora II in the Monte Carlo harbour. He did not name any cities or circuits. Rwanda and South Africa are the two main candidates, with Kyalami and Cape Town put forward as possibilities for the latter. Rwandan President Paul Kagame announced his country's bid last December, when Formula One's governing body held its gala awards ceremony in Kigali, but that has been complicated by fighting in eastern Congo involving Rwandan-backed M234 rebels. The Democratic Republic of Congo urged Formula One in February to end talks with Rwanda. Domenicali said Formula One remained committed to adding Africa to what is already a crowded schedule with more countries seeking to join. 'We are missing one continent and we want to connect also to that,' he said. 'It's a matter of finding the right plan and hopefully we are going to update you soon on that project.'
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
African F1 race return still looks a long way off
FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monaco - May 22, 2025 General view of the F1 logo ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/File Photo African F1 race return still looks a long way off MONACO - Formula One still hopes to return to Africa and is talking to three possible venues, chief executive Stefano Domenicali said on Saturday, but any race deal looks a long way off. The continent is the major omission on a record 24-race calendar and last hosted a grand prix at South Africa's Kyalami circuit in 1993. The Liberty Media-owned sport is keen to rectify that but wants a stable venue that can become a fixture for the long-term. Financial issues have also been an obstacle in the past. "We cannot go to a new place... without staying for a long time," Domenicali said at a Monaco Grand Prix media event to announce a partnership extension to 2030 with the MSC Cruise Division. "We are progressing our discussion with I would say three places in Africa. Realistically speaking, I don't think we're going to have an outcome in the very short term," added the Italian, speaking on board the cruise ship Explora II in the Monte Carlo harbour. He did not name any cities or circuits. Rwanda and South Africa are the two main candidates, with Kyalami and Cape Town put forward as possibilities for the latter. Rwandan President Paul Kagame announced his country's bid last December, when Formula One's governing body held its gala awards ceremony in Kigali, but that has been complicated by fighting in eastern Congo involving Rwandan-backed M234 rebels. The Democratic Republic of Congo urged Formula One in February to end talks with Rwanda. Domenicali said Formula One remained committed to adding Africa to what is already a crowded schedule with more countries seeking to join. "We are missing one continent and we want to connect also to that," he said. "It's a matter of finding the right plan and hopefully we are going to update you soon on that project." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Forbes
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Why Historic Track Faces Uncertain Formula 1 Future
IMOLA, ITALY - MAY 15: Trackside branding and detail during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of ... More Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari on May 15, 2025 in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Bryn Lennon - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images) The Formula 1 season makes its first European stop of the season this weekend, but the paddock's arrival at Imola simultaneously feels like a farewell. The track in the northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna is under contract until the end of the season, but faces an uncertain future. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali conceded this week it was 'increasingly difficult' to continue holding two races in Italy, amid growing demand for the sport to broaden its horizons. Along with the US, Italy is currently the only country on the calendar to host two races, with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola and the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, near Milan. And while races in Austin, Miami and Las Vegas are among the showpiece events of the calendar, Domenicali admitted this weekend may be Formula 1's last appearance on the banks of the Santerno River for the foreseeable future. "Italy has always been and will be an important part of Formula 1,' he told RAI radio, Italy's state broadcaster. 'It will be increasingly difficult to have two races in the same country because interest in Formula 1 is growing and it's a situation we will have to deal with in the coming months,' he added. 'It's hard for this situation with Imola and Monza to continue together on the calendar for long.' The home of the San Marino Grand Prix between for a quarter of a century from 1981, Imola has been the stage of some epic battles but also for one of the darkest pages in Formula 1's history. On May 1, 1994 the legendary Ayrton Senna lost his life after slamming into the wall at the Tamburello corner at the start of the seventh lap. The Brazilian's fatal crash came after the track had claimed the life of Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger in qualifying the previous day. The toll could have been even more disastrous had Ruben Barrichello not miraculously escaped unscathed from a huge crash during Friday practice. Imola underwent significant changes in the aftermath of that tragic weekend, but dropped out of the calendar in 2006 before returning 14 years later when the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was introduced during the Covid-disrupted 2020 season. The event was held through to 2022, but was cancelled the following year after the northern Italian region was battered by storms and floods that caused over $11billion worth of damage and displaced approximately 50,000 people. The race returned to Imola last season, when Domenicali first warned 'important issues need to be addressed' if Italy was to retain two Formula 1 Grands Prix. MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 01: Race winner Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari waves to fans from ... More the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on September 01, 2024 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Bryn Lennon - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images) Imola's future is further complicated by the fact Monza signed a six-year extension to remain part of the world championship until 2031 in November last year. Monza has been synonym with Formula 1 for almost a century and is the longest-running event on the world championship calendar. The third oldest purpose-built racing circuit in the world after Brooklands in England and Indianapolis and the oldest in mainland Europe, the track has hosted the Italian Grand Prix since the opening edition of the Formula 1 world championship in 1950. Like Monza, Monaco has also agreed to an extension running until 2031. Arguably Formula 1's most iconic race, the Principality has host a race each year since the world championship's inception in 1950, save for 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Under the new six-year deal, the Monaco Grand Prix will be run in June to avoid future clashes with the Indianapolis 500. The Miami Grand Prix, meanwhile, penned a 10-year extension until 2041 earlier this month. Formula 1 has previously indicated it could satisfy demand by staging races on a rotational basis. In January, Spa-Francorchamps, the home of the Belgian Grand Prix and one of the most historic tracks in the sport, signed a six-year extension until 2031. The venue, however, will only feature on the calendar in 2026, 2027, 2029 and 2031, with another race set to replace the Belgian Grand Prix in 2028 and 2030. Tracks haven't rotated in and out of the calendar since Hockenheim and the Nurburgring shared hosting duties for the German Grand Prix between 2008 and 2014. With the Nurburgring dropping out of the calendar, the race was held at Hockenheim on a biennial basis until its final edition in 2019. The Dutch Grand Prix also reportedly held conversation with Formula 1 about the prospect of staging the event on a rotational basis, but decided to drop out of the calendar altogether once its contract runs out at the end of 2026. Last season was contested over a record 24 races, with the number of events remaining unchanged this year. Under the current terms of the agreement signed between Formula 1 and the teams, a maximum of 25 races per year can be held. Those terms, however, are due to be renegotiated next year amid growing interest from a number of nations to host a Grand Prix. Formula 1 President Stefano Domenicali arrives in the paddock during qualifying of the Bahrain GP, ... More the 4th round of the Formula 1 World Championship, at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, on April 12, 2025. (Photo by Andrea Diodato/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Thailand, South Korea and Rwanda are all pushing to be added to the calendar. A Thai bid is centered on a potential street race in Bangkok, with officials hoping it could join the Formula 1 calendar in 2027 or 2028. In April last year, South Korea's Incheon also signaled its intent to host a Grand Prix on a new street circuit, possibly as early as 2026. South Korea previously featured on the Formula 1 schedule between 2010 and 2013 at the existing Yeongam track. The most groundbreaking proposal, however, comes from Rwanda, aiming to break new ground as the first African nation to host a Grand Prix since South Africa's Kyalami in 1993. A new circuit is being built outside the Rwandan capital of Kigali, but it will not be ready for another three years at least. 'We want to go to Africa, but we need to have the right investment, and the right strategic plan,' Domenicali told Motorsport in August. 'We need to have the right moment, and we need to make sure that also in that country, in that region, in that continent, there is the right welcoming, because, of course, they have other priorities. 'We need to be always very careful in making the right choices.'
