F1 entry fees set to soar as more new teams show interest

Apr.17 - F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has confirmed reports that the new team entry fee is set to soar from its current $200 million.

The sport's existing teams have been reluctant to embrace the interest of new parties including Andretti-Cadillac and others on the basis that it dilutes the value of their own franchises.

The 'anti-dilution' fee payable by new entries was introduced some years ago to tackle that phenomenon - but Domenicali admits it now has to be put up even more.

"When we set it, nobody would have expected that the value of Formula 1 would increase so much," said Domenicali.

"It's our duty to make sure we protect the business as best we can."

The Italian admitted that there are "many" groups interested in entering Formula 1 - some that make "more noise" than others.

"But the interest is really there," the former Ferrari boss admits. "That's why we have to evaluate it now.

"We are doing that and will make the right adjustments at the right time."

Stefano Domenicali, CEO, Formula 1, and Matteo Bonciani, Head of Motorsport Communication, Pirelli

Another sign of F1's impressive current health is the race calendar - with Domenicali insisting he could easily expand it above even the 30-race mark.

"The current calendar seems balanced to me," he said, "even though we are exploring the possibility of holding a grand prix in Africa.

"But the historical status of the tracks no longer matters. You can't live only in the past," Domenicali warned. "Arrogance and confidence in renewing a contract just because you have been hosting races for 100 years is no longer enough."

He said one interesting factor about F1's current popularity is that the 'new audience' - including many more female spectators - is not too bothered about Red Bull's dominance.

"It matters for the loyal fans," said Domenicali. "But the new markets, the new fans that are entering the business, it's not really something that matters.

"It's much more important that every grand prix is different from the one before and the one that is next," he explained, referring to new measures like the tweaked 'sprint race' qualifying format changes.

"Each one has to be a different, new experience, not only in terms of what's happening on the track, but also because of what's happening off the track.

"It's very important," Domenicali said.

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