F1 groups are continually in dialogue with sequence homeowners Liberty Media in regards to the new Concorde Settlement, which is ready to return into impact in 2026.
The Concorde Settlement is pivotal for the day-to-day working of F1 and dates again to the Eighties, when it ended political disputes that plagued the championship on the time.
A number of editions of the Concorde Settlement have since been signed, with F1 presently beneath its eighth time period – so what precisely is it?
What’s the F1 Concorde Settlement?
The Concorde Settlement is a contract between F1, its governing physique the FIA and the groups who compete within the sequence. It defines how F1 is run – with one settlement referring to the regulatory framework of grand prix racing, and one other outlining the industrial phrases.
What the Concorde Settlement comprises is essentially confidential, nevertheless it’s nonetheless recognized that the contract states how a lot the championship ending positions are price. Groups additionally obtain a 50% share of F1’s earnings as much as a sure level, with that share then lowering if extra revenue is generated. It’s understood that F1 groups presently obtain 45% of the prize pot after income exceeded $3billion in 2023.
Bonus funds are additionally included for achievements like profitable the championship. In the meantime, Ferrari controversially receives a historic bonus for being the one staff to have competed in each F1 season for the reason that championship’s debut in 1950.
It’s understood that Ferrari receives an additional 5% if the entire prize pot distributed to groups doesn’t surpass $1.1b. Ferrari’s bonus is ultimately capped at 10% for something above and past an approximate income of $1.6b – precisely the place the revenue figures are presently understood to be.
Williams staff boss James Vowles stated in 2023: “I feel Ferrari brings one thing particular to the game. Now we have to be trustworthy about that. When you ask a median one who they know in Method 1, you will notice that Ferrari remains to be a reputation that stands out. That is the reality behind it. They create a sure stage of heritage and recognition to the game. So I feel there is a motive these items exist.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, third place, passes the chequered flag
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
The entry charge for F1 ($657,837 per 12 months) and the fee cap ($135m per 12 months) are different situations included throughout the Concorde Settlement. However it’s not all monetary, because the contract additionally states the duty for groups to take part in each race and helps with any potential regulation adjustments.
So the Concorde Settlement is crucial for the day-to-day working of F1 and it should be signed by each staff within the championship.
It’s determined on the time of signing how lengthy that particular Concorde Settlement will run for, throughout which interval groups should stay dedicated to the championship in the event that they’ve signed the contract.
When did the F1 Concorde Settlement start?
The primary F1 Concorde Settlement was signed in 1981 in an try to finish the dispute between the Federation Internationale du Sport Car (FISA) and the Method One Constructors’ Affiliation (FOCA), generally often called the FISA-FOCA conflict.
It was a battle that began within the late Seventies as the 2, now defunct, sporting organisations battled for management of the sequence. FISA, then motorsport’s governing physique, was headed by president Jean-Marie Balestre whereas Bernie Ecclestone led FOCA with Max Mosley as authorized advisor.
FOCA was a commerce union of kinds for the non-factory groups, who believed FISA held a bias in direction of main producers resembling Ferrari, Renault and Alfa Romeo. It got here to a heated climax in 1980, when FOCA groups boycotted the necessary driver briefings for the Belgian and Monaco GPs to protest towards F1’s income distribution.
Fines have been issued in consequence, with FISA then stating it could revoke racing licences ought to the fines not be paid. It led to FOCA threatening to withdraw from the Spanish GP, held simply two weeks after Monaco, which might have been a catastrophe for FISA had simply three groups competed within the grand prix.
That appeared like an actual chance till Juan Carlos I, King of Spain from 1975 to 2014, ordered the race to happen. But it surely did so with out the sanctioning of FISA, which means its supporting groups withdrew and the occasion turned a non-championship race.
Carlos Reutemann, Williams FW07B Ford, leads Alan Jones, Williams FW07B Ford, Didier Pironi, Ligier JS11/15 Ford, and Nelson Piquet, Brabham BT49 Ford
Picture by: Motorsport Images
The dispute additionally led to tyre provider Goodyear threatening to depart F1 on the finish of 1980 and that might have brought about a lot harm to the sequence. So, Ecclestone organised a gathering with staff bosses and FISA representatives on the FIA headquarters in Paris’s Place de la Concorde – therefore the title of the contract – resulting in the primary Concorde Settlement being signed.
It largely settled the FISA-FOCA conflict as a result of a fairer distribution of income was agreed, as was a construction for incoming regulation adjustments and the requirement for groups to compete at each race. The primary Concorde Settlement lasted till 1987, when Ecclestone established Method One Promotions and Administration, later often called FOM, to handle tv rights for the groups.
This Concorde Settlement ran till the tip of 1991, with the third contract being signed for the next 12 months protecting the 1992 to 1996 seasons. However the fourth Concorde Settlement solely lasted for a 12 months as a result of it was rejected by McLaren, Williams and Tyrrell, who have been outraged that, as FOCA president, Ecclestone had transferred F1’s industrial rights to his Method One Administration firm.
The three groups misplaced revenue in consequence, however a fifth Concorde Settlement was signed for 1998 to accommodate McLaren, Williams and Tyrrell after reaching a compromise. To at the present time, the fifth Concorde Settlement has lasted the longest as a result of a sixth contract was not signed till 2009, which ended the FIA-FOTA dispute.
The Method One Groups Affiliation (FOTA) was a bunch of F1 groups – Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW-Sauber, Brawn GP, Crimson Bull and Toro Rosso – who threatened to kind a breakaway sequence for 2010.
This got here after the FIA tried to drive by new rules, which included an non-obligatory price range cap amid the 2007-08 monetary disaster. Those that elected to make use of the price range cap would have been given better technical and design freedoms, so groups thought this basically created two units of guidelines for the championship.
The menace appeared very actual and FOTA even leaked a proposed calendar for its sequence. So, the sixth Concorde Settlement introduced a lot wanted stability to F1 and included revised proposals for the regulation adjustments that got here into impact for 2010. Generally although, it was only a continuation of the fifth Concorde Settlement and was signed by all groups bar BMW, who left F1 on the finish of 2009.
It lasted till the tip of 2012, but the seventh Concorde Settlement was not signed till July 2013, with it being enforced two months later. Ecclestone stated it gave groups extra involvement within the rule-making course of.
Bernie Ecclestone, CEO, FOM
Picture by: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Images
That Concorde Settlement expired on the finish of 2020, with the eighth contract fully revolutionising F1. It was the primary Concorde Settlement signed beneath Liberty possession and launched F1’s first-ever price range cap, which started at $145m per season earlier than dropping by $5m annually till it settled at $135m from 2023.
This was accomplished to encourage better parity throughout the grid, as the main producers had roughly 4 occasions the price range of groups on the again, and the distribution of prize cash was additionally revised for stated motive.
These adjustments proved essential in confirming the dedication of many groups, whose futures have been unsure given negotiations came about amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It was due to this fact a worrying time for a lot of, so the importance of all 10 groups signing the eighth Concorde Settlement and confirming their entry till no less than the tip of 2025 can’t be understated.
When is the subsequent F1 Concorde Settlement?
The ninth F1 Concorde Settlement is because of come into impact for the 2026 season, to coincide with the regulation adjustments that may overhaul the facility unit.
Though it’s nonetheless largely unknown what might be detailed throughout the contract, Autosport revealed that Ferrari will retain its historical bonus payment but it is set to be capped at 5%.
It comes after F1 gave groups the draft phrases of the Concorde Settlement and championship CEO Stefano Domenicali stated the precedence was to ship a contract that didn’t deviate a lot from the final one.
“We’re within the course of of debate with the groups,” he stated. “An important level is to maintain the scenario as secure as potential. These are the factors of debate. As you may think about, we can not go into element of it however, as quickly as we will, we are going to share what we will do. The scenario is perfect to maintain discussing with the groups, with all of the related events, one of the best ways to finalise every part for a stronger future as much as a long run.”
One other large speaking level of the ninth Concorde Settlement is the fee cap, which can be elevated to $220m from 2026 however have extra stipulations included inside.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA, Stefano Domenicali, CEO, Method One Group, on the grid
Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
This includes maternity leave, which has triggered some issues that it might discourage groups from using girls. That’s as a result of if employees took paid maternity go away then interim replacements must be employed, thus triggering further prices.
Worker leisure – summer season or Christmas events for instance – may also be introduced beneath the fee cap and, once more, that has brought about concern as a result of groups won’t host one thing that serves as a reward for employees members.