Liberty Media could take a first step towards bringing F1 and MotoGP closer together, two disciplines it manages, on the occasion of the United States Grand Prix, held in Austin in October.
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According to Motorsport, the American group is considering organizing a MotoGP demonstration at the Circuit of the Americas, in order to bring its two flagship championships closer together and increase the visibility of motorcycle racing in the United States.
Since acquiring the commercial rights to MotoGP in 2024 for around 4.2 billion euros, Liberty Media has shown its ambition to replicate the strategy that allowed Formula 1 to experience spectacular growth across the Atlantic.
Launching a bridge
Without going as far as organizing a true joint weekend, a demonstration project would constitute a first concrete collaboration between the two championships under the same banner.
The idea would be to allow several manufacturers involved in MotoGP to perform demonstrations during the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, thus benefiting from the significant media exposure and popularity of the Texas event to introduce the motorcycle championship more to the American public.
However, the project faces a major obstacle: the United States Formula 1 Grand Prix takes place on the same weekend as the MotoGP Australian Grand Prix, held at Phillip Island. As a result, no regular MotoGP championship rider could participate in this demonstration in Austin.
Significant constraints to overcome
Discussions are therefore ongoing between Liberty Media and the manufacturers to determine the feasibility of the operation. Several points remain to be resolved, including logistical costs, motorcycle transport, the brands that would be represented, and the riders likely to take part in the event.
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The schedule also complicates the situation. The Australian event opens a series of three consecutive Grands Prix, with Malaysia then Qatar. However, uncertainties remain around the Qatari round due to geopolitical tensions in the region, which are already disrupting several international motorsport calendars including F1.
Despite these difficulties, the Circuit of the Americas appears to be the ideal place to launch this initiative. The United States Formula 1 Grand Prix is one of the most popular events on the calendar and attracts several hundred thousand spectators each year.
Developing synergies
Conversely, the Austin MotoGP round still struggles to reach the expected attendance levels. Developing the motorcycle championship’s reputation in the American market is therefore one of Liberty Media’s priorities.
Several personalities from Formula 1 have already joined the MotoGP world since the acquisition of the discipline: Günther Steiner is notably part of the investor group that took over Tech3, while Ross Brawn now sits on the board of directors of Pramac Racing.
This demonstration, if it materializes, would be a first strong symbol of Liberty Media’s strategy. Before considering, in the longer term, a true event bringing together Formula 1 and MotoGP, the American group intends to proceed step by step to gradually bring the two disciplines closer.