After another dominant Ferrari victory in Mexico both Formula 1 world championships remain in the balance heading to the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend, with global television audiences clamouring to see the latest twists and turns in a three-team tussle for the titles.
The race at Interlagos is the end of three consecutive weeks of F1 racing in the Americas, with the United States GP in Austin immediately preceding Carlos Sainz’s impressive win in Mexico last weekend.
But, with interest in the championship still riding the crest of a wave, uncertainty over broadcast deals in the key markets of the US and Brazil could see some of that popularity crash down to earth.
Brazil
Rather interestingly, it is the potential F1 future of highly-rated Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto that could have caused a headache over broadcasting rights in his homeland.
To see how much the interest of a South American nation is piqued by having a local favourite to cheer on, just look across Brazil’s near-800 mile border with Argentina and witness the clamour for Franco Colapinto.
The potential uptick in viewing figures should Bortoleto - the 20-year-old Sao Paulo-born racer who leads the F2 championship - land the remaining seat at Sauber next year could potentially have caused quite the issue over broadcasting agreements in Brazil.
Band, having signed a three-year renewal in 2022 to broadcast all grands prix, qualifying sessions and sprint races between 2023 and 2025, has reportedly been struggling to pay the instalments on its deal and has previously been attempting to renegotiate the terms for the final year.
A contract termination was mooted but Band is understood to have scoffed at the fee to cancel the deal early and is instead prepared to commit to seeing out the agreement – with the potential added incentive of extra revenue should Bortoleto sign for Sauber.
While a tricky situation is yet to be resolved, the waters are further muddied by the arrival on the scene of Globo, the largest commercial television network in Brazil.
Having previously aired F1 for decades, Globo is almost certainly expected to sign a deal to replace Band from 2026 onwards – but was also reportedly ready to step in and broadcast the 2025 season should Liberty Media and Band sever ties.
Julianne Cerasoli, a freelance F1 journalist from Brazil, reported a replacement deal has already been struck between Globo and Liberty.
“It turns out on Liberty’s side they had already agreed with Globo that there would be 15 races on free to air TV,” she said.
“Everything was agreed, there was another little thing to settle, and the contract was going to be sent to the lawyers. But the signing could only happen after Band agreed to its termination.”
Conflicting reports emanating from Brazil suggest Band is now ready to drop its rights for the 2025 season, while the company itself issued a statement in response to such suggestions.
"Band not only wants F1, but also has a contract to broadcast the world championship until 2025,” it read. “The hasty decisions that have occurred violate the contract that the broadcaster has with Liberty Media. Band will fulfil the contract until the end.”
While an agreement cannot be struck at this time, Globo presented an F1 car front and centre during its recent ‘UpFront’ event, showcasing the network’s main attractions to potential advertisers.
As the watching world of F1 turns its collective eyes to Brazil this weekend, the country’s own television rights face an uncertain future – much like potential F2 champion Bortoleto.
United States
Liberty has turned F1 into a roaring success across the globe, opening the doors for more access, increased social media and a seemingly ever-increasing fandom.
Nowhere is that clearer than in Liberty’s own backyard, with American fans flocking to F1 in recent years.
Likewise, that metric can be judged as well as anywhere else by looking at the United States and their broadcast rights for the series.
A previous home of F1 in America, ESPN returned with a new broadcasting deal for the 2018 season – paying no traditional fee for the rights, with Liberty keen to get F1 into as many living rooms across the country as possible, and then paying $5million a year between 2019-2022.
As with Band, a new deal was signed in 2022 running through 2025, with at least 16 races airing on ABC and ESPN, although this time, following the groundswell of interest from American audiences, the Disney-owned broadcaster had to pay much more for the privilege – a reported $90m annually.
ESPN had a record-setting 2022 with the most-viewed F1 championship ever broadcast on US television and from 2023 onwards screened all 23 races – 18 across ABC or ESPN and the remaining five on ESPN2.
The three races across the Americas are given the best-in-class treatment by ESPN, with GameDay on the ground alongside the network’s regular team in Austin, Mexico City and Sao Paulo.
With ESPN utilising the Sky Sports F1 coverage, its own race weekend offering could be considered slim, but it is still attractive to Liberty as the sheer reach of the grands prix screened on ABC is huge.
However, one source told Autosport that they rate the chance at 50/50 as to whether a new deal will be signed with ESPN or if another broadcaster, who could come on board and invest in its own broadcast of races, will be tempted to bid for the rights from 2026.
From paying nothing to a $90m a year outlay and with F1 continuing to enjoy a boom period in the US, the next deal could be worth a record amount and there will be plenty of suitors should the rights go to tender next year.
