F1 Q3 Revenue Holds Steady at US$869M; Liberty Media Unveils First MotoGP Financials

Formula One's revenue saw a marginal 0.9% year-over-year increase, reaching US$869 million for the third quarter of 2025, despite holding one less race. Concurrently, Liberty Media released its first MotoGP financial report, showing US$169 million in revenue for the same period.

Why it matters:

This steady F1 revenue growth, even with fewer races, highlights the sport's robust commercial strategy and increasing diversification of income streams beyond traditional race promotion. For MotoGP, these initial financial disclosures under Liberty Media's ownership provide a crucial baseline, signaling the potential for significant transformation and growth as the company applies its proven F1 model to the motorcycle championship.

The details:

• F1 Revenue Breakdown: Primary revenue, encompassing race promotion, media rights, and sponsorship, decreased by US$20 million due to one fewer race in Q3 2025 compared to the previous year. However, 'other revenue' saw a significant increase, driven primarily by growth in hospitality and licensing.
• Key Contract Extensions: Formula One secured long-term extensions for major events:
  • United States Grand Prix: until 2034
  • Azerbaijan Grand Prix: until 2030
  • Monaco Grand Prix: until 2035
• Media Rights & Partnerships: New broadcast deals were finalized with Sky (New Zealand), Coupang Play (South Korea), and Globo (Brazil). New licensing agreements were also signed with Williams-Sonoma and Hello Kitty, expanding F1's brand presence.
• Las Vegas Impact: Hospitality revenue received a significant boost from increased activity at the new Grand Prix Plaza in Las Vegas, demonstrating its potential as a year-round revenue generator for the series.
• MotoGP's Debut Financials: For Q3 2025, MotoGP reported US$169 million in revenue and an operating income of US$26 million. This initial figure is notably lower than F1's Q3 revenue of US$501 million during Liberty's initial acquisition of the sport in 2017, underscoring the differing starting points for the two series.
• MotoGP Growth Initiatives: Under Liberty Media, MotoGP has already secured significant renewals:
  • Race contracts: Japan (through 2030), Catalonia, Valencia, France, Germany, and San Marino (all through 2031).
  • Broadcast partnership: SuperSport (Africa).
  • Sponsorship: Repsol (for Moto2 and Moto3).

The big picture:

F1's ability to maintain strong revenue figures despite a reduced race calendar in Q3 underscores the effectiveness of its diversified commercial strategy. The growth in hospitality and licensing demonstrates new avenues for income, reducing reliance solely on race promotion fees and media rights. For MotoGP, Liberty Media is starting from a different position than it did with F1, but the early contract renewals and strategic partnerships indicate a clear intent to replicate its success by expanding the series' global reach and commercial appeal. The contrasting revenue figures between F1 in 2017 and MotoGP today highlight the journey ahead for the motorcycle series.

What's next:

Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali emphasized the sport's cultural significance and its continued success in commercial agreements and global engagement. With robust race renewals and new partnerships, including a distribution deal with Apple in the US, F1 is poised for further growth. For MotoGP, the focus will be on leveraging Liberty Media's expertise to unlock its full commercial potential, with expectations for significant growth in viewership, sponsorship, and event promotion in the coming years, mirroring F1's trajectory under Liberty's stewardship.