FIA, F1, and Teams Sign New Five-Year Governance Agreement

Formula 1, the FIA, and all 11 teams have signed the 2026 Concorde Governance Agreement, establishing the operational framework for the championship from 2026 to 2030. The deal finalizes the second part of the broader Concorde Agreement, which defines the voting structure, financial contributions, and roles of the governing bodies, aiming to create a more stable platform for the sport's future.

Why it matters:

This agreement sets the foundational rules for how Formula 1 is governed for a critical five-year period, directly impacting the sport's ability to adapt and make regulatory decisions. It addresses long-standing financial and procedural tensions between the commercial rights holder (FOM), the governing body (FIA), and the teams, which is essential for the sport's stability and growth.

The Details:

• The governance agreement complements the commercial deal signed earlier this year and covers the 2026-2030 period.
• It specifically outlines the voting procedures for the F1 Commission, the entry fees teams pay to the FIA, and the operational remit of the governing body.
• A key financial change involves a restructuring of the teams' entry fees, resulting in both FOM and the teams collectively paying more money to the FIA. This increased revenue is expected to be reinvested into FIA services for F1, including professionalizing stewarding and marshalling.
• The voting process has been significantly altered to streamline decision-making:
  • A normal majority in F1 Commission meetings will now require just four team votes (down from six), alongside FOM and the FIA.
  • A super majority now requires six team votes instead of eight.
• This shift effectively increases the voting weight of both FOM and the FIA, making it easier to push through regulatory changes deemed necessary for the sport.

The Big Picture:

The new agreement resolves a key point of contention, with the FIA securing a larger financial share from the sport's growing commercial success. This addresses calls from within the paddock for the FIA to invest more in the professional standards of its race control and regulatory services. The streamlined voting structure is designed to prevent gridlock and allow the sport to react more decisively to future challenges, balancing the interests of the commercial entity, the regulator, and the competitors.

What's next:

With the governance structure now locked in until 2030, the focus for all parties shifts entirely to the sporting and technical challenges of the coming seasons, including the major 2026 regulation overhaul. The agreement provides a settled backdrop for these developments, though its success will be measured by how smoothly the new collaborative and financial model functions in practice.