Column

Could Liberty Media be alienating the European fan base?

Could Liberty Media be alienating the European fan base?

03-04-2022 18:36
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GPblog.com

No doubt it will be an imposing sight: Formula One cars tearing through the streets of Las Vegas in the dark. The fans in the United States are excited about it, as it will be the third race in a season there. But should the average viewer in Europe be just as euphoric?

Human Rights

Since Formula 1 was owned by Liberty Media, the American company has been doing everything possible to give the sport a global reach. In practice this means, among other things, that races have been added in the Middle East, in countries where the human rights records have been under scrutiny. Added value for the fan base in Europe, where the heart of Formula 1 lies? Little.

In addition, the US is getting a third race. There are even whispers that a fourth Grand Prix is in the pipeline in America, possibly on the West Coast, mainly because Americans love watching Drive to Survive so much. It's an argument you hear over and over again. In other words, they are primarily interested in the drama of often staged rivalries rather than the races themselves. If the series stops because the drivers no longer want to participate in it, to what extent will Americans' interest remain? It's a shaky foundation, Liberty Media!


No moneybag

Meanwhile, Formula 1 is alienating itself from Europe. Historic circuits such as Spa are in danger of disappearing, as Liberty Media look to expand elsewhere. The fact that drivers like to race at Spa doesn't seem to be an argument. Liberty Media have opted to go to Las Vegas, a track that looks a lot like a huge oval: long straights, few challenges for the drivers. The fact that the race starts at a terrible time in the middle of the night for European viewers is equally irritating.

Of course, F1 is a global sport and should never be limited to just Europe. America, South America, Asia too: they all have the right to see those great cars go. Only, F1 seems to forget that Europe is the longest standing market. This is where a huge population of fans live, this is where the heart of the most iconis racing series in the world is. If Liberty Media is too often in the U.S. and the Middle East soon, it may just be at the expense of the European fan's interest. And if the American fan has had enough of F1 - which is just possible - then it may be too late in Europe.