Formula One began the 2025 season paying homage to 75 years of history but, in reality, the global motorsport series is only looking towards future growth as it goes from strength to strength.
If you discount the season wrecked by the Covid pandemic, Formula One revenue has increased every year under Liberty Media’s stewardship, most recently hitting US$3.65 billion last year.
This is dominated by revenue generated by media rights and race promotion, the two traditional financial drivers for the series. But sponsorship revenue has increased 134.4 per cent since Liberty Media acquired Formula One, significantly more than the series’ reliable money-makers.
This is especially pertinent when you consider the landmark US$150 million-a-season contract with LVMH Group didn’t kick in until the start of this season, so it wasn’t even included in last year’s financial results.
2025 sees ten new commercial partners (if you count the individual brands within the wider LVMH deal) which emphasises the unprecedented growth the series is currently experiencing. The commercialisation of the sport is likely to continue, with more partners to complement the ‘official chocolate bar’ and ‘official vodka’ designations.
The teams are also enjoying similarly positive strides with nine of the ten teams now having a title partner. McLaren, the only team without one, have 51 unique partners, the most of any team on the grid.
Outside of this rapid commercial growth, though, it feels much like a transition year for the series.
The calendar has remained unchanged with just the order of races shifting around in certain places, but the big news revolves around how the schedule will transform moving forward. Madrid will host a new race from next season, with the likes of Thailand and Rwanda heavily rumoured to join too.
The Dutch Grand Prix will depart the calendar after 2026, the Belgian Grand Prix will become rotational after 2027, and this year is all but confirmed to be the last visit to Imola for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Europe looks set to bear the brunt of Formula One’s global aspirations.
Of course, the sport itself is about to undergo a significant shift in 2026 with new regulations coming in to shake up the established order. As Formula One begins to offer more and more competitive racing, organisers will be hoping that one team doesn’t establish itself as a clear frontrunner.
The series also waits to welcome major manufacturers in the form of Audi, Ford, and Cadillac, the latter of which will expand the grid to 22 cars for the first time since 2016.
Spearheading the Formula One machine will be president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali, who recently extended his contract with the series until 2029. As tensions increase between Formula One and governing body the International Automobile Federation (FIA), the Italian’s steady hand will be a welcome tonic.
And what of the on-track action? The McLaren Racing duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri look like the early favourites, but you also can’t count out four-time world champion Max Verstappen in a season that looks too close to call.
Then there’s the irresistible combination of Formula One’s most successful team and most successful driver: can Lewis Hamilton deliver success back to Maranello?
Formula One can rely on many unknowns to drive on-track entertainment, which can only help to add to the series’ ever-increasing growth.
Editor’s note: Updated 18th March 2025.