EU politician slams Liberty Media's F1 takeover

Questions have been raised as to whether Formula One's sale to Liberty Media can go ahead.

British EU parliamentarian Anneliese Dodds, who previously pushed for Sauber and Force India to lodge their complaint about the sport's income distribution and governance systems, has pointed out the conflict of interest for the FIA, who must approve the deal, despite also owning a stake of the sport.


"It may be that the European Commission might come along and say 'You're not allowed to do that', but they might not," former FIA president Max Mosley had said.

However, the Liberty Media deal is still going ahead as planned for now.

F1 sponsorship guru Zak Brown recently stepped down from his own agency, amid strong rumours he will take up an F1 role with Liberty.

"I will take this experience forward to my next chapter in the arena I know best -- motor sport," Brown confirmed in a statement.

But politician Dodds is very much against the deal.

"It is unacceptable that a regulator of any industry should be allowed to benefit financially from sanctioning the sale of one of the companies it regulates," she told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt.

And two top lawyers agree with Dodds, that the FIA could cause a problem with the deal.

"If the FIA approves the sale, people may question whether it was driven by the desire to get the multi-million sale proceeds," sports lawyer Charles Briathwaite told Sylt and the Telegraph.

Tim Owen QC added: "No regulator exercising quasi-judicial powers can have a financial interest in the very subject matter it is supposed to be regulating as an independent, unbiased body."

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • ringo

    Posts: 3,633

    on regulation, by libertymedia actually, is a huge posion exapmle in belgium and holland there cable company can have easily the f1 rights... So on one point. between letters europe can try something?

    • + 0
    • Sep 27 2016 - 16:05

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar