Formula 1 restarts from Bahrain, from the circuit built in Sakhir, on the outskirts of Manama, for a season that promises to be electrifying. And that will have Italy as a protagonist. Not only because, as Ferrari fans hope, Maranello’s single-seaters in the new era of ground-effect cars aim to overturn the hierarchies of recent years, but above all because between Imola (April 24) and Monza (September 11), the Belpaese will be the only one to host two grands prix.
Two Grands Prix in Italy with the return of the public
A double appointment, scheduled until 2025 after the “experiments” of racing in Emilia Romagna in the two-year period of the pandemic, which will again be able to count on the presence of the public. The Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna and Made in Italy will thus be able to develop all the potential of the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit and synergies with the territory, while Monza will have the opportunity to celebrate the Centenary race in the best possible way, after two difficult editions. In fact, the 2021 Italian GP ended with a loss of 15 million euros, with ticket sales starting very late due to the uncertainties related to the health emergency and with just half of the 50% audience allowed. On the other hand, the ACI in 2021, unlike in 2020, had to pay the 20 million dollars required by the contract, in addition to supporting the higher costs due to the controls. Problems that the president of the Automobile Club of Italy, Angelo Sticchi Damianiobviously hopes he’s got behind him.
Post-pandemic turnover increased by 90%
Looking to the future, the number one in Italian motorsport claimed the importance of the double Italian Grand Prix. An unprecedented goal, in fact. Never in the history of F1 had a single federation been called upon to organize two tests. A reason for pride also for the CEO of the Formula One Group, Stefano Domenicaliat the helm of a company that in 2021 recorded direct revenues (i.e. TV rights and centralized sponsors, in addition to the contributions paid by the organizing committees which, on the other hand, can count on ticket offices and local sponsors) for 2.14 billion dollars, with a post-pandemic increase of almost 90 per cent (in 2020 the turnover of Liberty Media the Circus promoter had collapsed to 1.1 billion). After the loss of approximately $ 440 million in 2020, an operating profit of $ 40 million was achieved. In particular, sponsorship contracts and subscription revenues for the over-the-top F1 TV platform (Oct) increased.
Extra-large calendar, but the GP in Sochi has been canceled
The 2022 season, in addition to new cars and significant regulatory changes, includes an extra-large calendar consisting of 23 races. One, the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi, was later canceled after the invasion of Ukraine (the Circus also cut off the dialogue with Russian promoters who intended to marry the event in St. Petersburg from 2023). The Haas stable, owned by the Californian company Haas Automation, which ran with the colors of the Russian flag and the logo of Uralkali, a producer and exporter of potassium, its main sponsor, decided instead to terminate the contract and to fire the pilot Nikita Mazepin, son of Dmitry, president of Uralkali.
The push of entertainment: the Netflix docu-series
The recent successes of Formula 1 were undoubtedly favored by the growing rivalry between Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes who battled to the last corner to compete for the 2021 title. than ever the way of entertainment. As Domenicali himself admitted, in fact, “Drive to Survive”, the Netflix docu-series, now in its fourth season, played a central role in bringing young audiences closer, especially in the American market, which tells the story behind the wings of the Circus. Criticized by the most orthodox fans and even by some drivers, the Netflix series, by accentuating the more dramatic and controversial aspects of racing, had the merit of renewing the image of Formula 1.