Overview
- Former Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei told a conference that he expects Formula 1’s publicly traded vehicle to be taken private within about two years, a prediction reported as his view rather than a confirmed transaction.
- Liberty Media recently disclosed that John Malone stepped back from his chairman emeritus role and exchanged super-voting shares, reducing his voting control from roughly 48% to about 3%, a move that changes the company’s control dynamics.
- F1’s non-voting stock (FWONK) has risen roughly 250–300% since Liberty’s 2017 purchase, giving the business a market value near $28 billion after growth driven by a bigger race calendar, stronger sponsorships, and an improved media product.
- Industry observers say likely buyers would include sovereign wealth funds, private-equity consortia, or a management buyout with team owners, but the deal economics are challenged by a high headline price and expensive debt markets.
- Any sale would require sign-off from the FIA because it owns F1’s intellectual property and leases the commercial rights to Liberty, so shareholders, the board’s fiduciary duties, and FIA approval will shape the timetable and outcome.