In yet one more unusual transfer, FIA president, Mohammed ben Sulayem has referred to as for warning following claims of a $20bn bid for F1.
At a time there are already clear indications of a ‘rift’ between the house owners of F1 and the game’s governing physique, the FIA president has as soon as once more taken to social media to air his views.
“Because the custodians of motorsport, the FIA, as a non-profit organisation, is cautious about alleged inflated worth tags of $20bn being placed on F1,” he tweeted this afternoon.
“Any potential purchaser is suggested to use frequent sense, think about the higher good of the game and include a transparent, sustainable plan – not simply some huge cash,” he added.
“It’s our responsibility to think about what the longer term impression will probably be for promoters by way of elevated internet hosting charges and different industrial prices, and any adversarial impression that it may have on followers.”
His remark observe a report from Bloomberg final week, which was subsequently picked up on by some sections of the media, that Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund had made a $20bn bid for the game which was subsequently rejected.
As Pitpass has beforehand reported, in response to impeccable sources, whereas curiosity could effectively have been proven by way of a possible bid, this didn’t come from these holding the purse strings of the fund, however from a lot decrease down the order.
Nonetheless, it’s odd that Ben Sulayem would converse out publically, a transfer which seems to query the worth of the game which was purchased by Liberty Media for $4.4bn simply six years in the past.
All that apart, whereas one appreciates his worry by way of how such a considerable bid may have an effect on race promoters – and thereby followers – his name for frequent sense by way of “inflation” comes at a time the game is searching for to extend the ‘anti-dilution’ fee from $200m to $600m.