Team bosses are open to the possibility of accepting Liberty Media’s invitation to acquire shares in the F1 business.
Last week F1’s new owner indicated that it is willing to allow the teams to acquire a stake, although the company did not give any more details on how that process might unfold, or what the timing would be. Until now only Ferrari has held a minority stake.
“I think it’s a sensible thing,” said Red Bull’s Christian Horner. “I think the teams are key stakeholders in F1, without the teams there is no F1. For the teams to take a minority shareholding would make sense, to be offered to all the teams on the same terms would make total sense. I think to keep it for a minority shareholding the teams would be the right thing, because anything beyond that, we’re never going to agree upon. But obviously it does make sense for the teams to be a participant in the shareholding.”
“The idea sounds good,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. “If you are able to align the major stakeholders with a long term vision, and you make the teams shareholders, there are many problems you could solve. But obviously it’s a commercial and financial decision, and the devil lies in the detail.”
“I think it’s a great opportunity,” said Renault’s Cyril Abiteboul. “A lot of value has been derived for the existing shareholders from F1. I think it will be a great thing if F1 teams were able to capture some of that value given the risks that are taken by the different parties who finance the team. So yeah, if it makes sense, I would say clearly why not?”
“Why not?,” said Sauber’s Monisha Kalternborn. “We’ve had these kinds of discussions before. I think it’s an interesting idea. It can make sense to have all times actually given this opportunity and be represented as well. At the end of the day it depends what you get and what the price is.”
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog 