The FIA has secured a cash boost from a new Formula 1 Concorde Agreement that will allow it to invest in improving the way it polices the championship.
The previous Concorde Agreement, which is a tripartite contract between F1 management (FOM), the FIA and teams and details how F1 is run, had run from 2021 until 2025.
Earlier this year, a bilateral agreement between the current F1 teams and Liberty had been agreed that covered the commercial aspects for the next period from 2026 to 2030.
However, a final sign off was still needed between the FIA, F1 management and the teams to detail many governance issues – including rule change structures, and funding for the FIA.
Now, following months of negotiation between F1 owners Liberty Media and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to agree terms for the governance aspects, a framework has now been signed off with all parties.
While many details of the new arrangement remain confidential, it has emerged that one key element of the new deal is an increased contribution from F1 to the FIA to help it improve the way it regulates grand prix racing.
Ben Sulayem has long argued that, at a time when F1 is enjoying huge increases in profit, there was an imbalance in terms of how much contribution was made to the FIA considering the ever-increasing costs of policing the championship.
For example, while there has been a growing desire within F1 for more permanent stewards, there has never been a firm answer about where the extra funding for this should come from.
The introduction of a cost cap since the previous Concorde had also triggered a dramatic escalation in expenditure for the FIA to effectively regulate it because of the complexities involved.
Now, however, the FIA looks set to have earned an extra contribution from F1 and the teams that will help it improve many aspects of the way that F1 is regulated.
A statement detailing the new Concorde Agreement said that the new deal: “will enable the FIA to invest further in improved race regulation, race direction, stewarding, and technical expertise for the benefit of the championship".
It added that this: “means the sport can continue to evolve, providing exciting technological innovation and sporting action for fans, broadcasters and partners, all within a stable and structured regulatory framework.”
Speaking about the successful negotiation of the new deal, Ben Sulayem said he was proud of what had been nailed down between the FIA and FOM.
“This agreement allows us to continue modernising our regulatory, technological, and operational capabilities, including supporting our race directors, officials, and the thousands of volunteers whose expertise underpin every race,” he said.
“We are ensuring that Formula 1 remains at the forefront of technological innovation, setting new standards in global sport.”
Having the new Concorde Agreement in place will ensure stability at the top of F1 ahead of the all-new rules era that is coming for 2026.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali added: “This agreement ensures that Formula 1 is in the best possible position to continue to grow around the world.”
