F1 CEO highlights 'complications' over blockbuster weekend schedule

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has highlighted the “complications” that would exist in an effort to have F1 and MotoGP compete at the same race weekend.

Earlier this year, Liberty Media completed its takeover of the commercial rights of MotoGP.

The deal comes several years after Liberty Media added F1 to its portfolio and steered the sport into a direction of strong growth.

This includes 3.9 million fans attending the first 14 races of 2025, which F1 states is an all-time record for the sport.

As it seeks to implement its own ideas in MotoGP, the top of the motorcycle racing ladder, Domenicali pledged to work with the series in a bid to boost its popularity.

“The good thing is that our shareholders have acquired MotoGP too, so we will share together with Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna Sports CEO) and his people what we can improve together, working together,” Domenicali exclusively told RacingNew365.

“There is tremendous respect between us, and we are close, working together closely.

“Whatever can be beneficial with our experience to MotoGP, we'll do it, respecting the fact that they're responsible for the business.

“But we're going to work together, as we already started to.”

MotoGP has already adopted some of F1's features, including sprint races, which are present at every round on the two-wheeled series' calendar.

This is in stark contrast to F1, whose sprint schedule is currently present at just 25 per cent of events.

With Liberty Media having a hand in both categories, Domenicali highlighted the two will work in tandem and can't be considered rival series.

“The most important thing is that, in my opinion, we are talking about the top end of motorsport,” he said.

“But they are very complimentary in terms of product, in terms of fans, in terms of delivery.

“Therefore, there are a lot of decisions we can do. But the good thing is that we can work together as a bigger package.

“We are not diluting one versus the other. It’s really complementary.”

In what would be a significant occasion for motorsport, the owner of the Circuit of the Americas Bobby Epstein voiced his desire to see F1 and MotoGP compete at the same track on the same weekend.

Domenicali, however, has stated it would be a very challenging situation to navigate due to the popularity of both categories.

“We are already sold out with one event,” Domenicali said. “There are complications with the safety standards, more difficult sponsor-wise.

“It’s not the problem of the garage. It will be the ecosystem, it’s already full. So what we can do is really try to maximise the calendar possibility in terms of days.

“To have one together, we have F2 and F3. And F1 Academy, it starts at 8 o’clock. So it would be very complicated.”