In the round-up: The European Commission confirmed it is investigating whether Formula 1 owner Liberty Media’s proposed takeover of motorcycle racing series Moto GP should go ahead.
In brief
Liberty faces EC probe
The EC is concerned Liberty Media would have too much power to control the prices for broadcasting the two highly popular motorsport series if it owned both of them. CVC Capital Partners sold its stake in Moto GP when it acquired F1 before Liberty Media.
“By acquiring [Moto GP owner] Dorna Sports, Liberty Media would hold the commercial rights to two of the most popular motorsports in Europe: Formula 1 and Moto GP,” said the EC’s executive vice-president for clean, just and competitive transition Teresa Ribera.
“We need to more carefully assess whether this acquisition could negatively affect European broadcasters, for example in terms of increased license fees, and ultimately European consumers and motorsports fans through higher prices. We will at the same time openly consider any substantiated claims by the parties about possible benefits this acquisition might bring, for fans, the industry and for consumers.”
Grosjean out of JHR as team confirms Daly
Juncos Hollinger Racing has confirmed Conor Daly as its second driver for the 2025 IndyCar season, ending Romain Grosjean’s tenure at the team. Daly impressed as the replacement for Agustin Canapino earlier this year, scoring their best result of the season with third place in Milwaukee.He will partner Sting Ray Robb who joins their driver line-up next year. “After the excitement and success we shared in 2024, including Milwaukee, it feels like the perfect next step,” said Daly. “I’m grateful for Ricardo [Juncos] and Brad [Hollinger’s] belief in me as I embark on the revitalization of my career. I look forward to pursuing podiums and wins with this incredible group.”
Floersch joins Indy Nxt
Sophia Floersch will switch to racing in the USA next year, joining HMD in ther Indy Nxt series.
“The United States is more open to embracing a female racer, so this makes me very excited and optimistic about the things to come,” she said. “The sport, the racing, the cars, and the tracks are real and pure. It’s great to be welcomed so positively and friendly. You can feel the real racer energy inside HMD Motorsports. I can hardly wait and will be very happy when it starts in March in St. Pete.”
Alonso’s parents try F1 car
Fernando Alonso gave his parents a chance to experience a Formula 1 car at Motorland Aragon this week. He posted a picture on social media of his father Jose Luis in a McLaren.
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Links
'excerpt'
Fox Sports, IndyCar unveil race broadcast start times (IndyCar)
'Coverage of all 2025 IndyCar series practice and qualifying sessions will be featured on either FS1 or FS2. Fox Deportes will carry exclusive Spanish-language television coverage of the Indianapolis 500, with a more complete 2025 season schedule to be announced at a later date'
Lewis and Toto: A walk through history (Mercedes via YouTube)
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Notable posts from X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and more:
Mercedes originally announced Bottas would be their ‘reserve driver’, then clarified his title is actually ‘third driver’.
www.racefans.net/2024/12/19/b…
#F1
— Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine.bsky.social) 19 December 2024 at 12:39
Just one place left to be filled on the Formula 1 grid for 2025.
Will the final seat be announced on Friday?
https://buff.ly/3MyLnBj
#F1
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet.bsky.social) 19 December 2024 at 23:44
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- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
Should Red Bull have given Yuki Tsunoda a chance before picking the much less experienced Liam Lawson?
Red Bull wanted someone who would be fast enough to be Max’s wingman but not enough to beat or make his life difficult and that’s what they chose. Yuki would have given them a problem as I believe his mentality would have been his biggest strength. When I see Yuki I see a driver who is feisty yet humble and is willing to learn. A mentality like that will only help him improve and get better. I am 100% sure by the end of a season against Max, he’d dig deep and come out right around his pace.
But like I said they don’t want that. The image that they have of Yuki is sadly not doing any favours to him which is sad because I really feel on merit he deserves that Red Bull seat and I think he would have been great there. They should have at least tried him for first six races and seen how he does and if not then put Lawson there from RB. Anyway, good luck to the both of them. Hope Yuki comes back stronger from this.
Rahim.RG
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Ferrox Glideh!
On this day in motorsport
- Born on this day in 1968: Karl Wendlinger, who was part of Mercedes’ junior sports car team alongside Michael Schumacher, graduated to F1, but was badly injured in a crash at Monaco in 1994
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Jere (@jerejj)
20th December 2024, 6:33
The EC investigation matter is quite old, as I read about it a little while ago.
Third driver & reserve driver are the same thing by definition anyway.
The announcement concerning Isack Hadjar will, in all likelihood, indeed happen today as Red Bull had clearly planned all three announcements to happen on separate but consecutive days.
Regarding COTD, I agree that Red Bull should at least try him first just to see how he’d truly fare in a top team & swap around during the season if he fails.
I can ultimately understand a different approach based on all the factors considered, which likely means that Liam stays throughout the season in any case like Checo & or would get replaced by someone from the outside instead.
notagrumpyfan
20th December 2024, 7:42
You might have expected it, but Liberty was only notified yesterday of the Pase II investigation.
MichaelN
20th December 2024, 10:10
Great picture of Alonso’s dad. The guy barely fits!
Weird comment by Floersch about the US somehow being more open to her. She’s been racing in Europe for 15 years! That’s a long career for someone with those results. Oh well, whatever works, I guess.
S
20th December 2024, 13:16
And how far did she get in that time?
Sure, not many guys get further either as a percentage, but at least some female drivers have reached the top of the racing ladder in the US in the last couple of decades.
How about in Europe….?
MichaelN
20th December 2024, 23:17
US racing being accessible to average drivers is a different issue though, and not the one she raised.
As for how far she got; her results in F3 between 2018 and 2024 (a very long, and expensive, time to hang around in F3) were poor, finishing near the back of the full season entries. Her best racing to date has probably been 2021/2022 when she drove in the ELMS and WEC, and was a regular points scorer. That might be more her thing than single-seater racing.
sam
20th December 2024, 17:48
That is a great picture. Worthy of a caption contest.
Mark Thomson (@melthom)
20th December 2024, 23:07
“Dad, I promise, I can drive it!”
J765
20th December 2024, 10:50
You can count on the European Commission to investigate anything… except sending police officers to beat innocent people in their own territory.
Coventry Climax
20th December 2024, 11:27
Even if your claim were true, I’d rather have it that way, with hopes they’ll investigate police as well in the future, than them not investigating anything at all, like in other parts of the world.
Not investigating A, does in no way invalidate the investigation of B.
notagrumpyfan
20th December 2024, 12:51
Why should the European Commission investigate this? It’s not their responsibility as a legislative body.
However if this (sending police officers to beat innocent people) were to happen in a European (Community) country, then you can seek prosecution via the normal legal routes, with escalation to the European Court of Human Rights.
But I guess complaining on a F1 racing website is easier than going through the courts and having to present the facts :P
notagrumpyfan
20th December 2024, 13:24
*executive
MichaelN
20th December 2024, 16:37
The EC doesn’t have any say about police officers. Not in Brussels. Not in Berlin. Not in Rome. Nowhere.
BenjaminS (@benihana)
20th December 2024, 11:53
This needs to happen as I personally think that both Liberty and CVC before them are running the sport for the sake of money. Too many races, not enough private teams run by enthusiastic folks and a desire to rece anywhere money comes from. I certainly don’t want Moto GP heading down that road for sure.
BenjaminS (@benihana)
20th December 2024, 11:54
Ruining, not running.
Coventry Climax
20th December 2024, 12:23
Both, actually. And exclusively so.
jztemple
20th December 2024, 19:33
Happy to see Indycar move to Fox with a promise to broadcast all races, whereas NBC showed two races exclusively on their Peacock streaming service. Nice as well that the practice and qualifying sessions will also be broadcast.