FIA, Formula 1 and 11 F1 teams sign 9th Concorde Agreement

On December 12, 2025, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Formula 1 Group, and all 11 Formula 1 teams officially signed the ninth Concorde Agreement, extending the championship’s governance and commercial framework through the end of the 2030 season.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

This agreement completes a two-part process: the commercial aspects were finalized in March 2025 between Formula 1 and the teams, including the incoming Cadillac entry as the 11th team. The governance portion, involving the FIA, was signed this week, marking a new era of collaboration between the governing body and the commercial rights holder.

The Concorde Agreement, first introduced in 1981, defines the regulatory, governance, and financial terms under which teams compete, including revenue distribution and rule-making processes. The new deal emphasizes stability, sporting fairness, technological innovation, and operational excellence amid the sport’s ongoing growth, with record viewership and expanding global reach.

Key provisions include increased financial contributions to the FIA, enabling investments in race regulation, direction, stewarding, and technical expertise. Reports indicate this addresses rising operational costs for the FIA, such as those related to the cost cap and the push for more consistent stewarding.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem stated: “The ninth Concorde Agreement secures the FIA Formula One World Championship’s long-term future… This agreement allows us to continue modernizing our regulatory, technological, and operational capabilities.”

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali added: “Today is an important day for Formula 1… This agreement ensures that Formula 1 is in the best possible position to continue to grow around the world.”

The signing comes ahead of major changes in 2026, including new power unit regulations and Cadillac’s grid debut. While the agreement has been praised for providing stability, some reports note fan criticism over specific details, such as a mandatory FIA logo on car noses starting in 2026 and adjustments to voting structures in the F1 Commission that give the FIA and Formula 1 Group more influence on regulations. These elements have sparked debate among supporters, though official statements focus on the deal’s role in aligning stakeholders for sustained development.

Controversy

There is controversy surrounding the ninth Concorde Agreement, signed on December 12, 2025 because that is just the way British fans and the British run F1 are when they don’t control something. They cannot control the FIA and they hate it.

It primarily centers on a new 2026 regulation requiring every Formula 1 car to display an FIA logo on the nose (at least 75mm high and visible from the side), which is embedded in the governance section of the agreement. This has been portrayed in media reports as an emblem of perceived FIA overreach, especially under President Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s leadership, amid broader changes like increased financial contributions from teams to the FIA (estimated at an additional $15 million annually for enhanced stewarding and regulation) and adjustments to F1 Commission voting thresholds that reduce team influence on rule changes.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Stefano Domenicali shake on the new F1 Concorde Agreement. Photo courtesy of Liberty Media but modified to show an F1 car with the FIA logo

Evidence of the backlash includes:

– Media Coverage: Articles from sources like Pro Football Network and Autosport describe it as a “widespread F1 fan revolt” triggered by the logo mandate, noting it exacerbates tensions between the FIA and fans. The rule is seen as prioritizing FIA branding and funding over sport integrity, with fans labeling it “ridiculous” and accusing the organization of treating teams like billboards while charging entry fees.

– Social Media Reactions: Recent posts on X (from December 12-13, 2025) show high engagement on critical content. For instance:
– An Autosport announcement of the logo rule garnered over 1,995 likes, 244 replies, and 251 quotes, with many replies expressing outrage (e.g., calling it “dictatorial” or “North Korea-like”).
– Other posts, such as one from @formula1god (“SOMEBODY PLEASE STOP THESE INSANE DICTATORS”) and @cytrusf1 (comparing it to authoritarianism), received hundreds of likes and replies each.
– Neutral announcements of the agreement signing saw lower engagement, while logo-specific criticisms often exceeded 400-800 likes and dozens of replies, indicating focused discontent.

FIA Press Release

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, and Formula 1 Group, the Commercial Rights Holder, have today announced the signing of the Concorde Governance Agreement, a crucial contract defining the regulatory framework and governance terms of the FIA Formula One World Championship until 2030. This follows the announcement in March that the 2026 Commercial Concorde Agreement had been signed by all the teams and Formula 1 Group. Together, these agreements constitute the ninth Concorde Agreement, representing a major step forward in the professionalisation and global development of the sport.

First introduced in 1981, the Concorde Agreements are designed to promote sporting fairness, technological innovation and operational excellence, and align all key stakeholders around a shared vision for structured governance and continued growth of the sport. Each iteration of the Concorde Agreements has shaped the FIA Formula One World Championship into the global spectacle it is today.

The ninth Concorde Agreement announced today marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration between the FIA and Formula 1 Group, who have worked together to write the next chapter in Formula 1 history, demonstrating mutual respect, transparency and shared purpose between the two organisations. It confirms the participation of all FIA Formula One World Championship teams, including the incoming Cadillac Formula 1 team, through the end of the decade, and provides a stable foundation for the sporting and technical evolution of the sport.

The Concorde Agreement underscores the commitment of the FIA, Formula 1 Group and all teams to continue growing and developing the sport, and to keep driving the momentous expansion it has seen in recent years. The new contract enables the FIA to invest further in improved race regulation, race direction, stewarding and technical expertise for the benefit of the Championship, and 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. Combined with record viewership growth, a dynamic race calendar, and increasing engagement from younger audiences, the FIA Formula One World Championship enters this next chapter with unprecedented momentum.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, said: “The ninth Concorde Agreement secures the FIA Formula One World Championship’s long-term future and I am proud of the dedication that has been invested in this process. I would like to thank Stefano Domenicali and his team in what has been a strong collaboration, building a framework grounded in fairness, stability, and shared ambition. 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. We are ensuring that Formula 1 remains at the forefront of technological innovation, setting new standards in global sport.”

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1 Group, said: “Today is an important day for Formula 1. As we celebrate seventy-five years of this incredible sport, we are proud to write the next chapter in our long and amazing history. This agreement ensures that Formula 1 is in the best possible position to continue to grow around the world. I want to thank the President of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem and all the teams for the collaboration and determination to achieve the best results for the entire sport in our discussions. We have a huge amount to be proud of, but we also are focussed on the opportunities and exciting potential for Formula 1 in the years ahead.”