Bratches: Any F1 future compromises will have boundaries

Formula 1 commercial boss Sean Bratches says any potential compromises in its plans for the sport’s future will be made on its terms as it looks to nail down key agreements from 2021.

The F1 managing director for commercial operations has kept a close eye on teams’ reactions to its future proposals on regulations, revenue redistribution and marketing of the sport to a wider audience.

After Ferrari President Sergio Marchionne issued a quit threat from F1 if the sport’s vision failed to align with its own, both sides have accepted compromises will be needed to maintain negotiations in 2018.

Bratches says it is vital it improves F1’s competitiveness – comparing the lack of overall competition to other sports including the Premier League – and insists any compromises with teams will be give Liberty the final call.

“I think everyone understands where we want to take it but not everyone agrees,” Bratches said at a Renault event in Paris. “We’re trying to work on compromises that improve the competitive nature of the sport. If we don’t have a competitive grid the fans are going to leave the sport. We are focused on doing what is right for the fans.

“If you look at the Premier League and teams like Swansea City their fans probably know they won’t win the league but when they go to a game against Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham or Liverpool they know they can win and it happens.

“We’re not here to please people. We’re here to make this sport as great as it can possibly can be. That is our pursuit.

“We are trying to be malleable in the boundaries of something that ultimately works. We don’t want to perpetuate the norm because otherwise you won’t have a sport.”

F1 bosses and teams are set for talks on future rules and regulations over the course of this season with the aim of nailing down key issues by the end of 2018.