Red Bull were first team to sign F1’s new Concorde Agreement

Red Bull were the first team to sign Formula 1’s new Concorde Agreement in Barcelona, according to team principal Christian Horner.

Last week all 10 of F1’s teams committed to the sport until the end of 2025, which includes the championship’s next big rules overhaul that will be introduced in 2022.

Ferrari, McLaren and Williams were the first teams to publicly confirm they had signed up to the new tripartite deal, but Red Bull’s Horner says his side were the first to put pen to paper over the Spanish Grand Prix weekend in Barcelona following a period of “scrupulously fair” negotiations with F1’s owners Liberty Media.

“Negotiations were lengthy, especially given the global challenges facing the sport but in some respects they were also remarkably straightforward in comparison with previous years,” Horner said ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.

"Negotiating with Bernie Ecclestone in the past was always good fun, always a bit different, but Liberty were scrupulously fair with the negotiations and we were in fact the first team to sign it in Barcelona.

“You have to take a holistic view on these things,” he added. “That is what the agreement was, that is what Chase Carey and Liberty were putting on the table and it was up to the teams if they chose to take it or leave it.

“There was of course back and forth on certain points and there are elements that please some teams more than others, but in the end everyone came to agree on the best way forward for the good of the sport.

“It is an important agreement for F1 and although the details are confidential, it provides stability and continuity for the future so we are pleased to get it over the line.

“Liberty have definitely achieved some good things for the sport in terms of opening it up and generating interest from a new fan base which can only be a positive. The most important challenge now is getting the 2022 regulations right to promote better racing.”

World champions Mercedes had previously voiced concerns but ultimately came to an agreement, while Ferrari was left satisfied with the fresh terms which has seen the Scuderia retain its unique veto over regulations.