Aggressive strategy planned by new owners Liberty Media

An aggressive new strategy is being planned by new Formula 1 owners Liberty Media in a bid to improve the sport. The long term changes planned are more teams, more sponsors and more circuits.

"There will be a point in the season where we start to effectuate change," he told Reuters during the first pre-season test in Barcelona.

"It’s not going to be where we just drop our vision one day and that’s the vision. It’s going to be a build and we are going to be very aggressive. We are going to try new things, all in the spirit of better serving Formula One fans."

The first hints of change came at the first day of testing, where the teams were told that they would be able to post videos from inside the paddock, something heavily restricted in the Bernie Ecclestone era.

Bratches admitted that all areas of the sport would be looked at when it comes to improving.

"We are going to pivot from what has been a very deal- oriented structure to one where we are formulating a strategic plan that we are going to execute on relentlessly over the mid to long-term," said Bratches.

"We’d love to see more teams, we’d love to see more sponsors and we’d love to see more circuits in the right places.

"Places that we believe are growth-oriented and can improve not only from a fan standpoint but improve the overall economics, drive television revenues, drive sponsor engagement and interest, create opportunities for teams and drivers."

Fergal Walsh