F1 revenue falls sharply in 2026 – Formula 1 suffered a major financial blow during the first half of 2026, with revenue falling 15% compared with the same period last year after three fewer races were held. Liberty Media, Formula 1’s owner, reported total revenue of $1.381 billion, while operating income fell by 30%.
The figures highlight the financial consequences of the disruption to the 2026 calendar. The cancellations of the races in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain were particularly significant because the two events are among Formula 1’s most valuable races in terms of hosting fees.
Liberty Media published the figures in its latest financial report, providing the clearest indication yet of the cost of the disrupted opening half of the season.
Three fewer races hit Formula 1 finances
Formula 1 held three fewer races during the first six months of 2026 than it did during the corresponding period in 2025.
That reduction inevitably affected several of the championship’s major revenue streams, including race promotion fees, hospitality, sponsorship and other event-related income.
The impact was especially pronounced because the missing events included races in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Both organisers pay significant fees to Formula 1 for the privilege of hosting a Grand Prix.
As a result, the cancellation of those events represented a particularly expensive loss for the championship.
Saudi Arabia and Bahrain cancellations prove costly
The financial report underlines why Formula 1’s race calendar is so important to Liberty Media’s business model.
While a cancelled Grand Prix means the sport avoids some of the costs associated with staging an event, it also loses the substantial commercial income generated by the race weekend. The effect is even greater when the cancelled events are among those paying the highest hosting fees.
The Saudi Arabian and Bahrain races therefore had a disproportionate impact on the first-half figures.
The cancellations were linked to the wider Iran conflict and the resulting disruption in the region, forcing Formula 1 to absorb the financial consequences of losing events that would normally make a major contribution to its annual revenue.
Liberty Media reveals scale of the financial impact
Formula 1’s total revenue of $1.381 billion represents a decline of approximately $244 million compared with the same period in 2025, when revenue stood at roughly $1.625 billion.
The 30% fall in operating income is an even more significant deterioration, demonstrating that the impact extended beyond the headline revenue figure.
The results provide an important financial backdrop to the 2026 season. Formula 1 has enjoyed substantial commercial growth in recent years, but the figures demonstrate how quickly that momentum can be affected when races are removed from the calendar.
For Liberty Media, restoring a full and stable calendar will therefore be important not only from a sporting perspective but also for protecting Formula 1’s commercial performance during the remainder of the year.
The figures show that a Formula 1 race is worth considerably more to the championship than simply the spectacle delivered across a weekend.
Hosting fees, hospitality, sponsorship and event revenues all contribute to Formula 1’s financial model. Losing three races in the first half of the year, including two events with particularly high hosting fees, has consequently left a substantial hole in Liberty Media’s accounts.
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Alex Stanton is a Formula 1 journalist at TJ13 with a focus on the financial and commercial dynamics that underpin the sport. Alex contributes reporting and analysis on team ownership structures, sponsorship trends, and the evolving business model of Formula 1.
At TJ13, Alex covers topics including manufacturer investment, cost cap implications, and the strategic direction of teams navigating an increasingly complex financial environment. Alex’s work often examines how commercial decisions translate into on-track performance and long-term competitiveness.
With a strong interest in the intersection of sport and business, Alex provides context around Formula 1’s global growth, including media rights, expansion markets, and manufacturer influence.
Alex’s reporting aims to explain the financial realities behind headline stories, helping readers understand how money, governance, and strategy shape the competitive order in Formula 1.