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Liberty Media’s MotoGP Takeover Sparks Antitrust Investigations in Europe and the U.S.
Eliška Ryšánková
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Liberty Media’s €4.2 billion takeover of Dorna Sports, which oversees MotoGP, is under investigation by European and U.S. regulators over potential breaches of competition law. Formula E Chairman Alejandro Agag and Belgian MEP Pascal Arimont have voiced concerns about the merger's impact on motorsport competition, while Liberty’s rejection of Michael Andretti’s F1 team bid has triggered an antitrust probe in the U.S.
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In the spring of this year, Liberty Media announced its goal to complete a majority takeover of Dorna Sports by the end of 2024. Acquiring Dorna would give Liberty control over MotoGP, WorldSBK, and their related support classes.
Belgian MEP Pascal Arimont has urged the European Commission to investigate Liberty Media, hinting at potential violations of European competition law. Speaking to the Belgian newspaper Het Belang van Limburg, Arimont emphasized the need for an inquiry to protect consumers and ensure fair competition.
Formula E Chairman Alejandro Agag has also raised concerns about Liberty's proposed €4.2 billion takeover of Dorna. Agag told the Financial Times that this merger poses significant challenges under competition law, particularly regarding the enhanced leverage it would grant in broadcasting negotiations. Agag cited the importance of proper remedies to ensure fairness in the market.
Earlier this year, Liberty Global, a separate entity from Liberty Media but with the same chairman, acquired a controlling stake in Formula E. Chairman John Malone is reported to have substantial voting power in both companies, raising concerns about a motorsport monopoly between four- and two-wheeled racing. The European Union previously intervened in 2006 when CVC Capital Partners, which owned both F1 and MotoGP, was forced to sell MotoGP to maintain competition.
Liberty's challenges in 2024 extend beyond the Dorna acquisition. The company, through Formula One Management (FOM), rejected Michael Andretti's bid to establish a new F1 team, despite FIA approval. FOM determined that Andretti's entry didn’t offer sufficient value to the sport.
The rejection drew the attention of the U.S. Congress, which criticized Liberty's decision, calling it unfair and potentially in violation of U.S. antitrust laws. Congress members argued that participation in F1 should be merit-based, not restricted to protecting the existing teams. Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei later confirmed that the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division is investigating the matter.
