Motorsport: F1 seeks more teams, sponsors, circuits

Kimi Raikkonen leads Max Verstappen during F1 winter testing. Photo / Getty Images

More teams, more sponsors and more circuits are all on the long-term wish-list for Formula One's new owners.

Commercial managing director Sean Bratches says every area of the business is being looked at.

"There will be a point in the season ... where we start to effectuate change," he said 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 small sign of change came on Monday when teams were told they and their drivers could post snippets of video on social media channels from inside the paddock confines.

Bratches, a former ESPN executive who reports to Formula One chairman Chase Carey, said the sport was "replete with opportunities to improve at almost every turn.

"I have been in the office every Saturday and Sunday for the last month since I got here and I don't see it ending. There's a lot to do."

The sport changed hands in January, when Liberty Media replaced 86-year-old former commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone with Carey.

Ecclestone, a lifelong deal-maker, was unconvinced by social media after growing the sport into a billion dollar business through television deals and hosting fees from countries in increasingly exotic locations.

The Briton also saw no need for a spokesman or media department, something the new owners are putting in place along with a well-staffed marketing operation.

"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."

Struggling Manor folded in January, leaving just 10 teams. Bratches said the aim was to put all on a more secure footing.

"In the Premier League or National Football League or Bundesliga, if a team goes up for sale there's 30 individuals or entities that want to buy it. When Manor goes out, that's not the case today," he said.

"So we have to make this a better business on the promoter side, on the team side. The rising tide will float all boats."

Bratches said he had been "pleasantly surprised" by strong interest in hosting races from cities, states and countries who currently do not have one and there would "unequivocally" be new races in the United States and elsewhere.