Toto Wolff: Liberty to introduce "franchise" model for Formula 1

Toto Wolff the Mercedes GP Executive Director looks on from the pitwall during day four of Formula One Winter Testing at the Circuito de Jerez on January 31, 2014
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Liberty Media is looking into replacing the F1 teams' current 'Concorde Agreement'-type commercial contracts with a franchise model, according to Toto Wolff.

Liberty Media is looking into replacing the Formula 1 teams' current 'Concorde Agreement'-type commercial contracts with a franchise model, according to Toto Wolff.

The Mercedes team boss's claim comes amid rumblings that early talks about the commercial direction of the sport post 2020 have already begun.

The current income distribution model, devised by the now-ousted former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, is highly controversial as it heavily weights payments to the richest teams and leaves the smaller outfits struggling for influence and survival.

What does seem clear is that Ecclestone's 'Concorde' agreements will be allowed to simply lapse.

"Liberty Media has a very good approach, namely that the Concorde Agreement, as it was formerly called, will no longer exist," Wolff told Austria's ORF.

"In principle, a team in future will have this 'franchise' forever, which helps to add value because you do not have to renegotiate every eight years."

Ecclestone's 40-year reign came to an end when Liberty completed its takeover earlier this year.

Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP leads Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP into the first corner during the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya on May 10, 2015
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