Vettel urges Ecclestone to address high F1 ticket prices
Sebastian Vettel says Bernie Ecclestone holds the real power to make Formula One more accessible by reducing race ticket prices, following criticism from the F1 boss.
Sebastian Vettel has called on Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone to tackle the sport’s high ticket prices, arguing that Ecclestone is in a far stronger position to influence attendance than any current driver. The comments came after Ecclestone publicly criticised Vettel for his perceived lack of impact on the sport’s popularity, claiming the four-time world champion is not widely recognised by the public.
Speaking to Canadian broadcaster CBC during the Montreal Grand Prix weekend in June 2015, Vettel said Ecclestone is far better placed to boost attendance by making tickets more affordable. While drivers are often expected to help promote the sport, Vettel pointed out that promoters’ costs are driven up by the fees charged by Formula One Management, which are widely reported to reach $50 million per race. These costs are then passed on to fans through high ticket prices.
The issue came into sharper focus after the cancellation of the 2015 German Grand Prix, a race that failed to secure a promoter willing to take on the financial risk. Falling ticket sales and rising costs were blamed, with many fans priced out of attending their home event. Vettel, who had previously said he was not concerned by Ecclestone’s personal criticism, shifted the discussion to the structural challenges facing the sport’s accessibility.
Race hosting fees and fan access
While individual race promoters are responsible for ticket sales, the financial burden of hosting a Grand Prix is set by the contracts Ecclestone negotiates. With some circuits paying among the highest fees in global sport, organisers often have little choice but to charge premium prices to recoup costs. This has become a particular problem in traditional F1 markets such as Germany, where attendance has declined sharply in recent years.
