Although Liberty Media's short-term priority is to ensure the ongoing health of Formula 1's 10 teams and 20-odd grands prix, the umbrella company for F1's commercial rights holder Formula One Management harbours a stated desire to increase both the number of entrants and rounds.

In a recent interview with Autosport, to be published on the September anniversary of Liberty's acquisition of management control over F1's commercial rights from CVC Capital Partners, F1 CEO Chase Carey stated "our priority in both cases is [to] make the teams strong, make the 21 races great. That's priority one, and then figure out from there."

However, Ross Brawn, FOM's managing director on the sporting side admitted that "our goal is that in the future we have 12 or even 13 teams", while Carey's objective of ultimately adding more rounds is well documented. Paddock wisdom has calendars growing to 25 races - the only realistic option Liberty has of boosting income given the pressures on hosting and broadcasting fees, although the teams will clamour for a slice of it.