Formula One’s Revenue Fell 38%. Here’s Why That’s Not the Full Picture

Rexielyn Diaz6 minute read
Reviewed by: David Hanson
Last updated Sep 11, 2026

simonkr from Getty Images Signature and Science Photo Library via Canva

Key Stats for FWONK Stock

  • Past week performance: Consolidating
  • 52-week range: $80 to $109
  • Valuation model target price: $117
  • Implied upside: 22.7% over 2.3 years

Unpack how Formula One’s race calendar swings translate into revenue (It’s free) >>>

A Revenue Drop That’s Really a Calendar Quirk

Formula One Group (FWON.K), the Liberty Media owned racing series, reported Q2 revenue down 38% to $764 million. On its face, that sounds alarming. It isn’t, and the reason comes down to accounting.

FWON.K Revenue (TIKR)

Formula 1 books season based revenue, things like race fees, media rights, and sponsorships, proportionally across however many races happen. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, both set for April, got pulled because of regional conflict. That left just five races in Q2 2026, down from nine a year earlier. So the drop mostly reflects fewer races booked, not fewer fans or sponsors.

Underneath that math, the business kept performing well. Attendance hit 3.3 million fans this season, with every race through Belgium selling out. F1 TV revenue, excluding the U.S., grew 18% year to date. CEO Stefano Domenicali called the Las Vegas Grand Prix “one of the most important” races on the calendar.

The calendar is also stabilizing now. Formula 1 rescheduled Bahrain to Malaysia in October, bringing the assumed 2026 calendar to 23 races. Management expects a full 24 race slate in 2027. If revenue recognition catches up to that restored calendar, the miss narrative from Q2 should fade quickly.

Follow how F1’s revenue recovers once the 23-race calendar kicks in fully (It’s free) >>>

What the Guided Valuation Says About Formula One

FWONK Guided Valuation Model (TIKR)

Under valuation model assumptions realized through 12/31/28, the stock is modeled using:

  • Revenue Growth (CAGR): 8.1%
  • Operating Margins: 17.8%
  • Exit P/E Multiple: 47.6x

Based on these inputs, the model estimates a target price of $117, implying 22.7% total upside and a 9.3% annualized return over the next 2.3 years.

A 22.7% total return sits in a genuinely interesting range. That’s especially true for a stock whose recent headline numbers scared off momentum buyers. This disconnect between accounting driven revenue drops and the underlying business is exactly where opportunity tends to hide.

The 47.6x exit multiple looks rich at first glance. But Formula One isn’t priced like a typical media company. Its revenue stays largely contracted years in advance through promotion agreements, broadcast deals, and sponsorships, giving it earnings visibility few sports properties can match.

FWONK Guided Valuation Model (TIKR)

Margins tell the real growth story here. An 17.8% operating margin assumption reflects a business still absorbing costs from a 24 race calendar, new markets like Madrid, and MotoGP integration. As the calendar normalizes and cost synergies continue, margins have room to expand.

Because the stock trades on a full season basis, quarterly numbers will keep looking noisy until year end comparisons catch up. Investors focused only on quarterly optics may miss that underlying demand hasn’t slowed at all.

Chart F1’s operating margin trend as MotoGP integration synergies build through 2027 (Free with TIKR) >>>

How Formula One Stacks Up Against Other Global Sports Properties

Formula One’s closest comparisons are TKO Group Holdings (TKO), owner of UFC and WWE, and other premium live sports properties competing for global sponsorship dollars.

On growth, Formula One’s 8.1% forecasted revenue CAGR outpaces TKO’s typical mid single digit growth. That edge comes from F1’s continued global expansion into new markets like Madrid and its 2027 return to a full 24 race calendar. TKO relies heavily on U.S. pay per view and licensing revenue, while Formula One draws roughly half its revenue internationally.

On margins, Formula One’s 17.8% forecast trails TKO’s, since TKO benefits from a more mature, lower overhead events model. That gap partly explains why Formula One trades at a higher revenue multiple than profit multiple, as investors bet on margin expansion once MotoGP integration matures.

FWON.K NTM P/E vs TKO (TIKR)

Valuation is where the comparison gets interesting. Formula One’s 47.6x forward P/E sits above most traditional media peers. Yet its long term contracted revenue base, stretching years into race and broadcast deals, justifies a premium that shorter cycle sports properties can’t claim.

Monitor Q2 earnings in early August for race-promotion revenue, media-rights growth, sponsorship demand, and updates on the 2026 calendar >>>

What’s Driving FWONK Stock Going Forward?

Calendar normalization offers the clearest near term catalyst. As the 2026 season completes its 23 scheduled races and 2027 returns to a full 24 race slate, revenue comparisons should stop looking artificially depressed.

The 2027 season launch is another lever. Formula 1 announced a three day fan event in Milan in February 2027, featuring all 11 teams and drivers, mirroring the successful London launch that drove strong engagement in prior years.

MotoGP integration continues to mature steadily. Liberty refinanced MotoGP’s debt earlier this year, trimming its loan margin and signing manufacturers and teams through 2031. Those steps should support margin expansion as the two properties share commercial infrastructure.

Geographic expansion rounds out the outlook. F1 continues fielding interest from new host cities, while deepening ties with sponsors through deals like its publishing partnership with DK Books and its aviation agreement with Flexjet.

Watch how F1’s 2027 Milan launch could reset investor sentiment after a noisy 2026 (Free with TIKR) >>>

Should You Invest in Formula One?

The only way to really know is to look at the numbers yourself. TIKR gives you free access to the same institutional-quality financial data that professional analysts use to answer exactly that question.

Pull up FWONK, and you’ll see years of historical financials, what Wall Street analysts expect for revenue and earnings in the quarters ahead, how valuation multiples have moved over time, and whether price targets are trending up or down.

You can build a free watchlist to track FWONK alongside every other stock on your radar. No credit card required. Just the data you need to decide for yourself.

Analyze FWONK stock on TIKR Free

Disclaimer:

Please note that the articles on TIKR are not intended to serve as investment or financial advice from TIKR or our content team, nor are they recommendations to buy or sell any stocks. We create our content based on TIKR Terminal’s investment data and analysts’ estimates. Our analysis might not include recent company news or important updates. TIKR has no position in any stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading, and happy investing!

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