The event that will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Formula 1, scheduled for 18 February 2025 at London's O2 Arena, sparked an unprecedented controversy. Tickets, which went on sale last Friday, sold out in just 40 minutes, leaving thousands of fans empty-handed. But the real problem emerged shortly after, when numerous tickets for the 2025 presentation appeared on unofficial resale platforms, at prices up to twenty times higher than the original cost.
Exorbitant prices and furious fans
Tickets, which were initially priced between £58 and £113, were spotted on sites like Viagogo for upwards of £1.900. The news quickly spread across the internet, with many fans taking to social media to express their frustration. “Waited in line for an hour and couldn’t get anything. Now I see them for sale at ridiculous prices,” one user wrote on Twitter.
Formula 1 was quick to respond. In an official statement, it said:
“We are aware that some tickets for our season launch event at The O2 have been put up for sale on unofficial resale platforms. We can confirm that this is against the terms of sale and that any tickets purchased via an unofficial resale platform will not be valid for entry.”
F1 also added: “We are working with the O2 and have identified that many of the listings are fraudulent. We encourage all our fans to purchase tickets exclusively through theo2.co.uk or the official AXS resale platform.”
Accusations of stifling competition
F1's decision to invalidate tickets resold on unauthorised platforms has prompted accusations of "stifling competition". Viagogo, one of the platforms involved, has been vocal in criticising Formula 1's stance. A Viagogo spokesperson told Motorsport.com:
“Ticket resale is legal in the UK and Viagogo is fully compliant with UK regulations. Restricting resale stifles competition and unfairly targets fans who choose to buy on a safe, transparent and highly regulated marketplace.”
The spokesperson then added: “Ticket fraud is extremely rare on our platform. There is no incentive for someone to attempt to sell an invalid ticket on Viagogo, as the seller will not be paid unless the buyer successfully gains entry to the event. Sellers can also be fined and banned from our platform for policy violations.”
An unprecedented event
The event, which promises to be spectacular, will see the joint unveiling of the 2025 liveries of all 10 teams, with the 20 drivers and team principals in attendance. In addition to the presentations, there will be exclusive interviews, special guests and other entertainment.
The solution for those left without tickets
For the many fans who were unable to secure a seat, Formula 1 has announced that the event will be live-streamed, although details have not yet been announced. A small consolation for those who, despite hours of waiting, saw the opportunity to participate in a historic moment for Formula 1 slip away.
