Team Penske drama has hit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the eve of the Indy 500 and in this week’s Business of Motorsport Roundup I have a roundup of the coverage. I also have an interview with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, details on the FIA’s profits, and all the latest motorsport sponsorship deals plus much more!
Motorsport Industry News
Formula 1
The Athletic interviews F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali on keeping the sport ‘relevant’ in a changing world. “To move around the world and be able to be so strong, you may laugh, with only 24 grands prix, with only 20 drivers, I think it’s something we should be really thankful that we’re able to do/”
Luke Smith of The Athletic takes stock on what is known so far about Formula 1’s future schedule which can be summarized as 24 races, a Thailand Grand Prix and calendar rotation. “Formula One has no plan to go beyond its existing tally of 24 races per season, but expects to have two or three events on rotational deals amid interest from new markets.”
The Race looks at what leading F1 drivers make of potential Sainz FIA presidency bid. “Carlos Sr is a really, extremely respected individual within the whole motorsport industry. Not just F1, not just rallying. He has so much experience in this world,” George Russell said. But as The Athletic points out, the incumbent doesn’t want to leave
Otmar Szafnauer is still making noises about a potential 12th F1 team. “If a 12 team opportunity becomes available, if and when, I want to be ready so that I will put an application in and I want to be ready so it can be successful,” says Szafnauer.
General Motorsport Industry News
It happened last year and it has happened again. Team Penske has been caught cheating and worst of all, it has happened on the eve of a sold out Indy 500, overshadowing the “greatest spectacle in racing.” While Roger Penske has fired three prominent Team Penske executives and the cars of Will Power and Josef Newgarden have been relegated to the back row for Sunday’s race, calls for an independent rules adjudicator are increasing.
Here is a roundup of the coverage of what it turning out to be a consequential few days in IndyCar, one whose effects will resonate for the rest of the 2025 season and beyond.
- Team Penske fires senior leadership team in wake of cheating scandal (The Athletic)
- Cindric, Ruzewski, Moyer depart Team Penske (RACER)
- Penske Indy 500 penalty furore – All the repercussions (The Race)
- Explained: The Penske scandal that has rocked the Indy 500 (Motorsport Magazine)
- Roger Penske Tells FOX Sports About Indianapolis 500 Scandal (Forbes)
- Indy 500 preview: Can IndyCar emerge from the shadow of its most famous race? (BlackBook Motorsport)
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) has reported an operating profit of €4.7 million (US$5.3 million) in 2024, marking its strongest set of financial results in eight years ending five straight years of operating losses for the FIFA.
Tom Howard in Autosport Plus wonders if Scotland holds the key for a Rally GB revival. “But after years in the wilderness, there appears to be a glimmer of hope that Rally GB can be revived. Rallying’s top flight could once again return to British shores thanks to a proposal to bring the WRC to Scotland.” Read more here.
James Warburton has wasted no time reintroducing himself to the Supercars fold following confirmation he’ll return to the business as CEO. “Outlining an ambition to return Supercars to the number three sport in the country behind only the AFL and NRL football juggernauts, Warburton enthused about growth opportunities.” Read more about his plans in SpeedCafe.
Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week
- F1 at 75: The historic tracks that held the sport’s first world championship season (The Athletic)
- Drivers urge F1 to ‘preserve its history’ as end draws near for Imola’s grand prix (Race Fans)
- The Price of Soul: Is there still room in Formula 1 for places that matter more than they profit? (Business of Speed)
- Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen make the world’s athletes’ rich list (Motorsport.com)
- How SRO Asia Pulled Off its Most Ambitious Launch Yet (Sportscar365+)
- The Monaco Grand Prix’s Most Interesting (And Secretive) Details (Huddle Up)
- Indy Autonomous Challenge set for Laguna Seca (RACER)
- World’s largest Autonomous Racing League returns with USD $2.25M prize pool and global expansion (MSN)
- Colton Herta Crash at Indy 500 Qualifying Sparks Concerns: Impact on Crypto Sports Sponsorships and Fan Tokens (Blockchain News)
- ‘They’re Horrible’ – Josh Berry Rips ARCA Series Against Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Latest Racing Venture (NewsBreak)
- Groundskeeping Is A Huge Undertaking at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (SpeedSport)
- Auckland Council has invited the public to have its say on the future of speedway venue Western Springs (SpeedCafe)
- Supercars wants ‘more than AUS$200m’ from next TV deal (BlackBook Motorsport)
- IndyCar and Fox shift June visit to Gateway to primetime TV slot (BlackBook Motorsport)
- Six Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles Will Race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway … and We Can’t Wait (Autoweek)
- Collins and Stevenson join the Grand Prix Trust (Autosport)
- Motorsport and Legacy-Building: Meet AKCEL Group founder Amit Kaushel (What’s On)
- Council Delays Vote On Australian Motor Park (South Burnett News)
- Ford Performance Announces “Driving 4 A Difference Presented by the Gene Haas Foundation” (Haas Factory Team)
- Blockchain on the Fast Track: Why Crypto and Car Racing Make the Ultimate Team (Crypto Daily)
Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup
McLaren Racing cut emissions by 23% per race in 2024 and in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup I have the details on how they did it. I also have the details of Formula 1’s plan to reduce emissions by 90% during the 2025 season’s European leg, a new all-electric rally car and what Bosch and Ligier are doing with hydrogen in motorsport plus much more.
The Numbers
The U.S. broadcast of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix last Sunday morning averaged 1.1 million viewers on ESPN2, up nearly 28% from the race’s TV ratings in 2024 according to Front Office Sports. Meanwhile, Fox averaged 3.2 million viewers for its segment of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series after the All-Star Race posted an average audience of 1.97 million on FS1.
Motorsport Law Roundup
A look at some of the legal and regulatory issues and analysis in Motorsport this week
Aprilia has released a statement indicating it expects Jorge Martin to fulfill his full contract with the team until the end of the 2026 MotoGP season. “The contract between Aprilia Racing and Jorge Martín is valid and in effect, and as such, it must be respected by both parties until its expiration (end of 2026). Aprilia Racing has honoured it in full, within the agreed-upon timelines and terms, and will continue to do so in the future.”
Despite this contractual impasse, Marc Marquez has stated there is no need for an F1-style contract board in MotoGP. “For me, if you have a professional team around you – meaning [your] manager and the team – you are protected enough.”
Motorsport Sponsorship, Partnership News and Analysis
Here are the latest motorsport sponsorship deals, partnerships and related analysis that were announced this week
- Disney and Formula 1 unveil collaboration with Disney’s Mickey & Friends launching in 2026 (F1)
- Oracle Red Bull Racing And Gate.io Launch Onchain Fan Engagement (Forbes)
- BPE Solicitors named as British Racing Motors’ official legal partner for 2024 (Insider Media)
- Hydes Cyder Lyte will be the sponsor for The Racing Reverend and 10 Motorsport’s 2025 season (Basing Stoke Gazette)
- NWK fuels the spirit of adventure at South African Safari Rally (Motorsport South Africa)
- Big Machine Distillery and Chip Ganassi Racing Announce Partnership that Includes Borchetta Bourbon Release Celebrating Team’s 35th Anniversary (CGR)
- How Much Should I Pay to Put My Company Logo on a F1 Car? (RTR Sports Marketing)
- Globalization is Transforming Motorsport Sponsorship (Riccardo Tafà)
- New to The Street and Skip Barber Racing School Announce Multi-Year National Fleet Branding and Media Partnership (National Law Review)
- Libertex Joins Monaco Grand Prix Months After Entering Formula One Sponsorship Circuit (Trading View)
- NEFT Vodka Becomes Official Vodka of Silverstone, The Home of British Motorsport (Silverstone)
- Silverstone picks up Heineken as partner (SIG)
- Cadillac Unveils Le Mans Livery with Mobil 1 Brand as Primary Sponsor (Wayne Taylor Racing)
- Designed To Win: The Tag Heuer Campaign That Defines a New Era (Tag Heuer)
- Sports.com Accelerates Brand Exposure at This Weekend’s 2025 Indy 500 with Sponsorship Deal Featuring Driver Louis Foster, Car No. 45 (PR)
- Aston Martin tap CoreWeave for AI cloud computing partnership (BlackBook Motorsport)
- PREMA, Monolith unite to push boundaries in INDYCAR setup innovation (Prema)
- 23XI Racing Expands Partnership With Pinnacle Financial Partners (Forbes)
- Revving Up Partnerships: How the 500 Festival is Fueling Sponsorship Success (SMA)
- Mariott Bonvoy teams up with F1 for F1 Film (Mariott Bonvoy)
- Who are Max Verstappen’s Sponsors? (SportSkeeda)
- Alpine Partners Extends Kalitta Motorsports Partnership, Deploys Aflac Branding (Drag Illustrated)
- BMW Motorrad and ROKiT announce strengthened partnership and will be at the Isle of Man (M1 Sports)
- Mics Out podcast: The key commercial milestones from 75 years of F1 (BlackBook Motorsport)
- LVMH Warns of Continued Luxury Weakness on China Woes (Bloomberg)
The Business of Running a Race Team
Genesis Magma Racing highlights the devil in the vinyl details in a new video featuring its future Le Mans Hypercar. (Via The Drive)
Team & Manufacturer News
Here is a roundup of the latest team news from around the world of motorsport
- The big off-track sign of Haas’s F1 transformation (The Race)
- Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa’s new Kyalami headquarters unveiled (Business Day)
- Is Williams F1’s ‘best of the rest’ in 2025? Alex Albon’s Imola drive says yes (The Athletic)
- How Ford is increasing input in 2026 Red Bull F1 power unit (Motorsport Week)
- Ford Plotting Global Expansion of Single-Make Mustang Series (Sportscar365)
- Team 18 switches Supercars chassis supplier (V8 Sleuth)
- JOTA Utilising AI Software To Aid Performance Testing (Daily Sportscar)
- How the teams added to the 2025 Italian F4 grid have fared so far (Feeder Series)
- Revealing our riviera-inspired livery enhancement (McLaren Racing)
- Rodin drivers praise team’s efforts to become an F3 force again (Formula Scout)
- MotoGP manufacturer KTM set to be saved by major shareholder amid financial struggles (Motorsport Week)
- Third Ferrari Hypercar confirmed for 2026 FIA WEC (RACER)
- Genesis Magma Racing – how to develop a Hypercar without leaving the office (24H Le Mans)
- AWA reveals Le Mans livery (RACER)
- Tickford Racing sale talk grows (SpeedCafe)
- Two-Time Champions United Autosports Set to Contest The 2025/26 Asian Le Mans Series (United Autosports)
- Lawrence Tomlinson: On LMP3, GT2 & Ginetta’s Successful Move To The British GT Package (Daily Sportscar)
Motorsport Movers & Shakers
Ron Dennis insists he did not fall out with the McLaren owners and also confirmed he would never return to the sport he spent the majority of his career a part of. “I love my garden, even if I don’t spend much time working in it myself, but I am passionate about it, passionate about so many other things in my life.”
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.
