The FIA presidential election is facing increasing scrutiny with the news that the current president will be elected unopposed despite there being three challenger candidates. You will find out how this can be in this week’s edition of the Business of Motorsport.
Overview
Motorsport Industry News
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem Set to Stand Unopposed for Second Term as Criticism Intensifies
Mohammed Ben Sulayem is set to run unopposed in this year’s election for the presidency of the International Automobile Federation (FIA). As reported by the BBC, presidential hopefuls are required to submit a list of their prospective vice presidents for sport, which must be selected from each of the FIA’s six global regions.
But the FIA World Motorsport Council (WMSC) list contains only one candidate from South America, Brazilian Fabiana Ecclestone, wife of former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, who is already a member of Ben Sulayem’s team.
That reportedly prevents any other candidate from naming a potential vice president for sport from South America, which means no-one else can enter the FIA election.
At least one presidential candidate has raised their concern about the process. FIA presidential candidate Laura Villars has not ruled out a legal challenge against the governing body and has raised what she says are “legitimate concerns” about the election process. Villars isn’t delusional. She knows she isn’t set up to win this time around. She’s running to expose the system—a structure built to protect incumbents, not invite challengers. “It’s not an election. It’s a coronation wrapped in paperwork.”
Damien Smith wonders whether the current, and growing criticism of the FIA will affect the relationship between F1 and the FIA, something that Ben Sulayem denies.
The Power Loop: How Global Car Manufacturers Fuel Formula 1’s Rise – and Vice Versa
Since its very inception, Formula 1 has been more than just a sporting contest. For car manufacturers, it has long served as a high-stakes laboratory and a powerful global stage on which to project their brand identity, technological prowess, and aspirational values. The world’s most prestigious automotive companies have recognized that Formula 1 provides not only the chance to test engineering at the limit, but also an unparalleled opportunity to shape consumer perception and capture the imagination of millions of fans around the globe. Read more at RTR Sports Marketing.
The Elusive Grand Prix That Has Left Ex-F1 Supremo Baffled by its Disappearance
Former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that he is baffled by the continued disappearance of the German Grand Prix from the calendar. “I often think about it and I don’t understand it. It’s just strange that it’s not being made possible. No one would oppose it, except maybe a few people in Germany itself. It’s just about money. If someone with the right funding were there, it would work.”
F1, COTA Appear Close to Extending Grand Prix Until 2034
Sean Hemmersmeier of the Austin Business Journal has revealed that the United States Grand Prix looks like it will continue at COTA until 2034.
Apple Vice President Responds to F1 Broadcasting Rights Rumors
Apple senior vice president of services Eddy Cue has responded to the rumors about Apple acquiring the Formula 1 broadcasting rights in the United States during the Autosport Business Exchange: New York.
“No,” Cue said with a smile when asked if there was anything he was ready to announce. “But we do love F1, we’ve done the movie and I’ve been a huge fan of F1 since I was a kid – huge, huge fan.”
Christian Horner Rumored to be Involved with 12th F1 Team
While joining Ferrari has been seen as wide off the mark, it’s believed that Horner has secured significant financial backing, which could prove instrumental in the creation of a 12th F1 team, with Horner having already met with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali regarding such a project.
The Business Behind Red Bull Racing: Why F1’s Top Team Made Just $2.27 Million In Profit Last Year
Red Bull has won more Formula 1 races than any team since 2020, yet its profit margin is smaller than Haas. Huddle Up breaks down how Red Bull’s empire actually makes money.
Porsche’s WEC Exit Sparks $98.7M IMSA Shift After 67% Profit Drop
Porsche’s 67% profit decline and WEC exit mark a major endurance racing pivot. Redirecting $98.7M to IMSA signals a strategic move toward cost-efficient markets as global pressures reshape motorsports economics. Vantage does a deep dive into the issue.
Is There a Chance Palm Beach International Raceway Could Reopen?
Grassroots Motorsports reports that the desire to see Palm Beach International Raceway once again open its gates to racers remains strong. And the RPM Group wants to make that happen, according to a recent news article by WPEC.
“We’re very, very hopeful that we’ll be able to close a deal on Palm Beach International Raceway,” RPM Group president Eric Bentley told WPEC. “My team and I have put together a brand-new investor deck. if you’re interested in the deck itself, if you consider yourself someone who would be interested in investing and being a part of this project, we would love to hear from you.”
Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week
- Racing Simulator F1 Arcade Accelerates International Franchise Growth (Franchise Times)
- “We have to win” in F1, says Ferrari on costly Capital Markets Day (Autosport)
- Aligned Automation takes AI from the boardroom to the racetrack (Gulf Business)
- MotoGP project leaves evicted villagers in limbo (Taipei Times)
- Motorsport as a business engine (RTR Sports Marketing)
- Automakers Race Into Motor Sports. Does Anyone Care? (Bloomberg)
- From classroom to checkered flag: How students keep Monash Motorsport moving (Industry Update)
- “I was sceptical about Drive to Survive, treading on our toes. How wrong I was” (Sporting Intelligence)
- 2025 FIA GT World Cup gathers GT racing’s elite for Macau’s street racing showdown (FIA)
- Ten of the world’s top racing teams confirmed for 2025 FIA FR World Cup in Macau (FIA)
- New Data Reveals Which European Countries are Racing Ahead in Motorsport Obsession (European Business Review)
- First Brands files for bankruptcy, revealing billions of dollars in liabilities (Reuters)
- Revealed: How rookie drivers can buy F1 free practice seats for $3.5m (Motorsport Magazine)
Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup
Mercedes F1 Achieves 99% Biofuels Coverage for 2025 European Season
Mercedes F1 have achieved 99% biofuels coverage across the 2025 European season and in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup you will find out how they plan to expand the initiative. I also have news of an electric/hybrid buggy with plans to race the Dakar Rally and much more!
The Numbers This Week
Singapore Grand Prix Brand Value
Brands lit up the grid at the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. Blinkfire’s benchmarking analysis ranks the top 10 brands by total valuation — combining team and competition sponsors to show how visibility shifts across every level of partnership. George Russell’s victory for Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS propelled Petronas and Mercedes-Benz into the top six, while Aramco led the way among official F1 partners with $2.3 million in media value from the weekend at Marina Bay.
- NHRA breaks viewership record and beats NASCAR’s Las Vegas race (BlackBool Motorsport)
Motorsport Law Roundup
McLaren vs Palou
The court case centered on McLaren Racing and 2025 IndyCar Champion Alex Palou kicked off last week, with the Spaniard and CEO Zak Brown taking to the stand in a bitter legal dispute.
Palou looked to set to feature in the Woking-based squad‘s long-term plans, signing a deal to drive its IndyCar team in 2023, doubling up as an F1 test and reserve driver.
Disputed by Chip Ganassi Racing, an agreement was reached for him to depart at the end of the 2023 season, but free to undertake his F1 duties while he saw out his contract. Instead, Palou reneged on the deal, pulling out and choosing to remain at Chip Ganassi, dominating the 2025 season and seemingly closing the door on any F1 future.
Here is a roundup of the latest development in a case I was sure would have been settled by now.
- McLaren’s explosive Palou court case – all you need to know (The Race)
- Why McLaren is suing reigning IndyCar champion for $20 million (Motorsport Week)
- Palou was told McLaren F1 deal “could happen”, Brown denies stringing him along (Autosport)
- Alex Palou was sold a dream ‘based on lies’ by McLaren, a court hears (The Athletic)
- Zak Brown responds to ‘ludicrous’ Oscar Piastri claim amid Alex Palou legal case (Planet F1)
- Fernando Alonso unexpectedly drawn into McLaren v Palou court case (Planet F1)
- McLaren’s court case against Palou is a warning to Massa and F1 how quickly things can turn ugly (Planet F1)
Susie Wolff Maintains Defamation Case Against FIA as “Ongoing” Update Issued
Susie Wolff has confirmed that her legal action against the FIA is still ongoing after the governing body announced in 2023 it would review whether Wolff’s husband, Toto Wolff’s, position as Mercedes team principal could create a conflict of interest.
Motorsport Sponsorship, Partnership News and Analysis
- New name, new partner for Porsche in Formula E (Porsche)
- LVMH Steps Up Global Sports Push With Singapore F1 Title Sponsorship (YiCai Global)
- Repsol set for world championship return after Honda MotoGP split (Autosport)
- Cookies in the fast lane: Girl Scouts take on the Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
- Mind the sponsorship gap: How brands can reach digital audiences through sponsorship (SportsPro)
- Macau’s six casino operators pay US$15mln overall to sponsor city’s Grand Prix motorsport meeting (GGR Asia)
- The OMP brand of Racing Force Group renews winning partnership with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (Racing Force Group)
- Cato Networks named Official SASE Partner of BWT Alpine Formula One Team (Alpine)
- IndyCar’s $7M Driver Deals Show Power of Personal Branding (Vantage)
- Foot on the gas: Sunoco expected to return as NASCAR’s official fuel supplier in ’26 (Sports Business Journal)
- Momentum in motorsports drawing in brands looking to ‘cash in’ (Sports Business Journal)
- McLaren and Haas land new sponsors ahead of US Grand Prix (BlackBook Motorsport)
- McLaren Racing partners with Iron Mountain (SIG)
- Massmutual Accelerates Brand Presence With Sponsorship of the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025 as the Official Wealth Management Partner (Speedway Digest)
- Grupo Televisa confirmed as F1’s new broadcaster in Mexico (BlackBook Motorsport)
The Business of Running a Race Team
Inside Evans GP’s Sepang International Circuit Workshop & Race Facility
Join Evans GP team owner Josh Evans for a quick tour of the team’s facilities at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. Evans GP is an international racing team competing across Asia and the Middle East, with programmes in Formula 4, Formula Regional, and GT racing.
This is where we prepare our Formula 4 cars for the South East Asia Formula 4 Championship and our Toyota 86 training cars for the MSF 86XBRZ Cup. Take a look inside our professional workshop and race bays, where our mechanics work on Formula 4 and Formula Regional race cars, as well as our engineering offices, state-of-the-art driver simulator, shock dyno and related equipment, and our clean room where we rebuild and service key components to the highest standards.
Team & Manufacturer News
- Lamborghini returns to FIA Macau GT World Cup with two−car factory entry (PR)
- SJM Theodore PREMA Racing announces 2025 Macau Grand Prix entry (Theodore Racing)
- Failure is not an option for Aston Martin – Cardile (RACER)
- Campos Racing sets sights on endurance racing alongside Brutal Fish Racing Team (Campos Racing)
- $2 billion on the table, but Red Bull keeps Racing Bulls (Formula Nerds)
- Welcome new BMW GT team KPX Motorsport (Daily Sportscar)
- Hyundai adds experience to WRC squad with new sporting director (Autosport)
- BJR announces SCT Motorsport split (SpeedCafe)
- DXDT, Regulator Facing Uncertain Futures in SRO America (Sportscar365)
- Forte Plotting Possible Pro-Am Effort With Lamborghini in 2026 (Sportscar365)
- Tin Soldier Racecars Acquires Racecraft Inc. (Drag Illustrated)
- PremiAir signs Roland Dane as team principal (SpeedCafe)
- Nitro Motorsports Acquires Venturini Motorsports, Ushering in a New Era for ARCA Competition (RTD Media)
- Symonds: Scale of building Cadillac F1 entry from scratch “frightening” (Autosport)
- The start-up culture Cadillac is embracing before F1 debut (Autosport)
Motorsport Movers & Shakers
Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur on Working with Lewis Hamilton
Why did McLaren evolve into championship winners while Ferrari, which was neck-and-neck for performance just 12 months ago, couldn’t even win a race? Vasseur believes consistency has been the key to McLaren’s success this year, making it an outlier in a very tight field where a small change in conditions, such as the wind or track temperature, can have a huge impact on performance.
The Athletic interviewed the Ferrari team principal during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend.
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.
