Saudi Arabia is working towards a return to the F1 calendar in 2026 and I have the details in this week’s Business of Motorsport Roundup. I also have details on a potential ground-breaking sports law trial, the latest sponsorship deals and more.
Overview
Motorsport Industry News
F1 Confirm ‘Contingency Plan’ for 2026 Grand Prix Calendar
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has confirmed there is “a contingency plan” in place should the season-ending Middle East grands prix in Qatar and Abu Dhabi be cancelled. “Promoters in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are already selling tickets, and sales are going very, very well. But there will come a time when we have to make decisions, because it’s not like a football match where there are only two teams, 22 players, and where substitutions are easy. For us, there’s the logistical complexity, the costs.”
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is targeting a return to the Formula 1 calendar later this year, despite the ongoing crisis in the Middle East that led to the race’s cancellation earlier. “There is a desire to have that race in Jeddah run this year, potentially between Baku and Singapore. There is that week’s gap, so we could turn it into a triple-header.”
Vegas to Remain on F1 Calendar Through 2037
The Las Vegas Grand Prix has officially extended its contract to remain on the Formula 1 calendar until at least the 2037 season. “We are thrilled that Formula 1 will continue racing in Las Vegas for many years to come,” Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said. “Since its debut in 2023, the event has been extraordinary, rapidly establishing itself as a premier destination for great racing, world-class entertainment, global business leaders, A-list celebrities and influencers.”
Will Potential F1 Rule Changes See BYD’s Interest Fade?
If you are somebody who wondered why Chinese electric car maunfacurer BYD would be interested in F1, a series rapidly walking back their electrification plans, you are not the only one. It seems BYD might be thinking along the same lines.
“There’s the whole situation with the rules and the engine power and the balance between hybrid and electric – and all that stuff is going to be played out with BYD watching.” – Mark Thomas – Managing Director of S2M Consulting and China expert – told Sector.
Otro Waits on Alpine Stake Sale After Failing to Reach Mercedes Agreement
Otro Capital is retaining its stake in the Alpine Formula 1 team for now after failing to reach an agreement to sell to Mercedes. “As a result, RACER understands no further discussions are ongoing with any other potential purchasers of the stake at this stage, and as such the process has stopped for now.”
How Europe Built F1’s Commercial Foundations and Still Holds Them Today
Formula 1 arrives in Monte Carlo this weekend for the start of what has always been the sport’s most distinctly European chapter and Sector looks at how Europe built F1’s commercial foundations and still holds them today.
“Analysis of Sector’s free-to-access partnership database The Grid reveals 382 active partnerships in total. European brands – including those from the UK – account for 168 of them, or 44 percent of the entire grid. US brands account for 151, or 39.5 percent. The remaining 63, around 16.5 percent, come from the rest of the world.”
Read the full analysis at Sector here.
Thinking About Thinking
Vincenzo Landino of Business of Speed explores why F1 teams can’t outspend each other anymore, so they’re buying brains. “I’ll move on to the point. Anthropic gave itself a job title at Williams: Official Thinking Partner.” Read the full column here.
The Audience Data Behind NASCAR on Fox and Prime in 2026
Prime Video’s 2025 NASCAR Cup Series debut delivered a median viewer age of 56.1 years — nearly seven years younger than the 62.8 median recorded on Fox and other linear networks. Check out the full analysis at Vantage and BlackBook Motorsport.
First Concept image for Hamilton’s HybridV10 Series Revealed
The first concept image of the car design that is planned for Anthony Hamilton’s new HybridV10 series has been revealed. The idea is that the V10 cars will run initially in 2028/2029, with a V8 category potentially following later in 2029/2030.
“Hamilton wants no racing gimmicks as part of HybridV10, so that means no DRS and a push to ensure that the cars can race each other properly, so they don’t produce too much dirty air. The aim is to keep car weight down as low as possible too.”
Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week
24 Hours of Le Mans and More
- Even by Le Mans standards, this year’s event will be one for the books – on and off the track (RACER)
- Volara Motorsports Group Acquires Lynx Motor Works to Expand Luxury Performance Platform (City Biz)
- Why Formula 1 Should Study Arsenal’s Cultural Playbook (Paddock Journal)
- Formula 1 Commission Meeting 02.06.26 – Media Statement (FIA)
- SportGen 2026 Conference in Paris (FIA)
- Two Houses, One Grid (Paddock Project)
- How Caterham’s success is rooted in continual evolution (Autosport)
- Sprint Car Driver Taylor Ferns Launches Motorsports Consulting Firm (PRI)
- ‘Everything Gets Recorded’: Inside Formula 1’s Social Content Orchestra (Paddock Journal)
- ERC extends Andalusia Rally – Sierra Morena – Córdoba World Heritage Site agreement (Red Bull)
- SPORTFIVE Appoints Dan Rossomondo to Accelerate North American Expansion (SportFive)
- Driven AVS secures strategic investment for its racing technology platform RaceData AI (SwipeLine)
- Elkay Hunt: Bringing High Frequency Fashion to Formula 1 and Beyond (Paddock Journal)
- Welcome to the most dangerous race in the world: ‘If you are scared, it’s better you stop’ (The Athletic)
Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup
McLaren Set Out Plan for Circular F1 Car
McLaren has set out a plan for a circular F1 car in their latest sustainability report, and I have all the details in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup. I also have details on hydrogen motorsport events at Le Mans and much more.
The Numbers This Week
- Detroit delivers another ratings bump for IndyCar (RACER)
- IndyCar At Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Shows Racing Increase For FOX (Forbes)
- 110th Indianapolis 500 Delivers Big Rating For FOX (Forbes)
Motorsport Law Roundup
SRAM vs the UCI: How a Dispute Over Gear Ratios Could Change Global Sport Forever
Jacob Whitehead explains how a dispute over the size of a rear sprocket — and the gear ratio that provides — have the potential to change the face of global sport regulation. Just like a bike, where that ratio has the potential to massively increase a rider’s speed, the rear sprocket has an outsized importance.
The recent decision in a case involving Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) against Chicago-based equipment manufacturer SRAM sets a precedent — that companies have a voice in establishing the regulations of sporting governing bodies, a judgement with implications far wider than cycling. “The decision sets a precedent — that companies have a voice in establishing the regulations of sporting governing bodies, a judgement with implications far wider than cycling.”
Read the full article at The Athletic here.
Madring Legal Issues
Jarno ZaffelliJarno Zaffelli, Owner, founder, designer at Dromo Applied Italian Circuit Design explains the recent litigation his company is involved in regarding construction of the Madring.
“We believed we were building a Formula 1 circuit for IFEMA MADRID , MADRING . What we discovered is that, behind the scenes, the path to replace us had already been opened.”
Read his full post on LinkedIn here.
Brembo Beats NASCAR Supplier’s NC Extortion Claims
A North Carolina federal judge has tossed a NASCAR parts distributor’s lawsuit alleging Brembo NV improperly interfered with its contractual negotiations with a longstanding business partner, ruling Tuesday that the company failed to plausibly allege the Italian parts manufacturer acted with malice.
MotorSport New Zealand Establishes Rules Integrity Committee
MotorSport New Zealand is establishing the Rules Integrity Committee (RIC) – a new governance body that will oversee the integrity, consistency, and quality of our regulatory framework.
The RIC replaces the existing Rules/Regulatory Committee and represents a deliberate shift in how we approach rules governance. Its first major piece of work will be providing governance oversight of the Rules Transformation Programme: a 36-month project to modernise and simplify our rules.
The RIC is a governance and oversight body – it is not responsible for drafting rules line by line. Its job is to ensure that every rule change is well-considered, properly assessed for risk and impact, and made for documented, defensible reasons. Maintaining that boundary between governance oversight and operational drafting is central to how the Committee will operate.
Full details can be found here.
Motorsport Sponsorship, Partnership News and Analysis
TeamViewer’s Dual Sponsorship Strategy for Mercedes and F1 Academy and More
- Brand awareness, on-track engagement and driving equality: TeamViewer’s dual sponsorship strategy for Mercedes and F1 Academy (BlackBook Motorsport)
- Wilkinson Sword’s F1 debut: why Williams, why the Blademaster, why now? (Sector)
- Napster Partners with Spa Grand Prix to Launch AI Concierge for Formula 1 Fans (National Law Review)
- How LEGO & McLaren Turned Childhood Dreams Into Reality (Paddock Journal)
- Aprilia announces first-ever MotoGP title sponsorship with Monster Energy (Motorsport Week)
- Mastercard feels McLaren title position worth lucrative deal amid shifting advertising dynamics (Sports Business Journal)
- LVMH v Kering: How F1 became a luxury brand battleground (Sector)
Team & Manufacturer News
Did Audi ‘Give Up’ on GT3 Too Soon?
- Did Audi ‘give up’ on GT3 too soon? (Autosport)
- 2028 IMSA GTP entry still a possibility, says Ford’s Rushbrook (RACER)
- Williams F1 sign AI expert as new Chief Information Officer (Motorsport Week)
- Zak Brown – Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Racing (Business of Formula 1)
- How Trackhouse is preparing for the post-Brivio era (Autosport)
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.
