Michael Schumacher was involved in a significant F1 contract dispute that demonstrates the importance of wording in a contract, and I have the details in this week’s Business of Motorsport Roundup. I also have news on how the Middle East conflict is affecting both F1 and WEC and much more.
Overview
Motorsport Industry News
F1 and WEC Monitor Middle East Situation and Prepare for Contingencies
A big decision looms for both F1 and WEC on what to do about their late season races in the Middle East as conflict in the region continues. On the F1 side, F1 and FOM are supportive in making whatever decision is deemed necessary while Barcelona and Monza are reportedly being lined up to end the WEC season.
BYD Reveals Formula 1 Stance with Blunt ‘Sticker on the Side’ Admission
Planet F1 reports that BYD’s plans for potential involvement in Formula 1 have become clearer, with the Chinese brand declaring it is not interested in being a “sticker on the side of a car”.
“For BYD, we are a technology leader. We are seeking any opportunity to see if BYD technology can help FIA, can help all other teams. Second ambition, as BYD, we also need to build a brand here. So this is the scope.”
Are Loud Engines Really Something F1 Should Return To?
Formula 1 is making a push towards naturally aspirated V8 engines in 2031, but is getting louder something the series should aspire to? Autosport writers have their say.
“A decade has passed since loud engines were part of F1, and the series is now in a very different place, with a younger and different demographic of fans and more races held in urban settings that would very likely not survive if the decibels were going to skyrocket.”
Rome Completes Key Milestone in Pursuit of 2027 WRC Round
Rome’s plan to host a round of the World Rally Championship next year has reached a milestone following the completion of a constructive candidate event last week. Rome has held a round of the European Rally Championship schedule since 2017, through the Rally di Roma Capitale event, with organisers eager to elevate the rally to WRC status.
More details can be found at Autosport here.
NASCAR Remains Focused on Global Growth Despite Phelps Departure, Makes Hire From UFC
NASCAR last month hired Ultimate Fighting Championship senior vice president of international Adam Layton as senior vice president of NASCAR International in a role that includes strategy development, event operations and revenue generation for its three national series in the U.S. and its international circuits.
Former NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps’ departure in the offseason raised questions about who will keep the company moving forward on international. But in a phone interview this month, Steve O’Donnell, Phelps’ successor, said the racing property is still forging ahead with plans to try to grow more globally.
Read more at Sports Business Journal here.
How Manufacturer Competition Is Reshaping NASCAR’s Future
Manufacturer competition has always been at the heart of NASCAR. While fans cheer for their favorite drivers, automakers are engaged in their own battle behind the scenes. Every season, manufacturers invest in engineering, research, and innovation to help their teams gain an advantage on the track. This competition not only shapes race results but also influences the future of automotive technology. As NASCAR continues to evolve, manufacturer rivalries are driving advancements that benefit both racing teams and everyday drivers.
Read more at Speedway Digest here.
Why IMSA Should Extend Road America to 8 Hours for a Landmark “60 Hours of Endurance” Campaign
IMSA’s Michelin Endurance Cup currently totals exactly 58 hours across five races, including the new six-hour event at Road America in 2026. Extending Road America to eight hours would create a landmark “60 Hours of Endurance” campaign. A powerful heritage play for fans, tickets, and sponsors. Vantage explains why.
Creventic’s Bold Gamble for GT Dominance in the Gulf
The addition of one race to a promoter’s portfolio rarely holds great significance in the big picture. But Creventic’s announcement of the YAS 12 HOURS in 2026 shows their hand in a power play which could assert dominance in the arena of GT racing in the Gulf region. Gulf Motorsport Business looks at the implications of the move.
Crucial Supercars Teams Racing Charter Negotiation Heats Up
Speedcafe can reveal Supercars boss Barclay Nettlefold made a long-awaited pitch to team representatives during the Townsville 500 weekend. Supercars owner RACE is in the uncomfortable position of needing to renegotiate or replace its Teams Racing Charter to avoid the calendar shrinking to 12 events.
Read the full details at SpeedCafe here.
Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week
- ‘Re-imagining’ of Willow Springs continues with Goodwood America event (RACER)
- The Verstappen Effect: How the Nürburgring 24H Exposed Formula 1’s Identity Crisis (TheAgileVC)
- Why F1’s rotation model hurts regions more than circuits (Sector)
- The F1 Hospitality Squeeze: Why the F1 Paddock Club Isn’t Enough Anymore (Rush)
- How Motorsports Continue to Shape the Future of Modern Automobiles (AR1)
- How a Duke’s Driveway Became Motorsport’s Biggest Stage (Business of Speed)
- Ten More Years on the Strip: Inside the Female-Led Team Behind Formula 1’s Vegas Spectacle (Paddock Journal)
- Guenther Steiner urges FIA to increase use of AI after British GP safety car backlash (Motorsport.com)
- Has Formula 1 Shifted From Commercial Powerhouse to Entertainment Engine? (Paddock Journal)
- Heartland Motorsports Park says it’s not for sale (Grassrots Motorsports)
- Applications are now open for Motorsport UK’s 2027 Inclusion Grants (Motorsport UK)
- Cars, stars and the shootout winners from the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed (Autosport)
- NASCAR rebuilds its commercial engine to tempt back motorsports fans (Digiday)
- Influencer thrown out of British Grand Prix after abusive incident (Planet F1)
- How an AI Startup Co-Founded by a Formula 1 Driver Hit $9M ARR in Just 8 Weeks (Rolling Stone)
- inaugural LIMC Texas Motorsports Summit 2026 announced (Victor Perry)
- NKrush and Motorsport Network renew partnership (NKrush)
- zMAX CARS Tour Welcomes Speedway Motorsports into Ownership Group (Speedway Motorsports)
- Barber Motorsports Park and KEYSYS Launch DRIVE AI, a New Business and Technology Leadership Event to kickoff UAB Medicine GT World Alabama weekend (GT4 America)
Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup
Formula E Gen4 Takes On Goodwood
The Formula E Gen4 race car took on Goodwood last weekend and I have all the details, reactions and video in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup. I also have details of how Toyota will tackle Dakar with hydrogen power and more.
Motorsport Law Roundup
Michael Schumacher and an Important Contract Law Lesson
As a law student in the early 90s, I wrote a paper on how one change of wording in Michael Schumacher’s contract with Jordan demonstrated how words in a contract can make such a difference.
While my paper is unfortunately locked in an old 5 1/4″ diskette that I can no longer access, here are two great articles that explain how the altering of one word completely changed the contract between F1 great Michael Schumacher and the fledgling Jordan F1 team.
- How one word in a contract changed Formula 1 forever (Daniel Williams AITI MCIL)
- How Schumacher was snatched from Jordan after his F1 debut (The Race)
Motorsport Sponsorship, Partnership News and Analysis
- Aston Martin hopes tech collaboration network will offer partners more than just sponsorship (BlackBook Motorsport)
- Moto2 Sponsorship: Mid-Budget Access to the MotoGP Paddock & Choosing the Right Agency (RTR Sports Marketing)
- Which MotoGP Class Should Your Brand Sponsor — Moto3, Moto2 & MotoGP (RTR Sports Marketing)
- Blauw acquires SponsWatch to create the first end-to-end sponsorship intelligence platform (ESA)
- Beyond the logo: what is your sport sponsorship actually buying? (The Drum)
- Racing America Names ShopLink powered by Chuzo as Official High-Speed Internet Partner (Racing America)
- Vanda Pharmaceuticals backs Schumacher for four races (RACER)
- Fintech Finds Formula 1 (Drive Sports Marketing)
- ZN Comms Services awarded multi-year contract for the FIA Formula E World Championship (Racing Force Group)
- Tinder becomes official Sparking Connections partner of Formula E’s London finale (Formula E)
- Integrations, Case Studies and the Modern Formula 1 Partnership (Racing United)
The Business of Running a Race Team
How Williams Went from $200 Million Sale to Being Worth $2.5 Billion
In the latest exclusive ‘In Conversation With…’ interview from The Race Business, The Race co-founder Darren Cox sits down with Matthew Savage, Chairman of Dorilton Capital, to uncover the business strategy behind transforming the legendary Williams F1 team. From the $200 million acquisition in 2020 to a staggering $2.5 billion valuation today, Savage explains how a long-term investment horizon, the impact of the cost cap, and the “Netflix” effect turned the team’s fortunes around. Watch the conversation in the video above.
Team & Manufacturer News
- McLaren MCL-HY Hypercar makes public debut at Goodwood (RACER)
- Signatech progressing toward new WEC alliance (RACER)
- Beneath the surface of Car Blanche, stealth-mode successor to van der Steur Racing (RACER)
- Business Profile: Cope Race Cars (PRI)
- As F1’s Development War Heats Up, McLaren Is Going In a Different Direction (Road & Track)
- Two (and a bit) years on: Red Bull’s 2024 political ructions have had the opposite effect (Autosport)
- Toney Driver Development Commits to Multi-Car LMP3 Program in IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge For 2027 (RTD Media)
- Destination Macau: FIA FR World Cup and FIA F4 World Cup teams confirmed (FIA)
- Ford WEC Hypercar chassis fires up its V8 for the first time (RACER)
Motorsport Movers & Shakers
How Susie Wolff Took F1 Academy from Empty Tracks to Global Partnerships
As the Managing Director of F1 Academy, Susie Wolff is helping reshape the future of motorsport. Susie joins Maria to discuss navigating the high-stakes negotiations, the pressure of maximizing growth while F1 Racing is having its moment, and what its like holding her ground in rooms where she’s often the only woman at the table.
Susie opens up about racing through injury, the power of saying no, and getting tough love from her husband, racing legend Toto Wolff.
All that and more on this episode of the Pretty Tough podcast which you can watch above.
Author: Mark Boudreau
Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects and the host of the Motorsport Prospects Podcast. 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.
