Alex Palou has been ordered to pay McLaren $12M over a contract breach case and I have all the details in this week’s Business of Motorsport Roundup. I also have details on Christian Horner’s interest in Alpine, the latest motorsport sponsorship deals and who owns biometric data in F1?
Overview
Motorsport Industry News
Christian Horner in Talks Over Alpine F1 Buy-In
Alpine have revealed former Red Bull boss Christian Horner is among a group interested in investing in the Formula One team. “The team is regularly approached and contacted from potential investors, particularly given Otro Capital declared exploratory talks have taken place. One of those parties to express an interest is a group of investors, which also includes Christian Horner. Any approaches or discussions are with the existing shareholders, Otro Capital (24 per cent) and Renault Group (76 per cent), not directly with (boss) Flavio Briatore or the team.”
Sector looks at what “buying Alpine” would actually look like for Christian Horner. “Even if Horner or another bidder were to acquire the 24 per cent stake from Otro, Renault’s 76 per cent controlling share remains the gating factor.”
IMSA Boss Doonan Sees a Rising Tide Continuing to Lift All IMSA’s Boats
IMSA President John Doonan is looking forward to continuing the momentum that’s been building in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for a few years now, kickstarted by the current GTP era and further energized by the growth of IMSA’s non-American audience through the proliferation of live, free coverage of the series’ races on multiple outlets including YouTube.
“We’ve got into a cadence of announcing the schedule early. We’ve got into a cadence of opening registration early, and allowing stories to be told about when people are committed, and who the drivers are, and things like that. For me, all of those things combined has created a very stable platform for all of us. And so carrying that into ’26 is really important.”
Weather-Driven Ratings Spike: 2026 Rolex 24 Hits 901K Viewers, Then Loses Them to Ads
A historic winter storm pushed average viewership for the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona to 901,000, a 140% jump year-over-year. But excessive ad load fractured momentum, exposing how broadcasters continue to mishandle rare audience surges instead of converting them into durable growth. Vantage explains why this was a missed opportunity for IMSA.
Proposal Floated for IndyCar D.C. Grand Prix
The White House and Department of Transportation have expressed a desire for Penske Entertainment and its IndyCar Series to add an 18th race to its 2026 calendar in support celebrations of the country’s 250th birthday celebrations with an event held on the streets of Washington, D.C.
“We are actively exploring the feasibility of a race in the nation’s capital in recognition of America’s 250th birthday,” a spokesperson for the series said. “This would be an opportunity to celebrate a historic milestone for our country with an exciting and patriotic event. As you can imagine, clearing all the hurdles necessary to organize a race in Washington D.C. is a highly complex matter.”
FIA Confirms Path for World Rally Championship’s Return to U.S. Soil
The FIA is accelerating plans for the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) to return to the United States, with announcement of a WRC candidate event scheduled for mid-2026.
Organized in collaboration with the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States (ACCUS), the candidate event, running from 11-17 June, will see FIA delegates conduct a thorough inspection and assessment of every aspect of rally organisation – from sporting operations to safety protocols. The goal of this event is to evaluate the potential for hosting a full WRC round in the U.S. starting in 2027.
FIA Offers Update on New WRC Commercial Rights Holder Search
Speaking of the WRC, the FIA expects to announce the new World Rally Championship commercial rights holder within the next “couple of months” with an agreement “very close”, according to FIA Deputy President for Sport Malcolm Wilson.
“We are very close and we certainly expect to have some form of confirmation within the next couple of months. It has been a really long process and, as you know, I have bought and sold quite a lot of companies over the years, but this has definitely been a massive challenge.”
Are V8s On the Way Out in NASCAR?
NASCAR and its stakeholders know there is a chance the sport will have to look different in the future if new manufacturers are going to join the fold. The change will come from one of racing’s biggest variables – under the hood. RACER explains why V8s may need to be ditched.
Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week
IMSA Innovation Labs Launched and More
- IMSA Labs Launches at Third Annual IMSA Technology Symposium (IMSA)
- Why NASA, IMSA, and tech companies are teaming up on tech transfer (Ars Technica)
- Switzerland returns to racing: the ban has been lifted, but when will we see a real racetrack? (Corsa Di Moto)
- Skip Barber Racing School Welcomes James Burke (Skip Barber)
- Autosport Business Exchange London kicks off 2026 (Autosport)
- 2026 ABX London – The New Asset Class Investment in Global Motorsport (Autosport)
- The Motorsport Effect. Why Racing Culture Is Becoming One of Fashion’s Most Powerful IP Engines. (Oana Leonte)
- Ram Trucks Plots Return to NASCAR with Genius Contrarian Play: Branded Media & Reality TV (Buzzfeed for Business)
- Ford, F1, and Trump’s Trade Fight (Bloomberg)
- How Music Helped Define a Fast New Era of Formula 1 (Paddock Journal)
- Liberty Formula One stock upgraded to Outperform by Bernstein on multiple growth avenues (Investing.com)
- Cocopah Speedway Set For October Reopening (Speed Sport)
- Chuckwalla Valley Raceway in Southern California Is for Sale (The Drive)
- PRI, SEMA Testify in Support of Wisconsin, Kansas Right-to-Race Legislation (PRI)
- Lawrence Stroll’s path to Formula 1 started in fashion (Paddock Journal)
- Opinion: Motorsport UK’s Vision 2030 Lacks Vision & Insight (The Motorsport Saga by Alan Dove)
- ‘2DIE4’: The First True Race Film (Business of Speed)
- Le Mans Museum to Transform into M24 Motorsport Museum (Sportscar365)
Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup
Formula E’s Influencer Marketing Strategy
Formula E’s influencer strategy is just one of the topics covered in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup. I also have details on the new IMSA Michelin Sustainability in Racing Award, sustainable race fuel at the gas pumps and more.
Motorsport Law Roundup
Alex Palou Ordered to Pay McLaren Racing $12M in Breach of Contract Suit
Four-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou last Friday was ordered to pay McLaren Racing more than $12 million in the breach of contract suit the team filed when the Spaniard backed out of two different deals with the racing team.
Palou was not ordered to pay anything related to Formula 1 losses McLaren said it suffered when Palou decided to remain with Chip Ganassi Racing rather than move to McLaren’s IndyCar team in 2024. All the damages awarded to McLaren were tied to losses the IndyCar team suffered by Palou’s change of mind.
Five of McLaren’s eight claims succeeded, and while three failed, the team says it will be going after legal fees. As a result, the cost to Palou, or more likely Chip Ganassi Racing due to an indemnity it agreed to provide, could still exceed that $20m mark.
The full judgement can be found here.
Charity Watchdog Opens Inquiry Into FIA Foundation
The UK’s Charity Commission has launched an official inquiry into the FIA Foundation road safety charity following claims by a senior politician that its independence has been compromised.
The Charity Commission, which regulates all charities in England and Wales, has issued a temporary protective order, preventing the FIA Foundation and its trustees “from entering into certain transactions without the prior written approval of the Commission”.
The BBC has all the details here.
The Future of Biometrics in Formula 1 Racing
Formula 1 has been rapidly growing, with each season bringing new rules and upgrades aimed at enhancing fan engagement, improving driver safety, and fueling the sport’s global momentum. On the more technical side, safety standards continue to evolve, and the introduction of biometric gloves and other regulations marks the next frontier of racing technology. Eleanor Schifino writes in the New York University Journal of Intellectual Property & Entertainment Law about the future of biometrics in Formula 1 and who owns the data.
“More basic car telemetry likely belongs to the teams; however, drivers’ biometric information occupies a far more personal—and legally sensitive—category. Under frameworks like the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the UK Data Protection Act, biometric data is classified as “special category” information, meaning it relates directly to an individual’s physical identity and health. F1 is a sport that spans worldwide, and varying regulations demand different protections. There is tension between the needs of the driver, whose body generates the data; the team, which relies on it for performance and safety; and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), which regulates how and when it can be collected. While this issue has not yet come to a head, conflict over data ownership seems inevitable.”
Motorsport Sponsorship, Partnership News and Analysis
The Lure of a Rolex Plus the Latest Motorsport Sponsorship Deals
- BWT Alpine Formula One Team announces Technological Partnership with Indra Group (Alpine)
- Why Aprilia is “disappointed” not to have a title sponsor in MotoGP (Autosport)
- Aston Martin F1 fuelled by CELSIUS deal (SIG)
- F1 week in deals: Mercedes team up with Microsoft and Aston Martin nab Ferrari partner (BlackBook Motorsport)
- Cadillac announces fresh deal with ‘globally leading’ new sponsor Tenneco (RacingNews365)
- Inside ExxonMobil’s Red Bull partnership and its F1 strategy (Sector)
- Daytona extends Rolex partnership (RACER)
- Why is the Rolex 24 the win everyone wants? It’s all about the watch (RACER)
- Leading consumer insurance broker Adrian Flux reaffirms Team BRIT support for 5th year (Team BRIT)
- Penrite recommits to VHRR, confirmed as 2026 Penrite 100 Classic naming partner (Auto Action)
- STARTRADER Announced as Official Partner of the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East (Business Insider)
- RAVENOL Announced As Official Lubricant Partner Of Michelin 24H SERIES (Crevantic)
- Google Cloud becomes Principal Partner and Principal Artificial Intelligence Partner of Formula E (Formula E)
- McLaren Racing Partner with Hedera (Sporting Crypto)
- McLAREN Racing and Hedera Partner to Expand Digital Fan Engagement (McLaren)
- F1 signs Standard Chartered as official banking partner (Sector)
- Jackson Inks Ten-Year Michelin IMSA Extension (Sportscar365)
- TWG AI Becomes Official Partner of Andretti Global, Bringing AI to Competitive Motorsport (Morningstar)
- Tecovas Steps into New Partnership with Spire Motorsports (Spire)
- Kraken and Atlassian Williams F1 Team renew long-term fan-first partnership (Williams)
- Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Announces Collaboration Agreement with Zuma (PR)
- What New F1 Sponsorships Signal (Drive Sports Marketing)
- Corey Heim to make Daytona 500 bid with 23XI; Robinhood expands partnership (NASCAR)
- McLaren secure Rubrik deal (SIG)
- Empower adds to sports marketing presence with F1 Miami adventure (Sports Business Journal)
- Ikea, Best Buy Partner With Hocevar, Spire Motorsports For Daytona CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Tilt (Spire)
The Business of Running a Race Team
McLaren Racing’s Zak Brown & The Race Media’s Darren Cox
The Race Media founder Darren Cox speaks to McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown at Axios House in Davos.
Team & Manufacturer News
Lamborghini Sets Their Priorities and More
- Radicals, Risk and Reward: GulfSport Racing (Gulf Motorsport Business)
- What we know about major Williams setback with 2026 car (The Race)
- Was Porsche’s Hypercar exit just a brief interlude? (RACER)
- McLaren still aiming for future IMSA GTP entry (RACER)
- Max Verstappen delivers warning ahead of major change: ‘You cannot hide anymore’ (RN365)
- Herrero Racing joins the TCR Europe grid with two CUPRA Leon VZs (TCR Europe)
- Lamborghini Has Received Six “Serious Interests” for SC63 (Sportscar365)
- Six manufacturers confirmed for IGTC’s global 2026 campaign (IGTC)
- Lola to split with Abt, take Formula E team in-house from next season (RACER)
- Why Williams F1 Boss Vowles Stands By the ‘Incredibly Painful’ Decision to Skip Barcelona Shakedown Testing (Road & Track)
- Exclusive interview: Lowdon on why Cadillac F1 hired on values over ability (Autosport)
- Squadra Martino confirms Tiago Pernía and two-car TCR Europe programme (Touring Car Times)
- AWD Racing Steps Up to GT3 With Audi, Hitotsuyama Support (Sportscar365)
- Lamborghini Allocates Seven Temerario GT3s for Europe (Sportscar365)
- Villorba Corse Join Lamborghini For GT Open (Daily Sportscar)
- Gibson’s LMP2 Engine Reaches Six Million Kilometer Milestone (Sportscar365)
- Dan Fallows joins Racing Bulls as technical director (SpeedCafe)
Motorsport Movers & Shakers
How Grit, Authenticity and Perseverance Have Shaped Shea Holbrook’s Career
Shea Holbrook has learned a lot of lessons during her multifaceted career as race driver, team owner and entrepreneur, and she’d be the first to tell you that she learned many of them the hard way. But one of the most important ones, she says, is to own your decisions. Even if you regret them.
“There’s things that I’ve done that I said that I have regretted,” she says in the latest episode of The Creative Drive.
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.
