Argentina is getting support from the FIA president for a return of F1 and rallying and I have the details in this week’s Business of Motorsport Roundup. I also have the latest motorsport legal moves, sponsorship deals and more.
Overview
Motorsport Industry News
FIA President Backs Argentina F1 and Rally Return
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said he would support efforts for Argentina to return to the Formula One calendar and world rally championship.
“I will support the initiative to have an F1 race or the world rally championship here in Argentina. We need to develop places where races can be held sustainably, where there is the willingness, the investment, the fans and the support from the government to make it happen. Now, beyond the emotional aspect, there is also the rational side when it comes to the F1 calendar. Does Argentina deserve it? It does, but there is a process to go through, there is a business plan and there is a limited number of slots. If Argentina comes in, someone else has to leave.”
Monza is Pressing Ahead with its Future Plans
Monza is preparing for a record-breaking Italian Grand Prix this weekend. With the venue already sold out and the stated goal of approaching 400,000 spectators after the 369,041 in 2025, the Temple of Speed confirms its central role in the Formula 1 calendar. But for the national racetrack, the decisive moment will begin the day after the race, when the new infrastructure projects requested by Liberty Media to consolidate the future of the Brianza circuit will begin.
Full details can be found here.
F1’s Take on its Battle to Satisfy New and Old Fans
Formula 1’s explosive growth under Liberty Media has created a new challenge: how do you embrace millions of new fans without alienating those who have followed the sport for decades? This feature at The Race examines the tension between F1’s traditional audience and its rapidly changing fanbase, including the growing influence of younger and female fans. It explores how F1 is trying to balance commercial growth, fan engagement and the sporting identity that made the championship successful in the first place—and why the debate has become particularly intense under the 2026 regulations.
Ukraine Files Complaint to FIA Ethics Committee After Russian Ban Lift
Ukraine has lodged a formal complaint to the FIA ethics committee following the lift to the ban on Russian competitors in international motorsport. The Ukrainian Automobile Federation (FAU) requested an urgent investigation into the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF) on Thursday, stating it is in breach of FIA rules over national sporting authorities.
Jeff Gordon Exposes NASCAR Teams’ Lost Freedom Before Michael Jordan Stepped In
NASCAR’s charter system has fundamentally changed the relationship between teams and the sanctioning body. Jeff Gordon says teams had reached a point where negotiations felt more like an ultimatum than a collaboration, with uncertainty over charter renewals making long-term investment difficult. The legal battle involving Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports ultimately produced permanent, or “evergreen,” charters and greater team security. For NASCAR team owners, that shift could have significant implications for investment, driver development, facilities and long-term planning.
Adelaide MotoGP Circuit Layout Unveiled as £51m Project Takes Shape
South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas has unveiled a simulation of the new Adelaide street circuit, which will host the Australian MotoGP Grand Prix from next year. The project, which is expected to be completed around November 2027, when the race is scheduled to take place, represents an investment of close to €51million (A$96m), Malinauskas revealed.
WRC Management Looking Forward to Growing the Series
The World Rally Championship’s new commercial rights holder has outlined plans to grow the series, attract manufacturers and broaden rallying’s audience. In addition to this, new WRC boss Eric Boullier is certain fresh manufacturers will arrive in rallying’s top tier soon. The initial noise is promising, but how realistic is that prospect?
‘Drive to Survive’ Made F1 a Hit. Sports Car Racing is Cashing In, too
Netflix’s Drive to Survive has become one of the most powerful forces in modern motorsport media—but could its influence extend well beyond Formula 1? The Athletic examines Netflix’s growing interest in motorsport, the success of Drive to Survive, and what its impact could mean for the World Endurance Championship and other racing series. As streaming platforms increasingly shape how fans discover and engage with racing, the battle for motorsport’s audience is becoming just as important off the track as on it.
Why WEC Built a Streaming Platform to Complement, not Replace, TV Partners
Building a streaming platform is no small investment, but the World Endurance Championship is adamant that FIAWEC+ won’t be competing with traditional broadcasters. Following the launch in March, executives tell BlackBook Motorsport how the series is evolving its broadcast strategy to cater to casual and avid viewers.
“First, it’s to create the strongest platform in terms of content production and content aggregation from all the championships of our company, because we are promoting WEC but also ELMS [European Le Mans Series] and Michelin Le Mans Cup,” Marius Louvet, communications director of WEC, tells BlackBook Motorsport.
Ajith Hails Tamil Nadu CM Vijay’s New Motor Sports City Plan
Tamil Nadu is looking to put motorsport at the heart of its sporting ambitions with plans for a dedicated Motor Sports City in Chennai. The project is intended to provide facilities for racing and driver training while helping develop local talent, attract major international events and generate tourism and economic opportunities. Professional racer and actor Ajith Kumar has welcomed the initiative, calling it a potential “giant leap” for Indian motorsport. If realized, the project could provide an important boost to India’s racing ecosystem and create new pathways for drivers and motorsport professionals.
Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week
- IndyCar raises licensing standards, narrowing opportunities for drivers to secure rides on budget alone (RACER)
- Mayor Lewandowski wants to build a Formula 1 track in Poland (Sport.PL+)
- Madring introduces world-first safety system ahead of F1 debut (Sector)
- “We’re not trying to put a robot in your chair”: Why NASCAR is taking a deliberately cautious approach to AI (BlackBook Motorsport)
- F1 fans treated to first look at jaw-dropping corner on future Saudi track (Motorsport Week)
- Corporate backing keeps Kenya’s motorsport talent pipeline on track (K24)
- CMO Karen Feldman explores AI’s impact on Formula 1 with Newsweek (Iron Mountain)
- OPINION: Has F1 fandom outgrown the Drive to Survive effect? (Sector)
- How Lithuania Became a Dakar Powerhouse (Messe Frankfurt Exhibition)
- Laguna Seca to Rename Corkscrew After Zanardi (Sportscar365)
- Think Formula 1 Team Principals Have Always Been Men? Think Again (Paddock Journal)
- Inside F1’s Original Content Land Grab (Paddock Project)
- Raceborn: Porsche Motorsport Is Customer Racing (Porsche)
- So long Zandvoort – 5 key takeaways from the Dutch GP (Motorsport Technology)
- How IMSA Labs aims to drive sports car technology forward (RACER)
- Gilles Villeneuve biopic to premiere at Toronto film festival (The Race)
- Bradley Cooper transforms Monaco for 1962 grand prix “Ocean’s Eleven” prequel shoot (Motorsport.com)
- What Comes After Faster? (Now Builds Next)
- Netflix Built F1’s Characters, Now Every Streamer Wants Racing (Business of Speed)
- Beyond the Wall… A Motorsports Club Evolution (Trevor Neil)
- Boris Said’s New SoCal Racetrack Is Going to be Called Elsinorering (Autoweek)
- Saudi Motorsport Company Showcases the History of Formula 1 stc Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at LEAP 2026, Offers 2027 Tickets (Saudi Motorsport Company)
- Inside COTA’s positioning to become F1’s standout Grand Prix (Sector)
- US Motorsport Club Market: Access Models and Membership Economics (MRC Motorsports)
- Beyond the Checkered Flag: How Motorsports Clubs Can Become Local Economic Engines (Écurie Motor Club)
Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup
Developing the Porsche 975 RSE
Developing the Porsche 975 RSE is the focus of this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup. You will go behind the scenes and learn how Porsche developed their Gen4 Formula E racer.
The Numbers This Week
Rain Delays Dampen TV Viewership for IndyCar’s Milwaukee Doubleheader
The rain that pushed Saturday’s Snap-On Milwaukee Race 1 on FOX to late Sunday on FOX Sports 1 had an expected impact on the race’s viewership figures, with an average of 509,000 people watching the network broadcast reports RACER.
Motorsport Law Roundup
Madrid Residents Brace for Noise and Disruption from New F1 Circuit
Opponents of Madrid’s newly constructed Formula One circuit have accused the regional authorities of putting profit before people’s well-being after tests for the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the track later this month yielded noise levels that were many times the legal decibel limit.
“It’s not just about the dust and the noise,” said Antonio Ibáñez, a spokesperson. He said there had been complaints from people who argued it was impossible for them to work remotely during the tests, adding: “We’ve also spoken to people who have children with autism and they had to get them out of the area because of [all the distress].”
Misano Result Undecided Amid Winward DSQ Appeal
The final result of the second GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup race at Misano last month is still yet to be determined amid questions over the legality of the Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG that finished third on the road.
A hearing into the matter was finally heard on Friday and stewards decided to disqualify the car on the basis that the sealing lips of the bearing were cut on both sides.
However, Winward Racing appealed the stewards’ decision on Saturday morning and officials have ruled this means the disqualification has been suspended until the appeal hearing takes place. This will be held in the RACB National Court of Appeal with the date yet to be confirmed.
FULL VERDICT: Supercars’ Failed Appeal Against Motorsport Australia
Motorsport Australia has finally released the full findings from the unprecedented Court of Appeal case prompted by Kai Allen’s tire breach in Perth. SpeedCafe has the details.
NASCAR, Racetrack Settle Security Guard’s Harassment Suit
A former Michigan International Speedway guard asked a federal court to dismiss her sexual harassment suit against her former supervisor, NASCAR and the racetrack, a request that follows docket entries indicating the remaining claims and counterclaims were successfully mediated.
Investing in Sport – Why Structure, Governance, and League Rules Matter
Sports investment continues to attract family offices, private funds, strategic buyers, athlete investors, sponsors, executives, and ownership groups seeking exposure to teams, clubs, leagues, facilities, academies, media platforms, and adjacent commercial opportunities. But one threshold point is easy to overlook: sport is not a single asset class.
Kaufman & Canoles has their analysis here.
Special Issue on Dispute Resolution in Sport: Current Realities and Future Prospects
The September 2026 issue of the International Sports Law Journal is now out. This month is a special issue on dispute resolution in sport focusing on current realities and future prospects. You can access the issue you here.
Motorsport Sponsorship, Partnership News and Analysis
How Much Does it Cost to Sponsor a Formula 1 Team?
- Red Bull Sponsorship: The Courage to Do What Others Don’t (RTR Sports Marketing)
- Lando Norris teams up with Prime Video (SIG)
- Mission Foods Named Title Sponsor of the Mission Grand Prix of Monterey at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca (WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca)
- Repsol and Honda in MotoGP: Thirty Years of Sponsorship, and the Brand’s Second Life in 2026 (RTR Sports Marketing)
- Beyond a Name: Revolut’s Global Plan (Business of Speed)
- Lowe’s returns to help sponsor Jimmie Johnson in his final NASCAR race (Motorsport.com)
- Sponsor Debrief: Dutch Grand Prix (Sunday’s Sponsors)
- Nike exploring possible F1 deal amid toe-dip back into racing (SBJ)
- Motorsport Beauty Activations (Trend Hunter)
- UTAC and Mission Motorsport Engineer Exciting Partnership (Mission Motorsport)
- Absolute Unveils Special Bosch Livery for Suzuka 1000km (Sportscar365)
- Hard Rock Takes the Lead as New Title Partner of Formula 1 Hard Rock Miami Grand Prix, Uniting Two Globally Renowned Brands (Hard Rock)
- Technical partnerships don’t just happen (Rush)
- Time is of the essence: How to tell the story of an F1 partner at speed (Sector)
- The Corporate Factors That Drive Sponsorship Decisions (RTR Sports Marketing)
- Fage Announces Multi-Year Partnership with the Fia World Endurance Championship Lone Star Le Mans Race (AcroFan)
- Komatsu extends Atlassian Williams F1 partnership (SIG)
- BWT Alpine Formula One Team and Valvoline have announced a new long-term strategic partnership (Alpine F1)
The Business of Running a Race Team
LN4 Fusion: An inside look at Lando Norris and Fusion Motorsport’s new F3, FR and F4 team
Lando Norris is taking a much bigger step into driver development with LN4 Fusion, a new team targeting Formula 3, Formula Regional Europe and Italian Formula 4 in 2027. Built around former Prema personnel and Fusion Motorsport’s karting experience, the project aims to create a genuine pathway for young drivers, while Norris’s personally funded LN4 Legacy Project will provide additional support to promising talent that might otherwise be held back by the cost of racing. It is an ambitious attempt to combine elite team expertise with a more comprehensive approach to developing the next generation of drivers.
Read the full feature on how the team came together at Feeder Series here.
Team & Manufacturer News
- James Pleased With “Fact-Finding Mission” for Valkyrie (Sportscar365)
- Lestrup Racing Team returns to STCC 2027 – commits to BMW M4 GT4 programme (Lestrup Racing)
- ENVE: The cycling manufacturer aiming to build the IndyCar ladder’s next empire (Feeder Series)
- Red Bull signs key Aston Martin engineer as Lambiase replacement (Autosport)
- How do you build a Formula 1 team that lasts? (Paddock Journal)
- Norris sets up racing team with ex-Prema chief (The Race)
- Hypercar Summer Catch-Up (Daily Sportscar)
- Team Daishin Nissan GT-R Boosts Suzuka 1000km Grid (Sportscar365)
Motorsport Movers & Shakers
Fred Vasseur: The Cultivator
Fred Vasseur’s career offers a fascinating lesson in how success in motorsport can be built gradually rather than through one defining breakthrough. From engine preparation and junior teams to simulators and supplying entire championships with race cars, Vasseur has spent three decades building businesses around the less visible infrastructure of racing. Now, as Ferrari’s team principal, he is applying that same “small stone after small stone” philosophy to one of the most demanding jobs in motorsport.
Business of Speed examines Fred Vasseur’s career so far.
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.
