The Cadillac F1 team is caught up in ownership-related intrigue as a growing financial scandal involving one of its owners threatens to derail the team and this week’s Business of Motorsport Roundup has the details.
Overview
Motorsport Industry News
FIA Lifts Sanctions on Russian, Belarusian Drivers while Ukraine Protests
The FIA has revised its emergency measures to lift restrictions on Russian and Belarusian drivers and no longer binds them to a commitment of ‘neutrality’, walking back on the measures placed on them following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
Following a World Motor Sport Council meeting earlier in August, Russian and Belarusian drivers can once again race under their flag, and national symbols – such as team colours or flags – are once again permitted.
In response, the Ukrainian government has written to motorsport’s governing body asking it to reverse its decision to lift the ban. “The minister sent a letter to the president of the FIA and the FIA World Motor Sport Council requesting that the decision concerning the aforementioned lifting of sanctions be reconsidered,” the statement said.
Why F1 Sees ‘Americanisation’ of the Sport as ‘Modernisation’
With three US races, quirky sponsorship designations, and a Brad Pitt-led Hollywood movie under its belt, the American influence on F1 is unquestionable. But Liam Parker of BlackBook Motorsport argues the term ‘Americanisation’ is pejorative and should instead be viewed as the modernisation of the sport.
“Formula One sees changes to the racing formula as necessary to keep things fresh and ensure car development and racing are as innovative and exciting as possible. Owners Liberty Media will also point to the dramatic off-track growth of the sport in recent years as vindication of its approach.”
Why Morocco Should Advance the Tangier Grand Prix
Formula One says it wants to return to Africa. The Morocco Observer argues that Tangier offers the land, logistics, hospitality and natural elevation to make that return permanent—but Morocco must turn those advantages into a commercial case the sport cannot easily dismiss.
“If Formula One considers Africa strategically important, Morocco should attempt to make that importance visible in the commercial agreement. It cannot, however, expect concessions on symbolism alone.”
TWG Denies Sale of Cadillac F1 Team
Rumors that Cadillac’s new Formula 1 team could be sold have added another layer of intrigue to the American outfit’s debut season. This Autosport report examines the speculation surrounding TWG CEO Mark Walter and the wider financial pressures facing his sports holdings, while noting that TWG has firmly denied that Cadillac F1 is on the market. With the team already undergoing significant changes in its leadership, the story offers an interesting glimpse into the business and ownership dynamics behind F1’s newest entrant.
MotoGP and South America: When a Continent Stops Being an Audience and Becomes a Protagonist
MotoGP’s return to Brazil after a 22-year absence was more than a successful race weekend—it may signal a fundamental shift in the championship’s relationship with South America. This analysis from RTR Sports Marketing explores the emerging “continent effect,” examining how local heroes such as Diogo Moreira and David Alonso, growing fan engagement and major events such as MotoGP’s planned 2027 season launch in Rio are turning the region from a peripheral market into an increasingly important part of the sport’s commercial future.
Growing Local Opposition Threatens MotoGP’s Adelaide Street Circuit
Fifteen months from now, MotoGP plans to host the 2027 Australian Grand Prix in an Adelaide park, but growing local resistance has triggered a parliamentary inquiry into the project reports Motorsport Magazine.
“Last week, a group of academics, ecologists and locals sent a letter to Jorge Viegas, president of the Fédération Internationale Motocyclisme, MotoGP’s governing body, claiming the project breaks the FIM’s own code of environmental practice.”
How Darryl Cuttell’s Would-Be IHRA Empire Came Crashing Down
Darryl Cuttell’s attempt to build a rival to the National Hot Rod Association offers a fascinating look at the business risks behind professional drag racing. This Hagerty feature tells the story of how Cuttell built the International Hot Rod Association into a serious competitor, only for his ambitious empire to unravel amid financial pressures, management challenges and the realities of running a major motorsport organization. It’s a cautionary tale about the enormous gap between creating a successful racing series and building a sustainable motorsport business. Read the article on Hagerty
Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week
- Christian Horner to headline 2026 ABX NYC (Autosport)
- Mics Out podcast: Has F1 become too Americanised? (BlackBook Motorsport)
- IndyCar drives into D.C. spotlight with Freedom 250 Grand Prix (SBJ)
- Getting an IndyCar race in downtown Washington, D.C. took many complicated turns (The Athletic)
- Sector50: The people shaping Formula 1 (Sector)
- Rockingham Speedway loses NASCAR for 2027 (RACER)
- Before You Run for the SCCA Board of Directors, You Need to Watch This Video (SCCA)
- Lotus wants to save its Norfolk factory by developing and building other company’s sports cars (Evo)
- Motorsport UK Core Licences up but British Karting Championship Entries Down (The Motorsport Saga by Alan Dove)
- From ambition to action: Opening the door to motorsport (Insider Media)
- PMW Expo Introduces New Performance Management Forum (Daily Sportscar)
- Why We Dug Up 30 Years of Dirt to Rebuild Thunderhill (Thunderhill Raceway)
- F1 takes over global ad landmarks with Five Lights campaign (Sector)
- How Komatsu machines help build Atlassian Williams F1 Team’s FW48 (NewScientist)
- FinTech is going full speed into Formula 1 (Sector)
- In Racing, Trust is a Safety Requirement (Brian Scott McRae)
- Does Formula 1 Really Have Good Female-Focused Merchandise? (Paddock Journal)
- Cadillac F1 Taps Excel Sports for Commercial Buildout (Sports Summit)
Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup
Formula E Doubles Down with Gen4
Formula E is doubling down with their Gen4 race care as they bid farewell to Gen3, and you have all the details in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup. I also have news on one teams’ sustainability journey, hydrogen racing developments and much more!
The Numbers This Week
The Ratings Are In for IndyCar’s Inaugural Markham Race
The inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Markham Grand Prix produced an average of 913,000 viewers on FOX reports RACER.
Motorsport Law Roundup
Supercars Loses Appeal Against Kai Allen Decision and Awaits Written Reasons
Supercars has lost its appeal against a decision by Motorsport Australia stewards not to penalise Kai Allen at the Perth Super440. Supercars has seven days from when the full judgement is released to decide whether to take the matter to the FIA International Court of Appeal.
“We brought the appeal because we believed that it raised important issues concerning the conduct of Stewards’ hearings and the application of the Rules that warranted consideration by the National Court of Appeal.”
Judge Flags NASCAR’s ‘Thorny Problems’ With Counterfeiters
A North Carolina federal judge Monday blocked foreign retailers from selling counterfeit NASCAR gear online but stopped short of shutting down their e-commerce storefronts, saying it’s not within the court’s purview to combat counterfeiting where the law may fall short.
FIA to Hear McLaren and Red Bull’s Monaco GP Appeal Next Week
On August 25th, 2026, the FIA will hear the appeals from McLaren and Red Bull against the decision to reinstate Pierre Gasly’s podium at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Case ICA-2026-06-07-08-09: Appeals lodged by McLaren Racing Limited and Red Bull Racing Limited against Decisions No. 1 and No. 2 of the Stewards contained in Document 99 of 12 June 2026 in respect of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, counting towards the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship.
On 7 June 2026, having received reports from the Race Director of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, counting towards the 2026 FIA Formula One Word Championship, the Stewards decided to impose two 5-second time penalties to Car No. 10, driver Pierre Gasly (Documents 73 and 75) for pit-lane speeding during the Race, for recorded speeds of 60.1 km/h and 60.4 km/h respectively, in breach of Article B1.6.3a of the 2026 FIA Formula One Regulations – Section B.
On the same day, the Stewards received two petitions for Review under Article 14 of the FIA International Sporting Code from BWT Alpine F1 Team in respect of the aforementioned decisions of the Stewards of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix.
On 12 June 2026, the Stewards determined that there was a significant and relevant new element that was unavailable to them at the time of their decisions contained in Documents 73 and 75. They decided to rescind both 5-second time penalties imposed on Car No. 10 (Document 99), amend the Race Classification (Document 100) and recalculate the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship points (Document 101).
On 16 June 2026, McLaren Racing Limited and Red Bull Racing Limited lodged an appeal against the above Stewards’ Decisions before the ICA.
AASA Refocuses on Core Business as Legal Fight Continues
The Australian Auto-Sport Alliance has moved to reassure competitors and promoters about its future, confirming it will step away from directly promoting and conducting motorsport events as it deals with the Supreme Court action surrounding its ownership.
“The statement comes just days after the Benalla Auto Club and Winton Motor Raceway filed a writ in the Supreme Court of Victoria challenging the transaction that transferred control of AASA to a consortium comprising Stephen Whyte, Michael Fitzgerald, Peter Washington and Les Smith.”
FIFA’s Latest Crisis Shows Why Sport Needs Independent Oversight
Whenever outsiders expose what sport’s own safeguards missed, world sport reaches for another band-aid reform. Survivors, whistleblowers, and public authorities keep carrying the burden of accountability. Play the Game calls for a permanent independent oversight to protect the sports we love.
Motorsport Sponsorship, Partnership News and Analysis
- 75% revenue from sponsors: How Aston Martin F1 built its commercial engine (Behind the Play)
- Aston Martin’s 2027 Aramco Funding Frozen Amid Middle East Conflict, Insider Reports (Yahoo Sports)
- How Revolut is Using Sports Sponsorship to Accelerate Its Growth Strategy (Paddock Journal)
- The Track Is Only Part of the Business (Écurie Motor Club)
- Paysafe becomes Envision Racing Title Partner to build the future of fan engagement; where motorsport, gaming and payments become one (Envision Racing)
- Sponsor Debrief: Hungarian Grand Prix (Sunday’s Sponsors)
- Formula One Partnerships Are Not Delivered by Contracts (Spencer Cann)
- GXO and Arrow McLaren ready to race at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix (Business Insider)
- Every F1 Livery Ranked – Design, Sponsor Visibility & Branding Strategy (RTR Sports Marketing)
- Unived expands motorsport presence with Dakar Champion Harith Noah (Sports Mint)
- What the smartest F1 team sponsors understand early (RUSH)
- Sector50: How Williams built their biggest ever commercial year (Sector)
- Lightning McQueen joins F1 as Disney deal expands (The Race)
- Sport, team & circuit: How PepsiCo built an F1 partnership hat-trick (Sector)
- Bell Techlogix Joins the Shift Up Now Foundation in Race to a Million (Shift Up Now)
- Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR) partners with Charlie’s Organics (VAR)
- 12B SPORTS and VR46 Racing Team Bring Sung Kang into the World of MotoGP (Macau Business)
- McLaren and Central Saint Martins Reframe Formula 1 Heritage Through Fashion (Stupid Dope)
The Business of Running a Race Team
How McLaren Racing’s CEO Runs a Top Formula 1 Team
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown discusses the technology, data and effort required to propel the McLaren brand onto the modern F1 stage and into living rooms around the globe.
In a related article on Motorsport Week, Randeep Singh, McLaren Racing Director, has credited a fundamental shift in workplace culture for powering the squad back to the top of Formula 1 in How eradicating fear restored McLaren to F1 glory.
Team & Manufacturer News
- Ford reveals new LMDh car on track at Paul Ricard (Autosport)
- Ford ‘can’t afford to wait for the racetrack to start learning’ (WEC)
- Communication in Ford Hypercar Project the “Biggest Challenge” (Sportscar365)
- Could McLaren follow Red Bull’s path with its own F1 engine – and should it? (Autosport)
- CSM Switches to Aston Martin for Rest of GS Season (Sportscar365)
- US billionaire Robert Wood Johnson acquires minor Aston Martin F1 stake (Autosport)
- The Real Power Behind Cadillac F1 (Business of Speed)
- Trackhouse Could Sell a NASCAR Charter for a Fortune. It Won’t (Autoweek)
- From F4 testing to FREC race winners: The CL Motorsport story (Feeder Series)
- Plato Racing enters administration (Touring Car Times)
- Plato departs troubled BTCC team (Autosport)
- From 2028, Panis Racing LMP2 program will be run by VPS Racing (Panis Racing)
- Cadillac Action Express confirms return to Le Mans next year (RACER)
- Ligier Blows Open 2028 LMP2 With Three Top Teams Signed For JS P228 (Daily Sportscar)
Motorsport Movers & Shakers
What Haas Never Revealed About My F1 Exit: Guenther Steiner
Guenther Steiner is one of Formula 1’s most recognisable team bosses, building Haas from nothing and becoming known for his straight-talking approach to leadership. He joins us to reflect on ambition, pressure, and knowing when it’s time to walk away, as well as discuss his new position as CEO of MotoGP team Red Bull KTM Tech3.
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.
