The Cape Town Formula 1 bid is getting serious, and I have the details in this week’s Business of Motorsport Roundup. I also have details on why it is taking F1 so long to decide on whether to race in Qatar and Abu Dhabi at year’s end and more.
Overview
Motorsport Industry News
South African Cape Town F1 Bid Gathers Momentum
A South African consortium led by former Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman is working with Rothschild & Co on a bid to bring Formula One racing back to the continent.
Bob Hartslief, a businessman who’s part of the Blue Mountain Racing (BMR) consortium, said in an interview that Froneman, UK mining veteran Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan and law firm Webber Wentzel’s Robert Appelbaum are planning to build a R6.7 billion motorsport complex in the wheat-growing Swartland region north of Cape Town.
Froneman’s consortium is the second group seeking to bring Formula One racing back to Africa. South African businessman Toby Venter also wants to rent out Kyalami raceway in Johannesburg, which he owns, to a winning bidder.
More details can be found in the links below.
- Mining titans lead new bid to bring Formula 1 back to SA (EWN)
- Cape R7bn Formula One deal gathers speed (News24)
F1 Posts Record £400 Million Turnover as Profit Falls Slightly
Newly released financial documents show Formula 1 posted a record turnover of £429.6 million GBP ($ 574.2 million USD) in the 2025 season. Uploaded to Companies House, the full accounts for Formula One Management Limited have been published for the financial year ending December 31st, 2025, and thus covering the 24-race campaign of Lando Norris’s title-winning season.
Meanwhile, President and Chief Executive Officer Stefano Domenicali remains Formula 1’s highest-paid director, according to these accounts.
Who Actually Owns Each F1 Team?
Darren Cox from The Race has put together the definitive guide to who actually owns each F1 team. “The answer to the seemingly simple question of ‘Who actually owns each F1 team’ is actually very complex. Having dug deep and thought about how we got here, there are three key reasons for people to want to own part of an F1 team. Those reasons do overlap but have undeniably shifted since the ‘owner/operator’ models of Frank Williams, Colin Chapman, Bruce McLaren and Ken Tyrrell when the only target was to win.”
You can read is full analysis here.
The Delay in Cancelling the Qatar and Abu Dhabi GPs
While the assumption has been that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi grands prix will be cancelled by F1 due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, Autosport reports that the promoters of those races remain outwardly determined that they will go ahead as planned. Part of the reason for the delay is money
“This is all part of an ongoing dance over who would pick up the tab if those races were to be cancelled. Broadly speaking, when promoters cancel races, they are the parties who end up out of pocket since their contracts with F1 oblige them to pay the sanctioning fee anyway. If the commercial rights holder cancels the races, it forfeits those fees.”
F1 is in fact hedging their bets with Autosport also reporting that organizers in Imola have now been given the green light to build the grandstands and make preparations as if the race in Emilia-Romagna will take place.
Project Rally One Reveals WRC 2027 Challenger
Project Rally One has formally presented its 2027 World Rally Championship challenger to the public as it sets its sights on fielding two cars at next season’s season opener in Monte Carlo. The Belgian squad took the covers off its all-new car built to the WRC’s 2027 technical regulations at the Rally4Passion event in Huy, Belgium.
Tom Howard details what we know so far about the WRC’s newest constructor. “Project Rally One has stated that its target is to enter two cars at the season opener in Monte Carlo in January and will focus first on contesting asphalt rallies before moving onto gravel. Team leader Lionel Hansen has now outlined his hopes for 2027, confirming that the car will at least be in action in 10 rounds spread across the WRC and the Belgian Rally Championship.”
FIA, ACO Deny Reports of Friction Around WEC’s Future
The FIA and ACO have responded to media reports from Thursday that suggested friction between the two bodies regarding the future of the FIA World Endurance Championship, and claimed that no contract was in place between the two for the coming 2027 season. Both bodies have denied the allegations and confirmed that there is indeed a contract in place for the 2027 FIA WEC.
“These discussions are progressing as planned, in a constructive spirit and with a shared commitment to preparing the future of the World Championship. Both organizations remain fully committed to their collaboration and are working together to ensure the continued development and long-term success of the FIA WEC.”
MotoGP Boss: The idea is to Hold the Qatar GP as Planned
MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta says the “idea is to go” to Qatar for the Grand Prix scheduled for 8 November, despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. “We are regularly in contact with Qatar, the authorities tell us that they are willing to organize it, and if nothing changes radically, the idea is that we will indeed go.”
MotoGP Overhauls Leadership Team as Liberty Era Ramps Up
MotoGP has announced four new additions to its leadership team as new owner Liberty Media begins to exert its influence over the global motorcycling championship. Ryan Norys will join MotoGP as Chief Commercial Officer from Tottenham Hotspur, where he currently serves as Chief Revenue Officer. Sameer Pabari will become Chief Media Officer, having previously held senior leadership roles at the NFL, Warner Bros. Discovery and Manchester United.
Louise Young will join as Chief Operating Officer following more than eight years with Formula 1, most recently as Chief Race Promotion Officer, while Denitza Batchvarova joined earlier this month as Chief Strategy Officer, bringing two decades of strategic leadership experience across finance and sports entertainment, latterly with UFC and TKO Group Holdings.
IndyCar Details Engagement and Viewership Growth Across the Series
The NTT IndyCar Series has compiled a long list of figures that show impressive growth across the breadth of the series. “This is an incredible new era for the NTT IndyCar Series, defined by growth, energy and momentum,” Penske President & CEO Mark Miles said.
“Our partnership with FOX Sports has raised the bar for our sport, and in turn we’ve invested in new events and opportunities to accelerate our already immense progress. Alongside our teams and partners, our commitment to maintain and expand one of the fastest growth curves in all of sports is unmatched.”
Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week
- Italian star: The marketing potential of Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Sector)
- Dolphins Owner Nearing Deal to Sell 20% Stake in Miami F1 Race (Front Office Sports)
- BBC secures FIA World Rally Championship deal (WRC)
- Motorsports Shows the Way: North Carolina’s Sports Economy Is an Economic Competitiveness Asset (NCMA)
- Australian Grand Prix boss defends rising F1 ticket costs (SpeedCafe)
- How F1 Became a Wellness Playground (The Paddock Journal)
- When Star Wars came to Formula 1 – The story of F1’s trips to a galaxy far, far away (Formula 1)
- Drive By Racing Exhibitor Booking (BRSCC)
- The Business of Selling Access to People Who Came for the Race (Business of Speed)
- The Rise of Automotive Real Estate (Jeff Beal)
- The Business of Lando Norris (Paddock Project)
- 100-Strong: The strategy behind Max Verstappen’s go-kart challenge (Sector)
- The State of Play in Gulf Motorsport (Gulf Motorsport Business)
- Michael Masi Joins SRO Motorsports Australia (Daily Sportscar)
- How American Motorsports Got Here: Sixty years of growth, television, expansion and hard choices (Brad Zimmerman)
- Jazeman Jaafar Turns Near-F1 Journey Into Pathway for Malaysian Motorsport Talent (Asian Motorsport)
- What Happens to an F1 Team’s Identity When It Rebrands Too Often? (Sunday’s Sponsors)
- 3 decisions for F1 hospitality (Rush)
Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup
Gazoo Racing Announces FCEV Challenge Partners
Gazoo Racing has announced the partners for their pioneering Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) entry in the Dakar Rally, and I have the details in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup. I also have news on a new team in Formula E, sustainable fuels and a new engine formula in F1 and more!
The Numbers This Week
Kimi Antonelli Wins at the MADRING and in Social Media
Kimi Antonelli delivered a standout performance to capture a memorable victory at the Spanish Grand Prix on the MADRING circuit. Capitalizing on the track action, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 dominated off the grid by leading all teams in social engagement, total views, and overall valuation at $3.7 million over the race weekend.
Motorsport Law Roundup
Cadillac F1 Owners Mark Walter and TWG Global Face Class-Action Lawsuit
Cadillac Formula 1 shareholder Mark Walter has officially become the subject of a class-action lawsuit, while a concurrent investigation into potential fraud between his insurance companies is ongoing.
The class-action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and the complaint alleges that Walter used his firms – TWG Global, alongside Delaware Life Insurance and Group 1001 – to execute a scheme aimed at concealing federal investigations and diverting billions of dollars from policyholders’ funds.
Autosport has the details here.
Spire Hits Back at Latest JGR Filing
Spire Motorsports issued a defiant statement towards Joe Gibbs Racing last Friday night as the organizations continue to progress through a contentious court case in North Carolina.
JGR asked the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina to hold former competition director Chris Gabehart and Spire in contempt through a new filing last Thursday, claiming they violated a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction placed on them in March. It’s also requesting that sanctions be levied against Gabehart.
How the FIA’s F1 Financial Regulations are Helping to Spark Thrilling Competition
LawInSport looks at the effect of the FIA’s F1 Financial Regulations and how they have increased the competitiveness of the series. The FIA turned to Deloitte to support on the development and implementation of the Financial Regulations, to encourage responsible spending of F1 Teams to help protect long-term sustainability and stability while contributing to heightened on-track competition and sporting fairness to ensure a high-stakes, high-speed spectacle.
Former Lotus F1 Team Principal Set to Stand Trial in Forgery Case
Former Lotus F1 owner and team principal Gerard Lopez is set to stand trial in a forgery case, according to reports in France and his native Luxembourg. The Luxembourg Times reports that Lopez is due to stand trial in Luxembourg in December alongside Eric Lux and former Fola Esch officials Mauro Mariani and Francois Dele.
The case concerns alleged intellectual forgery linked to financial transactions totaling €2million involving Lotus F1 and the Luxembourg football club in 2014. The defendants deny the allegations and have previously emphasised, through their lawyers, that they did not enrich themselves.
Full Recognition and Enforcement of a CAS Award by a National Court
Emilio García Silvero highlights a rare example of a national court enforcing a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) award under the New York Convention.
The case involved Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) v. Feld Entertainment and Feld Motor Sports, concerning CAS award CAS 2022/O/8974. On September 15, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida considered whether the CAS award could be enforced in the United States.
You can read the court decision here.
Motorsport Sponsorship, Partnership News and Analysis
- Rakuten becomes a Team Partner of Scuderia Ferrari HP (Ferrari)
- Australian Grand Prix reveals new naming rights sponsor Moet & Chandon (SpeedCafe)
- How the Cadillac Formula 1 Team shaped its 2026 partner lineup around brand alignment and technical value (Beyond the Paddock)
- Painted by Money: How Sponsor Logos Wrote Their Own History of Motorsport (Speedway Digest)
- Sponsor Debrief: Spanish Grand Prix (Sunday’s Sponsors)
- NASCAR and FedEx Freight announce long-term Truck Series entitlement partnership starting in 2027 (NASCAR)
- How Race Weekend Sponsorship Activations Work Trackside (Backfire Racing)
- How Formula 1 Social Media Teams Work: A Guide for Brands (Outlap Agency)
- Formula 1 and LIQUI MOLY extend partnership with multi-year renewal (Formula 1)
- CTR-JK Tyre returns as co-title sponsor for India’s national car racing series (India Times)
- Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Company Sponsors Team Bahrain (The Daily Tribune – Kingdom of Bahrain)
- F1 deepens Mattel licencing as full grid joins Hot Wheels game (Sector)
- TCS extends Jaguar Formula E partnership (SIG)
- MSC Cruises Takes Centre Stage as Title Sponsor of Three 2027 Fia Formula One World Championship Grand Prix Races (MSC)
The Business of Running a Race Team
Lechner Racing: The Cup Whisperers
Porsche one-make series are a remarkable success story. This is where drivers from all over the world compete against one another in technically identical cars and where Porsche Juniors learn their trade. Lechner Racing from Austria has played a particularly key role in this. Porsche traveled to meet the team at their headquarters.
“Success is built on family values. Brothers Walter and Robert Lechner lead the family-run team in its second generation, combining top-level motorsport expertise with a distinctly family-oriented culture.”
Read the full profile of Lechner Racing on the Porsche website here.
Team & Manufacturer News
- Meyer Shank Racing Rules Out IMSA Program for 2027 (Sportscar365)
- Chinese manufacturer Geely expected to decide on Alpine WEC takeover in coming days (RACER)
- While uncertainty looms for some IMSA GTD Pro teams, RLL’s in for the long haul (RACER)
- Vannin Motorsport joins Monza grid (Touring Car Times)
- Car Blanche becomes first team to confirm 2027 IMSA entry (RACER)
- APR Delays Asian Porsche Hypercar Program (Sportscar365)
- Super Formula Lights bombshell as TOM’S calls it quits after 39 years (Japan Racing Insider)
- Palou Motorsport to join Euroformula Open in 2027 (Palou Motorsport)
- TCD Asia Unveils Thai-Engineered Hilux Travo Rally Car in Iraq (Asian Motorsport)
- Paddock Motorsport Makes Porsche Switch For Brands Hatch Decider (Daily Sportscar)
- Corvette Gearing Up To Rollout 2027 GT3 Evo Package (Daily Sportscar)
- Motopark to Run SRO Academy 24H Spa Mercedes-AMG (Sportscar365)
- Radical expands Scandinavian presence with appointment of Radical Denmark (Radical Motorsport)
- Cadillac makes three major tech hires including former Red Bull design chief (Autosport)
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.
