Defiant FIA President Looks To Alter Federation Governance

A defiant FIA president looks to alter the federation’s governance and this week in the Business of Motorsport you will find out what his plans are. You will also learn about F1’s “mascara money”, how IMSA is trying to satisfy 19 car manufacturers as well as the latest sponsorship deals and global race team news.

Motorsport Industry News

FIA

Defiant FIA President Looks To Alter Federation Governance

In what Toto Wolff has described as its own reality show amidst all the recent drama, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has turned his attention from firing FIA officals and reorganizing departments (the Road Sport Department for one) to changing the rules of its governance.

According to Autosport by way of the BBC: “The plan is to replace the existing senate and ensure that any ethics complaints would be handled by the FIA president and the president of its senate, Carmelo Sanz de Barros. The BBC reports that the revisions would abolish the audit committee’s power for an independent investigation into financial issues. The proposal would effectively see Ben Sulayem ring-fenced.”

Needless to say, F1 teams are concerned about the proposals yet no one has spoken up about them at the time I am publishing this. And even if they did, the always combative Ben Sulayem will tell them, like he did the drivers, that how he runs the FIA is none of their business. As Elizabeth Blackstock writes in The Drive, what the hell is going on?

Formula 1

Dutch Grand Prix

Formula 1 has announced that the last Dutch Grand Prix for the foreseeable future will be held in 2026. “We are a privately owned and operated business, and we must balance the opportunities presented by continuing to host the event, against other risks and responsibilities.”

Autosport‘s Filip Cleeren and Ronald Vording look at the thought process that the organizers went through before deciding to call time on the event.

Despite their announcement last week, the agreement that was announced by GM about a Cadillac F1 team and F1 is just an agreement in principal. And already the paddock is demanding major dollars for GM to play in their playground. Williams team principal James Vowles insists that the famous “anti-dilution” fee better be adequate to compensate existing teams.

“What I’ve said all the way through is it will have financial loss for existing teams. What we have to do now is grow the sport sufficiently and FOM need to be aware of that in order to make things good for everyone. It’s down to them to put forward a correct proposal.”

After all the drama that befell the 11th team to be added to the F1 grid in 2026, could a 12th team far behind? That’s what Mario Andretti has implied during a recent interview.

“”He pinpointed the importance of Cadillac in the whole operation, noting that the presence of a manufacturer as opposed to merely a team is huge for F1, as it affords greater diversity of power units. In saying that, Andretti admitted it “looks like the FIA might have to invite a 12th team to join.””

Defiant FIA President Looks To Alter Federation Governance

Formula One is the most popular annual sporting series with over 750 million fans worldwide, according to a new study by Nielsen Sports and a huge part of that fan base are women, a fact that is driving a major trend to cater and advertise to these new female fans with what has been termed “mascara money.” Women constitute 41% of this base, and the fastest-growing segment are women aged 16 to 24.

According to Business of Speed‘s Vincenzo Landino, this “mascara money” is driving F1’s growth. “The beauty sector leads F1’s commercial metamorphosis, transforming sponsorship models through what I’m calling “mascara money” – the intersection of cosmetics capital and motorsport marketing. This evolution mirrors F1’s dramatic demographic shift, with Nielsen Sports data confirming over 300 million female fans worldwide and women comprising 41% of the global fan base. Most notably, the fastest-growing segment comprises women aged 16-24, representing a seismic shift in the sport’s cultural positioning.”

Read more about the effect of “mascara money” here.

Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week

Defiant FIA President Looks To Alter Federation Governance
Bernie Ecclestone Race Car Collection

Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup

Racing Hydrogen-Powered Alpine Alpenglow HY4

Racing hydrogen is in the works for Bosch, Ferrari and Alpine and this week in the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup you get to hear about their plans and aspirations. I also have details on how F1 is driving positive advances for a more sustainable future, some interesting hydrogen technology that Toyota is testing and how pit boost has finally arrived in Formula E.

Motorsport Law Roundup

A look at some of the legal and regulatory issues and analysis in Motorsport this week

Defiant FIA President Looks To Alter Federation Governance

NASCAR has filed a motion to dismiss the antitrust lawsuit filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, the two teams who are against the sport’s charter system. In the motion, NASCAR claims 23XI and FRM’s lawsuit “reflects nothing more than dissatisfaction with business negotiations that didn’t go their way.”

Motorsport Sponsorship & Partnership News

Here are the latest motorsport sponsorship deals, partnerships and related analysis that were announced this week

Defiant FIA President Looks To Alter Federation Governance
Defiant FIA President Looks To Alter Federation Governance
Defiant FIA President Looks To Alter Federation Governance
Defiant FIA President Looks To Alter Federation Governance

Team & Manufacturer News

Here is a roundup of the latest team news from around the world of motorsport

Defiant FIA President Looks To Alter Federation Governance
Defiant FIA President Looks To Alter Federation Governance
Defiant FIA President Looks To Alter Federation Governance
Defiant FIA President Looks To Alter Federation Governance
Defiant FIA President Looks To Alter Federation Governance

Motorsport Movers & Shakers

Defiant FIA President Looks To Alter Federation Governance

Former sporting director and CEO of Manor’s F1 entries up until 2015 under the Virgin and Marussia names Graeme Lowdon has been named as the team principal of the new Cadillac F1 team.

“I’m truly honored to be appointed as the team principal of this exciting new team and I would like to thank everyone involved for placing their trust in me,” Lowdon said. “I believe that Formula 1 is the greatest team sport in the world, and teams are all about people. This is a team with a real love for, and desire to go, racing, and we have the experience and expertise to do just that.”

Defiant FIA President Looks To Alter Federation Governance

The Washington Post has profiled McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown calling him “a self-made scrapper that has led McLaren to the cusp of an F1 title.”

“When Zak Brown joined McLaren Racing in 2016, he discovered a storied organization badly in need of a reboot. The team was firmly in the midfield, finishing sixth that season and experiencing record low sponsorship. Around the paddock, the workforce was disgruntled, and a culture of distrust had set in. Partners were fleeing, and fans were angry.”

Mark Boudreau
Author: Mark Boudreau

Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a former 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.

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