The IndyCar 2026 calendar is still in play but in this week’s Business of Motorsport Roundup you will find out how it might look. I also have details on who is speaking at the F1 Business summit in Vegas, why McLaren finally signed a title sponsor for their F1 team and much more.
Motorsport Industry News
Formula 1
Formula One announced that their first F1 Business Summit will be held in Las Vegas on the Thursday of the 2025 Vegas GP. The event will feature some of the sporting world’s most powerful leaders, tastemakers, and innovators in a single day, powerhouse event. Sports Illustrated looks at who will be there and what will be discussed.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has outlined three reasons why Formula 1 struggled to find a foothold in the United States before Liberty Media’s takeover. Motorsport Week has the details.
Formula One’s popularity is soaring despite mounting criticism and challenges for the FIA. BlackBook Motorsport spoke with the governing body’s chief commercial officer Craig Edmondson to explore how the organization is modernizing and transforming its commercial approach, while also working to rebuild trust and credibility across motorsport. “We’re going through a transformation,” he says. “Let’s be clear, I didn’t join the FIA to manage the status quo.
General Motorsport Industry News
IndyCar still has not released their 2026 schedule but speculation abounds concerning Phoenix, Mexico and a relocated Toronto race while the rumor mill is suggesting the series is looking to race on the streets of Washington DC.
While IndyCar works on their 2026 schedule, they believe that the race at the Milwaukee Mile is finally working. “Massive credit goes out to Wisconsin State Fair Park. I think this is their first time doing it, which it’s pretty cool. I think Roger and Penske [Entertainment] did it last year. I was really happy to have a big crowd today, seeing them in the grandstands. It was awesome.”
In my final bit of IndyCar news, FOX is encouraged by the growth of IndyCar’s youth audience. “Through last weekend’s Snap-on 250 at the Milwaukee Mile, the year-to-year growth in the move from NBC in 2024 to FOX in 2025 has seen a 28-percent rise in viewers between the age of two and 17. The most remarkable development with IndyCar on FOX’s television audience is found in the prized 18-34 age range where a spike of 86 percent has been recorded by Nielsen.”
A common misconception regarding the Perth Supercars street race has been exposed by the first phase of community consultation from the WA government. “The government says that 76 percent of contributions provided “positive ideas towards the project”, while highlighting that opposition to the precinct was based on the misconception that it will be used regularly for motorsport, rather than the annual Supercars round.”
IMSA’s social media engagement skyrocketed 160% year-over-year in early 2025, revealing how viral, high-impact posts now outperform traditional volume-driven strategies. The data points to a shifting motorsports playbook where quality and shareability matter more than sheer output. Vantage looks at the numbers.
Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week
- The student racing series shaping motorsport’s future (Autocar)
- ‘F1: the Movie’ drives past $600M at the international box office (AppleInsider)
- The Amazing Story Of The Man Behind SiriusXM’s Rock And Roll Indy Cars (Forbes)
- Motorsport UK Release 2024 Financial Report (The Motorsport Saga by Alan Dove)
- SCCA President’s August 2025 Update: Recap (SCCA)
- Remainder Of 2025 Speed Promotions Racing Events Canceled (Dragzine)
- “Show me the money!” Five F1 entries that went nowhere (Autosport)
- McLaren’s CEO on the W1 Hypercar, Formula 1, and an Electric SUV (Robb Report)
- SEGG Media and Veloce Group Accelerate Global Motorsport Strategy Across NASCAR, IndyCar and Beyond (Business Insider)
- SEMA acquires off-road industry pillar ORBA (RACER)
- How India’s motorsport infrastructure is shaping the future of racing (ET Insights)
- Motorsports Park Continues Despite Funding Setback (Seven Lakes Insider)
Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup
Formula Student recently raced with biofuels and in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup I have the details. I also have news on Envision Racing’s sustainability journey, the why and the how behind petrolsynthesis and much more!
The Numbers
- NASCAR Cup Series regular season viewership drops 15% to 2.66m in 2025 (BlackBook Motorsport)
- Fox’s IndyCar ratings hold firm in Milwaukee (RACER)
Motorsport Law Roundup
A look at some of the legal and regulatory issues and analysis in Motorsport this week
Two days after NASCAR announced Rockingham Speedway was on its 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts and Craftsman Truck series schedules, a city official asked the North Carolina attorney general to investigate the $375,000 in public funds granted to the facility to pay an overdue bill as a possible misuse of public funds.
In the latest developments in the ongoing litigation between NASCAR, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, NASCAR has indicated that they will sell the team’s charters despite an upcoming hearing, a move the teams argue will put them out of business.
- NASCAR files notice with court about offloading charter (RACER)
- Teams warn NASCAR decision will put them ‘out of business’ (SpeedCafe)
- NASCAR Depicted as NCAA-Like in Brief From Jordan’s 23XI, Front Row (Sportico)
- Michael Jordan ‘fighting for all’ race teams in antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR (The Athletic)
- ‘Animosity’ In NASCAR Suit Raises Red Flag For NC Judge (Law360)
- NSFW messages become public as NASCAR’s legal battle with 23XI, Front Row Motorsports continues (RACER)
Motorsport Sponsorship, Partnership News and Analysis
The latest motorsport sponsorship deals, partnerships and related analysis that were announced this week
- F1 delivers US$665m in sponsor media value during first half of 2025 (BlackBook Motorsport)
- Oregon State goes NASCAR, sponsors stock car team for Portland race (Hillsboro News Times)
- Retail Brand Activation Through Motorsport Sponsorships: Sam’s Club’s Strategic Move with INDYCAR and Andretti Global (AI Invest)
- “Maximum Metallica” for MSR, Rosenqvist in Nashville (RACER)
- Crypto Sponsorships Drive Formula 1 Revenue Revolution (AutoRacing1.com)
- The Role of Online Casinos in Red Bull Racing’s Success (Formula Nerds)
- Fans to be given unparalleled access as McLAREN Racing announces Mastercard as Official Naming Partner of the McLAREN Formula 1 Team from 2026 (McLaren)
- Why McLaren F1 finally said yes to Mastercard after a decade without a title sponsor (The Athletic)
- Desnuda Tequila gives Foster a new look for IndyCar season-finale (RACER)
- Yohan and Michelle Poonawalla on backing racing star Mohd Mneimneh (Masala!)
The Business of Running a Race Team
In March, James Robinson became the team principal of an Invicta Racing squad that had just won the teams’ and drivers’ Formula 2 titles. Nearly six months on, Invicta are back at the top of both championships with four rounds of the 2025 F2 season remaining. Feeder Series spoke to Robinson at Silverstone about his journey with the team so far.
“Certainly, from the commercial executive role, which is a little bit later starts and early finishes, [you are] more here just for the key moments on track. There’s so much prep that goes into the day and post-session as well,” Robinson said.
Team & Manufacturer News
A roundup of the latest team news from around the world of motorsport
- PREMA’s IndyCar program reaching a crossroads (RACER)
- Honda loves IndyCar but remains noncommittal on future (RACER)
- Rival team keeps Hansen Motorsport on track in Finland (Dirtfish)
- Kaulig Racing to lead Ram’s return to Truck Series competition (RACER)
- Mikey Doble hails ‘incredible’ Power Maxed Racing team effort (Touring Car Times)
- BMW reveals tweaked LMDh car for 2026 WEC, IMSA campaigns (Autosport)
- How Aston Martin’s F1 team plans to become a “creative, chaotic innovation machine” (Autosport)
- Cusick Team Joins Series in 2026 in Technical Alliance with HMD (IndyNXT)
- Bryan Herta Autosport Announces Full-Season Entry into IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship LMP2 Class for 2026 (BHA)
- Aussie Hyundai team HMO Customer Racing to tackle four TCR World Tour rounds (SpeedCafe)
Motorsport Movers & Shakers
Alan Gow arrived in the UK intending to spend a year travelling and “having a look around”. Instead he ended up transforming the domestic racing scene. Autosport Plus looks at why the Aussie never set out to change motorsport. “Whether people like me or not, they’ll tell you I’m a control freak. And I’ve got very good attention to detail.”
Mel Harder, a motorsports management veteran will guide revitalization and growth at Monterey’s historic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. PRI talks with him to find out how.
“The facility is unique in that the race track and campgrounds are owned by Monterey County. Friends of Laguna Seca is a not-for-profit group of successful local business owners with a passion for the facility who obtained a long-term management contract to operate it. The current management structure provides a great opportunity to be nimbler and respond more quickly to the facility’s needs than a public entity could.”
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.
