Joe Gibbs Racing has launched a lawsuit against it former competition director and you will find out why in this week’s Business of Motorsport Roundup. I also have news on F1 finances, the return of the Turkish Grand Prix and more sponsorship deals.

Overview

Motorsport Industry News

F1 Revenue Grows 14% YoY to US$3.87BN in 2025

BlackBook.Motorsport reports that rimary Formula One revenue grew to US$3.09 billion, which comprised revenue from race promotion (26.7 per cent), media rights fees (31.3 per cent), and sponsorship (21.7 per cent). This is the first time that sponsorship has accounted for more than 20 per cent of Formula One’s primary revenue since Liberty Media acquired the sport.

“Formula One finished another record-breaking season, marking an exceptional 75th anniversary year for the sport,” said Stefano Domenicali, president and chief executive of Formula One.

“The next chapter of F1 brings on-track excitement with a new race in Madrid, the debut of Cadillac and Audi and the return of Honda and Ford to the grid. This upcoming season is a thrilling time for our sport as we introduce the next generation of cars, engines and regulations that are sure to make for dynamic racing and compelling storylines. Our sport has never been stronger, as evidenced by our roster of marquee partners, including Disney, Lego, Pepsi, Apple and Standard Chartered.”

F1 Considering Format Changes, 12 Sprints From 2027

Formula 1 is actively looking into doubling the number of sprint races from six to 12 per year from 2027, and is investigating other format changes to regular weekends. “The reason why we started to discuss the number of sprints and maybe some different format is because of the feedback we received from the fans, the promoters, that people want to see real action during the three days, so already on Friday people want to see something sporting – qualifying or whatever it is,” Stefano Domenicali said at pre-season testing in Bahrain.

Turkish Grand Prix Returns to F1 Calendar

F1’s CEO is playing it sly but it looks like the Turkish Grand Prix is coming back to the F1 schedule according to Azer News. “The management of Istanbul Park, the FIA, and Formula 1 officials have reached an agreement to bring the Turkish Grand Prix back to the championship schedule (in 2027).”

Formula 1 ‘Has Enough Money for 15 Teams But Won’t Allow It’

Formula 1 is rich enough to afford more teams than it can fit on the grid, according to former team boss Claire Williams. ““I remember [being] sat around the table in Strategy Group and when another team wanted to come in and it was like, well, the pot’s quite small as it is right now,” she told Business of Sport. “The numbers are going to elude me, but we could each lose 10, 15 million with this team coming in and that’s not really particularly fair.”

Apple’s F1 Plans Becoming Clearer

Aa the 2026 F1 season rapidly approaches, Apple’s plans are becoming clearer, not just in its streaming service but in an agreement with Netflix and F1’s integration into their ecosystem. Here is a look at what they have planned.

The streaming trends behind F1’s Apple strategy (Sector)
Apple reach ‘will be even bigger in the future’ than ESPN – Domenicali (RACER)
Apple and Netflix join forces to distribute F1 2026 content (Motorsport.com)
Apple’s New F1 OS (Business of Speed)

F1 Going All In On Betting

Despite its ongoing commercial success, F1 makes up just 0.4% of the overall global betting handle and has often been on the peripheries of the sports gambling market. But now, the series is positioning itself to deliver an expansive betting proposition for fans in 2026. Here are two articles on Formula 1’s betting plans.

How F1 is building its betting business (BlackBook Motorsport
F1 lays the groundwork for a different kind of betting entry (Sector)

Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week

Why Ford Races, F1 Livery Rankings and More

What It Means to Race for Ford on the World Stage (Ford Racing)
Track Days, Talent And The Missing Middle: Inside Malaysia’s Motorsport Ecosystem (Bernama)
Malaysian Motorsport: Policy, Prestige And The Question Of Returns (Bernama)
Adelaide’s new race is about more than motorsport (The Advertiser)
FIA optimistic about new Senate lineup for 2026 term (Social News)
When Racing Stops Being Accessible (Will Marotti)
Lawrence Stroll to buy Aston Martin F1 naming rights in £50million deal (Motorsport.com)

The Return Of Speed: FOX Bets Motorsports Fans Still Want A Shared Living Room (Forbes)
Laugh, Emoji, Share, Repost: The Soft Power of Formula 1 Language (Paddock Journal)
Ares Management plans sports fund for European investors (SportsPro)
The Town Square That Racing Never Replaced (Business of Speed)
In F1, Ford crystallizing sprawling motorsports strategy, looking for road-car tech transfer (Sports Business Journal)
MotoGP wants to introduce a minimum rider salary (Autosport)
McLaren Racing Launches the Mclaren Racing Club (McLaren)

Ranking every Formula 1 livery for 2026: Adidas stripes, yin-and-yang, and phoning it in (The Athletic)
How Jeddah is attracting international fans and becoming a major motorsport hub (Autosport)
Inside the Making of Drive to Survive (Paddock Project)
British Superbike Sponsorship Enters the Culture Wars (The Motorsport Saga by Alan Dove)
Here comes MotoGP’s longest, weirdest season (Motorsport Magazine)
From Penthouse to Paddock: Hyatt Becomes the Latest Hotelier to Offer More than F1 Hospitality (Paddock Journal)

How the FIA will use AI to police one of F1’s most controversial subjects in 2026 (Motorsport.com)
Mission 44 Releases 2024/2025 Annual Report (Mission 44)
ESPN extends exclusive F1 rights deal in Latin America until 2028 (BlackBook Motorsport)
Formula 1 and beIN SPORTS extend broadcast partnership (SIG)
Aussie GP Glamour and the San Francisco Streets (Esses)
Why Ecclestone still has the power to make F1 squirm (Autosport)
Pirelli’s head of motorsport Mario Isola steps down (Motorsport.com)

Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup

Firestone ENLITEN Introduces New Sustainable Tire Technology

Firestone Enliten introduces new sustainable technology to IndyCar and I have the details in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup. You will also find out about F1 drivers interested in testing the new Gen4 Formula E car and much more!

The Numbers This Week

NASCAR’s Positive Start to 2026

Daytona 500 delivers 7.5m viewers on Fox (SportsPro)
Daytona 500 Ratings Jump 13% After Reddick’s Dramatic Finish (Vantage)
NASCAR continues solid start with 4.49m viewers for Atlanta on Fox (BlackBook Motorsport)

Motorsport Law Roundup

Joe Gibbs Racing Sues Former Competition Director Chris Gabehart

Joe Gibbs Racing has asked a federal court to enforce an 18-month non-compete clause against its former competition director Chris Gabehart that would prevent him from accepting a similar position with Spire Motorsports. JGR contends in a document filed in US District Court in Charlotte, North Carolina, that since Gabehart wasn’t terminated “without cause,” the non-compete restriction applies. They have also added Spire and asked for a restraining order. The motion for a restraining order is set to be heard after publication of this Motorsport Law Roundup.

Here are the details we know so far.

A Guide To How Trade Marks Work In Formula One®

LawInSport has published a guide to how trademarks work in Formula 1. “In the UK, a trade mark can be protected if it is capable of distinguishing the specific goods/services covered from those of third parties, and if the mark itself can be represented on the register in a clear in precise manner. But what does this mean in practice, and what are the implications for motorsport?“

Alleged Supercars Spying Labelled ‘Worse Than Drug Cheating’

In more motorsport intellectual property (IP) news, Triple Eight manager Mark Dutton claims Brodie Kostecki should have been banned from competing at the Sydney 500 over alleged espionage on the eve of the event.

“How we make the cars go faster around the race track is with suspension settings. Half of the suspension setup [at the rear], he had unconsented access to. We work stupid amounts, and millions of dollars get spent, developing this IP. It’s a big deal.”

The Sponsors the F1 Media Forgot to Question

Idée Fixe has published an interesting article on the muddled legality of the Kick and Stake sponsorships in Formula 1 and the lack of coverage by the motorsport media. “Here’s where things get genuinely strange – even for me. These weren’t just ethically grey sponsors; they were companies facing serious legal challenges that any due diligence process should have flagged.”

Motorsport Law Conference 2026

Just a reminder that LawInSports’ Motorsport Law 2026 Conference will be hosted in London on 19th March, 2026. For more information as well as the agenda, click here: https://www.lawinsport.com/sports-law-events/conference/249-motorsport-law-2026

Motorsport Sponsorship, Partnership News and Analysis

Williams Clever Duracell Livery and More Sponsorship News

Duracell charges up Williams with the smartest livery in F1 (Famous Campaigns)
Visa’s High-Speed Race into Global Motorsport: A Formula 1 Odyssey (Devdiscourse)
Breaking Down Cadillac’s Debut F1 Sponsorship Portfolio (Sunday’s Sponsors)
F1 sponsorship revenue ‘to exceed US$3bn’ in 2026 (BlackBook Motorsport)
Eye-catching: Williams displays AI partnership during F1 testing (Sector)

REMAX joins Meyer Shank for 2026 IndyCar season (RACER)
Muscle Car Masters lands naming rights sponsor with Apex Steel (V8 Sleuth)
Williams F1 suit up with Marks & Spencer (SIG)
OnlyBulls is Entitlement Sponsor for NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race at St. Petersburg (BVM Sports)
Silverstone agrees Audi partnership (SIG)
With Craftsman renewal in limbo, NASCAR likely to enter market for potential Truck Series sponsorship (Sports Business Journal)

The Business of Running a Race Team

Meet the Porsche Formula E Team: Get to know Team Manager James Lindesay

The drivers might be front and centre when it comes to motorsport, but there are many other team members working hard behind the scenes to strive for success. Get to know Porsche Formula E team manager James Lindesay.

“A day in the office involves any number of meetings, combined with following up on topics with various people from different departments in the project, and then depending on the timing, either post-event work or pre-event preparation. At the racetrack, it’s a completely different kettle of fish. First and foremost, I’m keen to ensure that everybody is healthy, a lot of things can happen when you’re away and travelling and not in the comfort of your home. Then it’s really primarily ensuring that everybody is working in the right direction, to their maximum and ensuring that we stay motivated and communicate well with one another.”

Team & Manufacturer News

Are Cadillac Exhausted and More Team News

VSR To Take On Sprint Cup With Temerario GT3 (Daily Sportscar)
BMW Z4 GT3 to Contest N24 (Sportscar365)
James Explains Heart of Racing’s Move to Pilot Challenge (Sportscar365)
Mike Verlander’s slow approach quickly turning RCR around (Clay Today)
Meyer Shank in planning mode ahead of expansion for Honda factory IndyCar entry in 2028 (RACER)
Why Cadillac has already earned the respect of its rivals (RACER)

Kellymoss Confirms Three-Car Porsche Effort (Sportscar365)
Cadillac F1 team “is exhausted” before 2026 season start: “They’re done” (Motorsport.com)
PREMA’s F2 drivers reveal what the team is like following the Rosin family’s shock exit (Motorsport Week)
AJ Foyt Racing Launches Official Return to Indy NXT in St. Petersburg (RTD)
How Audi sold its F1 vision before it had a car (Sector)
75 Express to Make GTWC Debut; Mercedes-AMG Reveals Lineups (Sportscar365)

Inside one aspect of Ford and Red Bull’s F1 powertrain partnership (Racecar Engineering)
Mercedes-AMG Assembles 10-Car Fleet For World Challenge Europe (Daily Sportscar)
KRC Plotting Two-Car Assault With BMW Factory Driver (Sportscar365)
Rutronik To Race On With Porsche In Bronze Cup (Daily Sportscar)
Cusick Morgan Motorsports Set for Indy NXT Debut on the Streets of St. Petersburg (RTD)

Peugeot Reveals Bold New Livery for 9X8 Hypercar (Sportscar365)
Flying Lizard Motorsports Announces 2026 GT4 Campaign in SRO America (Flying Lizard)
PREMA confirmed to miss opening IndyCar round (Motorsport Week)
Senior Honda MotoGP executive exits as HRC restructure continues (Autosport)

Motorsport Movers & Shakers

Susie Wolff

CNBC’s Trailblazers focuses on F1 Academy Founder & Managing Director Susie Wolff. “A former Formula 1 driver and ex-CEO of Venturi Racing, Wolff has developed a new sports business model with the backing of all F1 teams and owned by Formula One — an all-female, single-seater championship series supported by global sponsorship revenue.”

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.