Legal Drama for Haas F1 at Dutch Grand Prix

The Haas Formula 1 team found itself embroiled in legal drama during last weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, and I’ve got an overview of the situation. In other motorsport legal news, I’ll cover potential complications related to F1 and fossil fuel advertising, F1’s ongoing efforts to protect its IP rights against certain content creators, and a lawsuit between SRX and Skip Barber Racing. Along with that, expect the usual business of motorsport news that doesn’t involve litigation.

Motorsport Industry News

Formula 1

Legal Drama for Haas F1 at Dutch Grand Prix

F1 Technical reports that a group of investors has recently acquired the Hockenheimring and is committing substantial funds to modernize it for the future. The investor group Emodrom Group Holding aquired a stake of 74.99 per cent of the Hockenheimring GmbH, having paid around six millions euros. The company is set to invest 250 million euros into the Hockenheimring over the next five to ten years.

“We have been working in the background for more than four years to further develop the Hockenheimring as a leading racing circuit and are now keen to realise future-oriented projects. Of course, we are also thinking about Formula 1, but we approach such considerations with great caution.”

Read more at F1 Technical here.

General Motorsport Industry News

Legal Drama for Haas F1 at Dutch Grand Prix

A lot of NASCAR news this week as the series has announced a new race in Mexico in 2025. Why you may ask? As NASCAR executive vice president and chief venue and racing innovation officer Ben Kennedy explains, it checks the box NASCAR has been working toward for quite some time by once again taking its top series international.

What about NASCAR racing in other cities or countries? According to Sports Business Journal, NASCAR is releasing the 2025 schedules for its three national circuits imminently (correction, the schedules have been released), and it’s already well under way in working on the slate for 2026 as it eyes expansion globally and domestically. And more cities are being looked at for the future. SBJ reports that NASCAR is said to have spoken to groups in other cities including Cincinnati, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and some from the Pacific Northwest.

“Mexico and Rockingham look set to be among the big changes for 2025, while Brazil and San Diego are in play for ’26. Under EVP Ben Kennedy, NASCAR is employing a strategy of trying to go to both new markets and return to ones that the sport had stopped going to in the past, as it looks to please both fresh and hard-core fans.”

Read more at SBJ below.

Bruce Martin of Forbes does a deep dive into explaining IndyCar’s charter system. ““The importance of a Charter is the teams now have a valuation of their operation,” Miles told me. “They own an asset that’s this Charter, this agreement, which, at the moment looks like it will be for seven years.” Read more at Forbes for all the details.

MotoGP will be returning to the Automotodrom Brno in Czechia from next season. The five-year contract comes into effect from the start of the 2025 season. The series will race at classic track until 2029.

Carmelo Ezpeleta, chief executive of MotoGP rights holder Dorna Sports, said: “We’re delighted to be able to announce our return to Brno. It’s a classic, with a fantastic layout that has staged some really memorable moments in its long history in MotoGP.”

Speaking of MotoGP, BlackBook Motorsport explains how the Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship plans to solve MotoGP’s lack of female representation.

“We had some support for the start of this year, but not at the levels we expected,” Lavilla admits. “I think it’s difficult to convince [people] of projects when you don’t see it’s just a project, so now we have a reality. We have a community of followers, we have some visibility on TV, so the important point will be next year.”

Read more at BlackBook Motorsport here.

FIA Formula E’s co-founder, Alberto Longo, has said that the series is committed to seeking a return to India after Season 10’s race was cancelled at short notice. “India is a tier 1 market for us,” he said. “We are working every day to get back there. We are currently talking to three major cities – that’s all I can reveal.” Read more at Motorsport Week here.

Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week

Business of Motorsport

The Numbers

Business of Motorsport

BlackBook Motorsport reports that NASCAR and F1 has delivered YoY US audience increases for both Daytona and the Dutch Grand Prix. Read more here.

Legal Drama for Haas F1 at Dutch Grand Prix

Blinkfire Analytics released their Formula 1 Mid-Season Brand Valuations last week. “Puma, Amazon, and Rolex all made the top five without their products being related to the automotive/racing industry. These brands are focused on reaching racing fans and are receiving the valuable exposure they are seeking from the sport!”

Motorsport Law Roundup

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

Haas F1

The Haas F1 team was the focus of some legal drama during last weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix as former sponsor Uralkali obtaining a Dutch court order allowing the Russian fertilizer company to seize the Haas race cars if their outstanding arbitral aware was not paid.

Complications surrounding the Haas money transfer arose during the weekend, with Haas’ equipment unable to leave the Netherlands on Sunday evening after the race but all was resolved after Uralkali acknowledged receipt of payment on the Monday.

The article How a North Holland Oil and Gas Advertising Agenda Threatens to Become Formula 1’s New Tobacco Ban, explores the legal challenges surrounding fossil fuel advertising bans in the context of Formula 1, a sport heavily reliant on oil and gas partnerships. As cities like Haarlem in the Netherlands implement bans on such advertisements, the tension between environmental activism and Formula 1’s deep-rooted connections to Big Oil comes to the forefront. The article highlights the legal uncertainty surrounding these bans, drawing parallels to past controversies in the sport, such as the crackdown on tobacco sponsorships.

To delve deeper into the complex legal landscape and the potential implications for Formula 1 and fossil fuel companies, read the full analysis at Formula Flash here.

Sportscar365 has learned that the appeal lodged by Ferrari AF Corse on the results of the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps will be heard by the FIA Court of Appeals on Sept. 3 in Geneva.

The Italian squad appealed against the stewards’ decision on May 15 after AF Corse’s protest, claiming the race’s resumption was not in accordance with the WEC sporting regulations, was rejected.

I mentioned this last week but here is another take on Formula 1 requiring content creators to remove any reference to “Formula 1” or “F1” in their branding. “Sources indicate that these creators have been instructed to avoid using the term ‘F1’ for monetization purposes. Consequently, many have been compelled to rebrand their content to mitigate the risk of having their channels or accounts suspended.”

Is this a mistake by Formula 1? Read more at Sports Pundit.

AutoWeek reports that National Motorsports Final Appeal Officer Bill Mullis has upheld the National Motorsports Appeals Panel’s decisions that allowed NASCAR racer Austin Dillon to keep his Richmond victory, but not qualify for the playoffs. He also upheld the loss of 25 driver and owner points.

“The data presented today (Monday) from SMT and IDAS systems indicated that more likely than not a rule violation did occur at Richmond Raceway on 8-11-24 by the No. 3 RCR car on the last lap of the race,” Mullis stated. “(Rule 12.3.2.1.B Eligibility, race finishes must be unencumbered by violations of the NASCAR rules or other actions detrimental to stock car auto racing or NASCAR as determined in the sole discretion of NASCAR.)”

AutoWeek also reports that Superstar Racing Experience has filed a lawsuit in Rowan County, N.C., claiming that Anthony DeMonte, DMS Apex Holding, LLC and Skip Barber Racing failed to live up to their end of the bargain in an “Asset Purchase Agreement” of SRX to the group this past spring that was to be completed by April 30th. As part of the agreement, neither side was supposed to have announced the transaction without prior consent of the other party.

“Contrary to that, and without Superstar’s consent, Skip Barber Racing and DeMonte issued a press release falsely stating that they had acquired the SRX,” SRX said in today in a press release. “In fact, DeMonte and Skip Barber Racing have failed to pay any amount of the purchase price or otherwise fulfill their promise to close the transaction. Consequently, contrary to their false public statements, Skip Barber Racing did not purchase and does not own SRX or any of the series’ assets.”

Read more here.

Finally, a magistrate judge from the Southern District of California has denied a motocross exhibition promoter’s motion for summary judgement in a case in which it was sued by the family of a competitor who died after a failed practice jump.

“Early on in its analysis, the magistrate judge, citing Knight v. Jewett, 3 Cal.4th 296, 11 Cal. Rptr. 2d 2, 834 P.2d 696 (1992), noted a defendant cannot be expected to eliminate the inherent risk, since it could “chill” participation in that sport. At the same time, the judge wrote that “those involved do have a duty not to increase the risk to a participant over and above those inherent in the sport. Knight, 3 Cal.4th at 316. … If a defendant breaches that duty, it is negligent.””

Read more at Sports Litigation Alert.

Motorsport Sponsorship & Partnership News

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

Business of Motorsport
Legal Drama for Haas F1 at Dutch Grand Prix

The Business of Running a Race Team

Legal Drama for Haas F1 at Dutch Grand Prix

Watch “Williams F1: What Is Takes” exclusively on the High Performance app: https://thehighperformanceapp.com/col… Ever wondered what goes on inside the headquarters of one of the most iconic teams in Formula 1? Join us as we take you on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Williams Racing’s state-of-the-art facilities in Oxfordshire!

Team & Manufacturer News

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

Business of Motorsport
Business of Motorsport
Legal Drama for Haas F1 at Dutch Grand Prix
Business of Motorsport

Loggie & Keen Make Switch To Porsche with 2 Seas (Daily Sportscar)

Mercedes team HRT “99%” sure of continuing in DTM despite rumours (Autosport)

EnergyLandia Taurus Factory Team formed (The Checkered Flag)

Ex-McLaren F1 designer hired by Lola for Formula E project (Motorsport Week)

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.