Motorsport UK’s David Richards Launches Scathing Attack on FIA

Motorsport UK’s David Richards has launched a scathing attack on the FIA and in this week’s edition of the Business of Motorsport Roundup you will learn why. I also have details of Liberty Media’s Formula 1 financial results, NASCAR’s countersuit against Michael Jordan and how racing corvettes makes you a better lawyer.

Motorsport Industry News

FIA

Motorsport UK's David Richards Launches Scathing Attack on FIA

In a blockbuster public announcement, British motorsport governing body chairman David Richards has spoken out after being barred from a World Motor Sport Council meeting for failing to sign a non-disclosure agreement and the possibility that he will take legal action against the FIA.

“Integrity is a core value of Motorsport UK and one that is central to who we are. Our Board and Executive Team will always operate in an open and transparent manner so that our members trust and respect our voice. We are fully aligned with Sport England and UK Sport’s Code for Governance which sets out gold-standard levels of transparency, accountability and integrity in sports governance. It’s therefore beholden on us to demand the same values of our governing body, the FIA. These actions by the FIA are in breach of their own Statutes. As a result, we have informed the FIA that unless they address the issues we’ve raised, we will be engaging in further legal action.”

The Race looks at three ways this confrontation could affect Formula 1 in 2025 and beyond. “Coming in a presidential election year, Richards choosing to be so expansive and open about the issues at play – and areas he feels that Ben Sulayem has not lived up to election promises – could prove to be what fires a starting gun on a fight that will ultimately decide who runs the FIA beyond this year, and highlights potentially big implications for the 2025 Formula 1 season.”

Formula 1

Formula 1 F1 75

Liberty Media’s Formula One Group generated revenues of $3.65bn in 2024, with sponsorship, media rights and event promotion all contributing steady increases on the previous year.

Revenue increased 14 per cent year-over-year (YoY) compared to US$3.2 billion in 2023, though it did dip in the fourth quarter of 2024 to US$1.17 billion having been at US$1.23 billion in Q4 2023. The drop in Q4 was due to a decrease in race promotion revenue as the Las Vegas Grand Prix generated less money from tickets and hospitality.

More details can be found here.

Despite Las Vegas Grand Prix organizers highlighting how the race generated $934m in revenue for the region, they were disappointed with ticket sales for the 2024 race. “Chief accounting officer Brian Wendling noted the event’s under-performance during a conference call with investors last week. “The Las Vegas Grand Prix did miss expectations, primarily on ticket sales,” he said.”

Front Office Sports reports that a deal between ESPN and Formula One for U.S. media rights may not be dead. F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali said at the Liberty Media earnings call last Thursday that discussions with ESPN are still moving even though the exclusive negotiation period between the two has passed.

“The fact that at the end of the exclusivity period they have not put in place on a formal offer, doesn’t mean that the discussions aren’t going ahead. Actually, it’s the other way around. So there are still a lot of discussions to try to find the best solution,” Domenicali said.

General Motorsport Industry News

Motorsport UK's David Richards Launches Scathing Attack on FIA

IndyCar’s broadcast on Fox drew 1.4 million viewers for Sunday’s Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, its first race of its new exclusive media-rights deal with the IndyCar Series, which previously aired on NBC Sports platforms. That’s the most-watched non–Indianapolis 500 IndyCar broadcast since 2011. Read more from FOS newsletter writer David Rumsey.

Claims that there is a sacred site claim being made on Australia’s Mount Panorama have been strongly denied by the Indigenous group in question reports SpeedCafe.

“In the lead up to the federal election it appears some commentators are targeting WTOCWAC in an attempt to revive the culture wars and to garner votes from people who would prefer to listen to sensationalist misinformation,” read the statement. “We are dismayed at the appalling commentary we are seeing in the news and on social media. We work towards bridging gaps but the misinformation is only seeking to divide us even further. We have no current applications for heritage listings of any sort for any area at all. Any claims that we do are simply untrue.”

Liberty Media has branded its pending $7 billion acquisition of MotoGP as its top near-term priority. “We are working towards the close of the Dorna acquisition,” confirmed Derek Chang, Liberty Media’s new CEO, during an investor call last week. “The Phase II regulatory process is progressing, which is a more in-depth review by the European Commission, and not uncommon in major transaction, transactions like these. We extended the long stop date for regulatory clearance to June 30, 2025 and are working constructively with the regulators towards approval.”

2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for NASCAR, marked by a landmark broadcast deal across four broadcasters, the introduction of new streaming services, a legal dispute over its charter system, and increased competition from Formula One and IndyCar. So, how will these changes affect the overall health of the series?

SportsPro’s NASCAR Business Intelligence Report provides a comprehensive overview of the series, including contract details, sponsorship trends, broadcast insights, viewership figures, and other critical data analysis. You can get it here.

Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week

Motorsport UK's David Richards Launches Scathing Attack on FIA
Motorsport UK's David Richards Launches Scathing Attack on FIA
Motorsport UK's David Richards Launches Scathing Attack on FIA

Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup

Future motorsport technologies

Future motorsport technologies that will transform the sport is just one of the features in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup. I also have a hint on what is to come from Lola Cars, the difficulties in manufacturing a truly sustainable fuel and a cool pair of sneakers that you can buy made from recycled motorsport race tire rubber!

Motorsport Law Roundup

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

Michael Jordan NASCAR lawsuit

Front Office Sports reports that NASCAR on Wednesday countersued 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports and Curtis Polk—a co-owner of 23XI Racing who is closely tied to fellow co-owner Michael Jordan—in a North Carolina federal district court. NASCAR argues the counter defendants have violated federal antitrust law through an alleged conspiracy to limit competition and increase payments by demanding preferred terms for a charter. It goes so far as to claim Jordan’s group partook in an “illegal cartel.”

NASCAR maintains 23XI Racing and Front Row did not “merely reject” charter terms but also “embarked on a strategy to threaten, coerce and extort NASCAR into meeting their demands for better contract and financial terms.” Alleged threats included threatened group boycotts of NASCAR events and “negative media campaigns.” NASCAR alludes to attorney Jeffrey Kessler, who represents 23XI Racing and Front Row and has led lawsuits against the NFL and NCAA, among other sports organizations, in saying the teams are “aided by counsel who has a history of suing various sports leagues.”

Furthermore, a lawyer representing NASCAR said 23XI and Front Row have not laid out how much more money they want. “I don’t know what they think is fair,” Chris Yates of Latham & Watkins LLP said at a virtual media briefing Wednesday. “They have never explained that. I have no idea what they think the appropriate split should be. I have no idea because it’s never been articulated in any filing I’ve seen.”

Joe Gibbs Racing has won its appeal of the February penalty handed to the No. 19 team of Chase Briscoe for modification of a single-source supplied part (the spoiler) following the Daytona 500. The appeal was heard Wednesday in front of the three-person National Motorsports Appeals Panel. Those who heard the appeal were Dixon Johnston, Hunter Nickell and Cathy Rice. RACER has all the details.

Enrico Cardile will not be able to start work with Aston Martin until July of this year after Ferrari won a legal case involving its former technical director. “With reference to the recent news regarding the timing of Enrico Cardile’s arrival at Aston Martin, Ferrari clarifies that a few weeks ago the Court of Modena, upholding the requests of the Company, ordered Enrico Cardile to immediately cease any form of collaboration with Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team until next July 18th,” a Ferrari statement read.

Law360 reports that Second Circuit judges looked tempted Tuesday to let former race driver and team owner Scott Tucker, who is incarcerated on charges that he ran a $2 billion payday lending scam, file a new appeal — after hearing that Tucker’s trial counsel faced blackmail from an unrelated client during Tucker’s $2 billion fraud trial.

Sportico reports that U.S. Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas ruled on Wednesday there was no securities fraud in a case that turned on NASCAR Heat 5, a video game that simulated the 2020 NASCAR season, exceeding sales expectations. The ruling could set key precedent in securities fraud litigation, including for securities in the sports and video game industries.

Embattled video game publisher Motorsport Game has agreed to a new payment plan to secure rFactor 2 and Le Mans Ultimate developer Studio 397. Traxion has more details.

The agenda has been released for LawInSports’ 2025 Motorsport and the Law conference. You can find the details here.

The skills I use when racing Corvettes have enhanced my legal practice in several ways, because driving, like practicing law, requires precision, awareness and a good set of brakes — complete with the wisdom to know how and when to use them, says Kat Mateo at Olshan Frome. Read more at Law360.

In a LawInSport analysis, Raymond Cox KC looks at the implications of the AG’s opinion in Seraing v FIFA and at what point should a CAS award be final on issues of EU law. You can read the analysis here.

Motorsport Sponsorship, Partnership News and Analysis

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

Motorsport UK's David Richards Launches Scathing Attack on FIA
Motorsport UK's David Richards Launches Scathing Attack on FIA
Motorsport UK's David Richards Launches Scathing Attack on FIA
Motorsport UK's David Richards Launches Scathing Attack on FIA
Motorsport UK's David Richards Launches Scathing Attack on FIA
Motorsport UK's David Richards Launches Scathing Attack on FIA

Team & Manufacturer News

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

Motorsport UK's David Richards Launches Scathing Attack on FIA
Motorsport UK's David Richards Launches Scathing Attack on FIA
Motorsport UK's David Richards Launches Scathing Attack on FIA
Motorsport UK's David Richards Launches Scathing Attack on FIA
Motorsport UK's David Richards Launches Scathing Attack on FIA
Mark Boudreau
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.

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