Tobacco sponsorship is under attack once again in Formula 1 and you will find out why in this week’s Business of Motorsport Roundup. I also have an update on Felipe Massa’s court case, the latest sponsorship deals and more.
Motorsport Industry News
Apple TV Downloads Surge for F1 Season Opener
Viewership for F1’s season opener on Apple TV is unknown, but downloads for the streaming service more than tripled their daily average last weekend, at least on Android devices, according to data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower.
Fans had multiple options for how to watch the race, including Sky Sports’ feed, the F1 TV broadcast and individual in-car cameras. On Saturday, Apple TV’s daily active users increased 58% from the prior day, Sensor Tower told Sports Business Journal.
Meanwhile, Appleinsider explains how Apple leveraged their entire ecosystem for the first race of the season.
F1 Starts Rolling Out Non-Exclusive Betting Operator Deals
F1 has spent the past two years developing a comprehensive betting strategy before diving into the sector, and now it’s starting to install that plan with its first officially licensed gaming operator in Super Group’s Betway before the 2026 season began last weekend in Melbourne.
This year, F1 is pursuing the betting space in a way it hasn’t done so previously. It signed non-exclusive agreements with a range of gaming operators around the world after hiring San Diego-based betting data startup Alt Sports Data last spring. Alt has helped F1 create a product that uses the series’ near-endless-live, low-latency data that comes from the cars and sensors around the track to form in-race betting options, such as choosing which of two drivers will make a pit stop first in forthcoming laps.
Sports Business Journal has all the details here.
With Iranian Air Strikes Near its Circuits, F1’s Middle East Races Are in Real Doubt
Formula 1 faces a looming cancellation call over its upcoming races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia around the unfolding conflict in the Middle East reports The Athletic. “The primary cut-off point for F1 to decide whether the races go ahead will be defined by the logistics required to set up a grand prix weekend, and when the first freight items of paddock kit would start to be transported to Bahrain. This would be in around two-and-a-half weeks’ time, after the Chinese GP on March 15.”
Formula One, followed by millions of children worldwide, should bar sponsorship deals with tobacco companies seeking to drive uptake of addictive nicotine pouches, 162 anti-tobacco and health groups said in letters to the sport’s commercial rights holder and partners reports Reuters.
Philip Morris International (PM.N), opens new tab and British American Tobacco (BATS.L), opens new tab sponsor the Scuderia Ferrari and McLaren F1 teams respectively with their Zyn and Velo nicotine pouch labels – partnerships the campaign groups say conflict with F1’s push to expand its youth audience.
Mercedes and Christian Horner Both Interested in a Stake in Alpine F1 Team
Both Christian Horner and Mercedes are apparently interested in a stake in the Alpine F1 team according to reports. Initially it was reported that it was Toto Wolff that was interested but that has been clarified to be the Mercedes F1 team itself which has raised questions.
BYD Explores Potential Formula 1 Entry
Asian Motorsport is reporting that Chinese automotive giant BYD is reportedly exploring a potential entry into international motorsport, including Formula 1 and endurance racing, as the company looks to strengthen its global brand presence.
“According to sources familiar with the discussions, the rapidly expanding manufacturer is evaluating several possible pathways into top-level racing categories. The move would mark BYD’s first serious push into competitive motorsport and comes as the company continues to expand its footprint in global automotive markets outside China.”
Indycar Partners Up with NASCAR in Phoenix to Cheers From Drivers and Fans
Indycar partnered up with NASCAR last weekend to race in Phoenix and the series had its best attendance since 1985 at the track. The drivers want more double-weekends like this. Autosport looks at why the event was a success, although fans watching on Fox were less than happy.
Newcastle Council Makes Call on Supercars Street Race Return
The City of Newcastle has confirmed its support for a return of Supercars to the Hunter Valley region, but not on its own streets. “Council unanimously supported an amended notice of motion to reaffirm City of Newcastle’s previous resolutions of October and November 2023 that Council supports retaining Supercars in the Hunter region through a regional model. The motion confirmed that Council does not support reinstating the Newcastle 500 street circuit in Newcastle.”
Alpine Boss Philippe Sinault on Hypercar Exit and What it Means for WEC
In an interview with Motorsport.com, Philippe Sinault reflects on Alpine’s upcoming departure from Hypercar and the overall health of the World Endurance Championship. “So there is one basic premise: the programme ends at the end of 2026. There’s no point trying to understand the reasons, because that would just waste time and energy. We need to focus on our objective, which was already clear but now even more so, and which we must write together.”
Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week
Freedom 250 Track Map and More
Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup
Formula 1 Kicks Off Controversial New Hybrid Era
Formula 1 has kicked off their new hybrid era in Australia last weekend and controversy has ensued as you will learn in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup. I have details on the driver’s reactions plus the FIA’s move to deal with the situation and more.
The Numbers This Week
U.S. Motorsports Viewership on TV Last Weekend (Via Adam Stern)
1) NASCAR Cup Series (FS1): 2.841 million viewers
2) IndyCar (Fox): 1.247 million
3) NASCAR O’Reilly (The CW): 1.159 million
4) NHRA (FS1): 1.102 million
5) ARCA (FS1): 224,000
Motorsport Law Roundup
Courts Order FIA, Bernie Ecclestone and Formula One Management to Pay Massa Legal Costs
Lewis Hamilton’s first F1 world championship became the subject of legal action when former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa brought a £64m claim against Formula One Management, the FIA, and Bernie Ecclestone. Sky Sports is reporting that a high court judge has ordered Massa to be paid £250,000 in costs.
Joe Gibbs Racing Had Chris Gabehart Followed by a Private Investigator, Gabehart Fires Back
Joe Gibbs Racing reportedly hired a private investigator to surveil its former competition director and have implied in court documents that Spire Motorsports was seemingly trying to poach some JGR sponsors, per Motorsport.com. Meanwhile, RACER reports that Gabehart and Spire have responded to JGR’s request for expedited discovery.
Meet the Irish Solicitor Now Passing Judgment on the Great and Good of World Motor Racing
Niall Geaney, originally from Limerick but now based in Clonakilty in west Cork, has for many years been a sports law specialist, and he is one of the people who worked to establish and enforce the “cost cap” budget-limiting rules in Formula One and electric Formula E.
Last December, Geaney was appointed to the highest of all motor racing legal courts – the FIA International Tribunal and International Court of Appeal, as well as the FIM’s similar courts for MotoGP motorbike racing. Read the full profile of Niall at the Irish Times here.
Co-Branding is Off to the Races in Formula 1’s 2026 Season
JD Supra looks at co-branding in Formula 1. “When a sponsor’s intellectual property becomes the subject of a dispute, the exposure is just as global.” Read the full article here.
How Lego is Revolutionizing Sponsorship and More
The Business of Running a Race Team
Inside Ford Racing: Formula 1 Return, Hypercar for Le Mans & Dakar Strategy
During Race Industry Week by EPARTRADE, Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Racing, delivers a comprehensive update on Ford’s most ambitious motorsports expansion in decades—spanning Formula 1, Le Mans Hypercar, Dakar Rally, Mustang racing, and advanced electric performance demonstrators.
Rushbrook outlines how Ford has unified all global motorsports operations under the Ford Racing banner, integrating engineering, marketing, and production performance to accelerate real-time technology transfer from the racetrack to the road.
Team & Manufacturer News
Verstappen to Enter Nurburgring 24 Hours and More
Motorsport Movers & Shakers
Why SRO’s High Profile Paddock Hire Wants to Blend In
While it is relatively common for ex-Formula 1 drivers to seek out new homes in sports car racing after losing their seats, direct moves from F1 to GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS are virtually unheard of. But there is another high-profile paddock figure who reached the pinnacle of his profession who, not too long ago, made exactly that move.
The person in question is not a driver, nor a team boss, nor even an engineer. Instead, it’s Niels Wittich, who joined SRO Motorsports Group last year to serve as the new GTWC Europe race director, having held a similar role in F1 until the fall of 2024.
Read the full profile at Sportscar365+.