The Andretti Mess, A Political Papaya, and F1 Academy's WAG Extravaganza!
Hi there! Welcome to Track Limits, a weekly F1 newsletter where we break down the major headlines and dive into the questions, trends, and topics that spark our collective curiosity. Nothing is off-topic and a little fun is always part of the mix!
Good Afternoon!! Let’s talk about the Miami Mayhem and everything that came after it! Unlike previous editions, the hustle and bustle in Florida felt different. Sure, we had a couple of A-list celebs walking around. But more than anything Miami looked like a corporate convention full of executives doing business and brands wining and dining influencers and VICs - very important customers! I’m not really a fan of it, but it’s the path the promoter and Formula 1 have chosen for this particular weekend. So, that’s what we got!
On track, I wasn’t expecting much as the layout of the circuit doesn’t inspire. But after a fun sprint, we got our hopes up that maybe, just maybe, the weekend had something special in store for us. Boy did it deliver!!
After 110 race starts Norris finally won his first race! The way I held my breath for the last 10 laps and jumped off my seat when the checkered flag was waved was something I hadn’t experienced in years. I missed it, and judging by everyone’s reaction so did you!
Is this the start of a multi-team battle for the podium's top step? Honestly, I hope so!!
Miami is THE week when it comes to shenanigans and with my unexpected week off, we have a lot to catch up with!
American football is ever-present during the Miami Grand Prix, after all, we are racing around an NFL stadium! But when you have two of the most famous current football players - Mahomes and Kelce - attend the weekend, it’s no surprise Formula One’s social media gets flooded with football! We saw everything from special helmets and jerseys to catching drills with drivers and team principals.
Yes, Leclerc was horrible at it. But the fact that he and several others didn’t mind being the butt of the joke should have been reason enough for admins not to do them dirty like they did! Not only did teams post pictures of less-than-flattering moments, but they shot drivers from below next to larger-than-life football and basketball players! Come on!! We all know height is a sensitive topic in F1.
Interestingly, football wasn’t the only sport crossover that weekend. Sargeant visited Inter Miami CF, a couple of drivers went to the Miami Heat game and Norris “gave” a yoga class on the beach! Said class was streamed on Hilton’s YouTube and of course I watched it!! The main takeaway from it all is that Norris is probably a fun guy to hang out with after class, but not necessarily great at giving the class! Not only did he do the whole session in a hoodie - with the Miami sweltering heat - but he did it wearing sneakers! I have to be honest, I couldn’t concentrate on anything else the whole class other than wondering why he didn’t take his damn shoes off? It’s weird, right?!
Something else I wondered about all weekend long was why we didn’t see any major celebrities this year. I know, most fans have complained about it in previous years, but I kind of missed the buzzing atmosphere that comes from having a hot shot on the grid!! Despite this, the weekend still gave us the classic fun hot laps and the bougie fits which included full denim sets, Tommy Hilfiger flowy dresses, Gucci bags, and a whole lot of Ferrari. What else could we ask for?!!
Speaking of fashion, the Met Gala was the Monday after the race and unsurprisingly Hamilton was invited! He wore a beautiful custom all-black Burberry ensemble with floral embellishment - in line with the night’s theme and inspired by the story of the 18th-century gardener John Ystumllyn. Who he paid homage to with a beautiful poem embroidered on the inside of his jacket. Talk about understanding the assignment!!
Besides the Met Gala and the regularly scheduled photodumps, not much happened the week after Miami. A couple of drivers went on a Cayman Island gateway with their girlfriends. Others were seen with friends in the Big Apple. Some took advantage of the nice weather to take their yachts out and do some wake surfing. While others attended the Monaco Historic Grand Prix, which in my opinion is the best race of the year in Monaco! Interestingly, both Newey and Brown competed in the Grand Prix. Newey drove his Lotus 49B from 1968 and Brown drove the Williams FW07B from 1979.
Oh, I almost forgot!! Airbnb and the Ferrari Museum partnered up for a one-night-only overnight stay in the museum during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The prerequisite is having very very deep pockets and not being creeped out by the villain-den look of the room! Don’t believe me? Just check the listing and tell me it doesn’t freak you out!
The Andretti Mess
After being approved by the FIA last year but subsequently rejected by Formula One Management, Andretti has found itself in a limbo. Technically, they are allowed to compete. But without FOM’s go-ahead, Andretti and Cadillac won’t be able to enjoy the commercial and financial benefits of doing so.
As such, Andretti has sought out ways to contest Liberty Media’s decision. The most recent one has resulted in the U.S. House Judiciary Committee opening an investigation into the matter.
THE DETAILS:
As stated in the letter sent out by the Judiciary Committee to the CEOs of Liberty Media and Formula 1, the reasons for rejecting Andretti’s bid are well-known. What is disputed, is if these reasons fall within the legal framework - rules and regulations - of Formula One. If not, it means they are arbitrary, pretextual and it may even constitute anticompetitive behavior.
What is interesting about this new development is that the investigation into Andretti’s rejection was launched in the United States and not in Europe.
With every team, the FIA and Formula 1 being registered in the U.K. or the European Union it would make sense for Andretti to lobby the European Commission or file an official antitrust complaint with them. By all indications, they have the jurisdiction to actually do something about it.
As such, turning to U.S. congressmen is a curious move and despite Andretti being the public face of it, I’m not sure they were the ones behind it.
OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) are a critical part of Formula One, they help finance teams and drive the technical development of the sport. This isn’t done out of love for racing - not just! - but with the intent to further their business. The sentence “Race on Sunday, sell on Monday!” embodies this idea.
It’s why General Motors - the biggest automotive manufacturer in the United States and owner of the Cadillac brand - is part of the Andretti bid and registered as a power unit manufacturer with the FIA. As they stated last year, they expect that their involvement in Formula One will advance their expertise in areas such as electrification, hybrid technology, sustainable fuels, high-efficiency internal combustion engines, advanced controls, and software systems.
In addition, General Motors reentered the European market with Cadillac last year. The goal is to build scale for their EV business and trial online-only sales which they want to bring into other key markets, including in the U.S and China. Being part of F1 provides them with unique access to these different markets, and it allows Caddilac to rebrand itself as a modern, tech-driven, and young manufacturer.
All of this helps explain why the Andretti/Cadillac team isn’t budging and why they may be seeking political support at home for what they suspect may be a potential market competition issue - as several of the manufacturers on the grid are key players in the European EV market - as well as a sporting one.
It’s unclear where this investigation could lead, seeing that Liberty Media - as an American company - needs to adhere to the Sherman Antitrust Act but FOM is registered in the U.K.
My educated guess is that a lawsuit in either continents isn’t the goal, as it would be considered a hostile maneuver - risking alienating Andretti before they even roll up to the grid.
As such, this committee probe is more than likely a negotiation tactic aimed at leveraging the fact that Liberty Media is already under fire due to Live Nation’s impending antitrust suit. The mere suggestion of yet another high-profile investigation by the Justice Department could be motivation enough for FOM/ Liberty Media to reconsider its decision.
Which is kind of a brilliant move by Andretti and Cadillac!
A Political Papaya
Even before the Grand Prix started it came to light that a prominent Trump fundraiser was planning to use his suit at the Miami race to raise funds for the former U.S. President’s 2024 presidential election campaign.
As a response, the Miami promoters sent a cease and desist letter as it breached the conditions of the suite. It didn’t however stop the former president from attending the race on Sunday, visiting the McLaren garage, or congratulating the race winner in the pitlane before his post-race interview. Unsurprisingly, the backlash was vicious to the point that McLaren felt compelled to put out a statement claiming the team is non-political and the tour was given in respect to the office Trump once held.
THE CONTEXT:
Just last year the FIA introduced a new clause to its International Sporting Code effectively banning drivers from making political statements during a Grand Prix without prior authorization.
The underlying idea of the clause was that the sport wanted to remain politically neutral. As we discussed at the time, sport has never been apolitical. Historically sporting arenas have been the place where political discussions are held, diplomatic relations are forged and international reputations are molded. Sports and politics are intimately connected and Formula 1 is no exception.
Some would even argue it’s inherently more political than any other sport due to its unique characteristics.
This means that F1’s neutrality clause isn’t a declaration of no political engagement. It’s a legal status that fosters self-preservation and allows it to avoid public scrutiny. But more than anything, it’s a way to determine who is allowed to use F1’s global stage to exert their influence.
We all understand that inviting and hosting dignitaries in an official capacity to a race is political. They represent an office, an ideology, and a set of policies that go along with it. In the same way that wearing a shirt raising awareness on issues like gender equality, climate change, or systemic racism is a political statement. Not with the same level of impact, but political nonetheless.
So why is one considered acceptable and the other not at all? Well, without wanting to be too blunt about it. It’s more than likely because one was initiated by those who own and govern the sport and teams. While the other one was done by employees.
Private employers - the case of FOM, the FIA, and teams - have the legal leeway to regulate and limit political activities at the workplace. But is sports a normal workplace and are athletes regular employees? Many transcend the teams they play for or the sport they practice, giving them a unique status in society. Status that affords them the opportunity to play a critical role in amplifying issues, shaping public discussions, and driving social change - if they so choose.
Let’s be honest, it’s exactly this distinct position, cultural relevancy, and ability to drive people to action that makes them so valuable to brands and their teams. But heaven forbid they use it for something other than selling tickets, sneakers, or watches!
However, the main issue at play here isn’t whether sports should or shouldn’t be political. But rather, how do we create the framework for the different stakeholders within this ecosystem to engage with one another on key political issues?
Not figuring this out and pretending sport lives in a vacuum, or limiting the voices and conversations that are held within this space is doing us all and F1 a huge disservice.
F1 Academy’s WAG Extravaganza!
The F1 Academy went big for their second Grand Prix weekend this season! We had everything from Susie Wolff doing a pre-event press tour, multiple sponsor activations, several female-centered panel discussions, and the announcement that the championship would be getting its own Netflix series.
One of the most remarkable things we saw that weekend was the participation of several of the girlfriends of Formula One drivers in the series’ extravaganza!
WHY IT MATTERS:
WAG is a term coined by British tabloids in the early 2000s to refer to the wives and girlfriends of high-profile athletes, mainly football players. Far from being a compliment, the label carried a sexist undertone, reducing these women to mere accessories of their partners and often depicting them as “trashy bimbos.” Even global pop star Victoria Beckham couldn’t escape the derogatory narrative of being a WAG.
For years, many women avoided the spotlight associated with this label, but that changed dramatically last year when one of the most famous women in the world began dating an NFL tight end. Suddenly, WAG culture was back in fashion!
Not only did we witness a surge in WAG-centric content, but the women themselves started embracing the title, recognizing and leveraging the cultural influence and subsequently the commercial opportunities it afforded them. A prime example of this is Morgan Riddle, described by the New York Times as the most famous woman in men’s tennis. Both she and Taylor Swift have demonstrated that WAGs can be a powerful force in sports, helping it reach untapped audiences and actually creating value. For instance, Swift reportedly generated $331.5 million in brand value for the Kansas City Chiefs and the NFL, in addition to boosting female viewership for this year’s Super Bowl.
As young women make up a growing percentage of the F1 fanbase - now around 40% - interest in WAG culture within the sport has also seen a revival. Despite this, Formula One has been hesitant to fully embrace this aspect of the sport’s female-driven culture, perhaps understandably, as it can be a messy business!
Sponsors and brands, however, haven’t shied away. Many WAGs have appeared in fashion campaigns, participated in brand activations, and attended high-profile events. Judging by last weekend’s activities, F1 Academy seems to be testing the waters by exploring what Formula One’s WAGs can bring to the table. They were hosted in the F1 Academy paddock, featured in social media content, and invited to various events.
But how effective is this in attracting new audiences? The value a WAG brings to a sport - especially one looking to grow - extends far beyond her romantic connection to a famous athlete. It lies in her ability to offer a unique perspective to audiences, humanize the athlete and be the bridge between different tangential interests and sports - becoming a new entry point to whatever sport she is connected to. To do this though, she needs either an established platform or the desire to build one.
Currently, many of the WAGs seem to prefer to keep a low profile, which is understandable given the inappropriate behavior shown by some fans last year. However, this makes their attendance at F1 Academy events no more impactful than that of any other socialite. While absolutely fine, it doesn’t contribute to building the series’ awareness or drawing existing motorsport fans to F1 Academy.
Nevertheless, it’s intriguing and exciting to see that F1 Academy is willing to experiment with unconventional marketing strategies to put itself on the map. With five more race weekends left this season, we’ll have to wait and see what else they do. Perhaps one of the WAGs actually ends up embracing the spotlight!
This week’s recommended content!!
🗞 READ
3 Days on the Track With the Women of F1 Academy | Motorsport Is For The Girls Now | Miami Grand Prix Trackside Commentators Fail At Treating Women As People | Fast and luxurious: how the fashion industry caught Formula 1 fever | F1’s Miami GP has settled into its identity, finally balancing sport and show | Why is a “Champion-Level” F1 Driver Committing To a Point-Less Team? | What’s Really Going On With F1’s Controversial 2026 Cars
🎧 LISTEN
F1: Beyond the Grid, Martin Brundle’s debut with Senna | F1 Explains, How to make an F1 car as fast as possible | Red Flags Pod, Liam Lawson | The Fast and The Curious, Ruth Buscombe | Fan Behavior, Our Miami Experience | A Formula One Vlog: Miami Grand Prix | Open Doors: Mahomes, Kelce and Zidanne | BBC Radio 1 Unpopular Opinion, Lando Norris
Photo Credit: McLaren Racing, F1 Academy