Business of Speed Podcast
Business of Speed is the definitive, deep-dive into the money, power, and technology driving modern racing. We don't report the race, we pull back the curtain on the strategy behind it. This show treats global racing as the ultimate laboratory for competitive advantage, focusing on the high-level business decisions that shape the sports. We move past passive sponsorships to explore how teams, brands, and executives leverage racing for technology transfer, cultural relevance, and operational impact. This is where the C-suite goes to learn how to harness velocity into a sustainable business advantage.
Episodes
ESPN senior F1 writer Nate Saunders joins Vincenzo and Lali for a candid look at the sport from inside the paddock. They dig into the 2026 regulation backlash, Stefano Domenicali's denial in recent interviews, and why the drivers' reaction worries Nate more than the cars. He explains the Verstappen press conference ejection, what really happens at a race weekend, and the NASCAR parallel that should scare Liberty Media. Plu...
Alpine just sold its F1 title sponsorship to Gucci for a reported $150 million across three seasons. From 2027, the team will race as the Gucci Racing Alpine Formula One Team in Gucci's colors, ending BWT's five-year pink era.
Vincenzo and Lali break down what the deal actually buys: the Briatore and de Meo reunion that made it happen, why Kering's first F1 title partnership lands now with Alpine sitting fifth in the constr...
Robert Jakobi grew up with Ayrton Senna at the dinner table. His father ran IMG Europe and later left to manage Senna directly, so before Robert was ten, he'd met Senna, Alain Prost, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, and Björn Borg. Senna also saw the Michael Schumacher poster on his wall and got annoyed about it.
Robert went on to build a career in consumer brands across the UK, scaling Itsu Grocery and selling Metcalfe's Skinn...
Magnus Walker — the Urban Outlaw — just auctioned off 18 of his most iconic Porsches through RM Sotheby's. No reserve. No hesitation. And within days of the cars leaving his warehouse, he felt something he hadn't felt in years.
This conversation is about what led to that moment. The years of accumulating, the slow recognition that he'd stopped driving most of them, and the quiet watch experiment he ran before committing to ...
Jamey is one of the most recognized photographers in global motorsport, 68 tracks deep, with clients across F1, IMSA, WEC, and IndyCar. What most fans don't know is that a significant part of his work has nothing to do with the shots that end up on your phone wallpaper. Tire photography. Technical documentation. Competitive intelligence. Teams spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on it, it lives inside the budget cap, an...
Justin Bell is a world championship-winning driver, the son of five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell, a motorsport broadcaster, and someone who will tell you exactly what he thinks whether you ask or not. That combination made this one of the most honest conversations we've had on Business of Speed.
We go deep on what it's really like to be a second-generation driver — not the PR version, the actual version. Justin talks abou...
Tom Blomqvist has won the Rolex 24 at Daytona twice, claimed the IMSA DPI championship, and raced in DTM, Formula E, and IndyCar. He also broke Lewis Hamilton's record as the youngest Formula Renault UK champion. In this conversation with Lali Michelsen, he tells the full story for the first time in one sitting.
Tom grew up between England, Sweden, and New Zealand as the son of World Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist. He talks ...
In this episode, Vincenzo and Lali sit down with the founder of The Paddock Journal, the Substack-turned-physical-magazine bringing fashion, culture, and editorial storytelling to the world of F1. Esmé breaks down how she went from pitching a Laura Winter feature to major publications (and getting rejected) to launching her own brand that had Alpine Stars knocking on her door within months.
We get into all of it: why physic...
Shami Kalra had $10 left in his bank account, no food in the house, and a wife who told him she'd had enough. That Friday night, he designed two watches in Photoshop. By Thursday, he'd taken his first $1,000. Within 30 days, $50,000. He didn't even have a product yet.
That was the birth of Omologato — the motorsport watch brand built by a fan who couldn't afford a hamburger at Silverstone, let alone the $7,000 watches r...
Marshall Pruett spent nearly two decades as a crew member and race engineer before walking into a media center in 2005 with no credentials and total imposter syndrome. Twenty years later, he's the most trusted voice in IndyCar and IMSA journalism, and in this episode he explains exactly how that happens and why most people in this space never figure it out.
Mike Buckley is the newly appointed Team Principal of the US SailGP team—and a former world champion sailor. In this episode, he breaks down what separates winners from everyone else, why preparation beats talent, and how he's building the US SailGP team into the world's next iconic sports brand.
We dig into:
- Growing up with a single mom on Cape Cod and finding salvation in sailing at Tabor Academy
- The anatomy of a winnin...
Will Buxton spent 25 years in the Formula One paddock. Now he's at Fox Sports calling IndyCar — and he's here to tell you why.
In this episode, Will explains the business logic behind his move, why Fox's boss personally pushed for IndyCar coverage, and how the series averaged the same US viewership as F1 last season.
He breaks down why IndyCar is the purest form of racing, what Bernie Ecclestone got wrong about young fans, ...
Mario Andretti shares his remarkable journey from an immigrant to one of the greatest race car drivers of all time. He reflects on his early days in racing, the challenges he faced, and the importance of family and teamwork in achieving success. The discussion also delves into the evolution of racing technology, the significance of sound in motorsports, and Andretti's thoughts on the future of racing, particularly with the...
In this episode of the Business of Speed podcast, John Doonan discusses the excitement surrounding the Rolex 24, his leadership style, the importance of youth engagement in motorsports, and the growth strategies of IMSA. He reflects on the passion for racing and the community it fosters, emphasizing the need for innovation and stability in the sport.
Takeaways
- John Doonan emphasizes the importance of being present an...
Welcome to a special episode of Business of Speed where Vincenzo and Lali dive deep into Formula 1's most consequential contract year in recent memory. With new regulations, new cars, and new power units hitting the grid in 2026, an unprecedented 60% of drivers face expiring contracts - turning this season into what we're calling "The Referendum Year."
In this episode of Business of Speed, we sit down with IndyCar veteran and fan favorite Conor Daly to deconstruct the reality behind the visor. This isn't just about lap times; it's about the hustle required to raise $10 million just to reach the starting grid.
From cold-calling sponsors for $500 checks to navigating the ruthless politics of the European open-wheel ladder, Conor reveals what it actually takes to build a car...
Mark Blundell has done it all: Formula One, IndyCar, Le Mans, and TV commentary. But the most interesting chapter of his career might be the one he's writing right now.
We take a trip through Mark's incredible timeline, from his humble beginnings sleeping on a chest of drawers to testing for Williams and racing alongside legends like Ayrton Senna. Mark opens up about the financial instability of 90s F1, the adrenaline of hi...
In this episode of the Business of Speed, Lali and Vincenzo sit down with Jeff Dodds, the CEO of Formula E, as he approaches his third year leading the electric racing series. Transitioning from a massive career in telecom and media (Virgin Media O2) and automotive (Honda, Volvo), Jeff discusses how Formula E is positioning itself not just as a sport, but as a disruptive entertainment property focused on sustainability and...
In this episode of the Business of Speed podcast, we sit down with IndyCar legend, Indy 500 winner, and current Arrow McLaren Sporting Director, @TonyKanaan .
From his early days growing up in Brazil to his legendary rivalry and friendship with @H3lioOfficial , TK opens up about the defining moments of his life. He shares the incredible story of turning down a guaranteed million-dollar contract with Audi to chase the ...
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