Mics Out

Another IndyCar season is in the books, and yet anothertitle has been added to Alex Palou’s trophy cabinet.This year’s ascent to championship glory may have seemed like a foregone conclusion for much of the season, but four titles in five years is a phenomenal achievement that underlines the Spaniard as one of motorsport’s preeminent talents.Cian & Tom look back over the season's major talking points, including the controversy surrounding Team Penske and Fox's major investment into the series.Also, the team analyse McLaren's decision to upgrade Mastercard to naming rights partner and what this means for the rest of the team's sponsorship portfolio.

As the summer break continues to drag, the Mics Out team have decided to look back over the F1 season so far and give out some awards.But first, there's discussions around the latest happenings in Nascar, IndyCar, and MotoGP, as well as a look at the off-track talking points from a busy year in Formula One.After that, dig into the Mics Out mid-season awards, with everything from most underrated driver to who needs to be most nervous about 2026. Plus, there's a couple of outrageous predictions to close out this episode...

Fox is not just IndyCar's TV partner anymore: it is now a part-owner of the series.Now that the media company owns a one-third stake in IndyCar, Cian and Tom dissect what this actually means for the motorsport series.Elsewhere, the team take a look at the latest rumours around next season's Nascar schedule, as Mexico City looks set to be dropped for 2026.Also, listen out for the facts around Aston Martin's stake sale and why Audi's partnership with Revolut is so interesting.Key talking points:What Fox's investment in IndyCar really means (14:36)Where the Nascar schedule currently stands ahead of 2026 (33:40)Is Aston Martin leaving Formula 1? (37:31)Why Revolut's title sponsorship of Audi is so exciting (42:38)

Liberty Media's long-awaited acquisition of MotoGP for €4.2 billion (US$4.9 billion) has now been approved, so what's next for the championship?This week, Mics Out host Cian Brittle sit down with Dan Rossomondo, chief commercial officer of MotoGP rights holder Dorna Sports, to find out about how this landmark moment is set to evolve the series moving forward.Listen out for why Marc Marquez's resurgent form is providing a marketing conundrum, why the series' commercial progress has stalled, and why fans should be patient with MotoGP's new era.

It was an eventful weekend at the British Grand Prix and the Mics Out team was there to see it all.First up, Cian, Pete & Tom check in from the BlackBook Motorsport Summer Reception, courtesy of the Pop-Up Hotel.Then it's time for race day. Cian sits down with Jefferson Slack, Jean English, and Sean Harrington to discuss Aston Martin F1 Team's commercial strategy and how the outfit provides the perfect marketing platform for endemic and non-endemic brands like.Talking points:01:09 - Reviewing the BlackBook Summer Reception06:15 - Interview with Jefferson Slack, Aston Martin F123:14 - Interview with Jean English, CoreWeave38:28 - Interview with Sean Harrington, Elemis

The Mics Out team of Cian, Pete & Tom sit down to discuss the recent news of Luca de Meo's departure as CEO of Renault Group.Having had a huge influence over the direction of the Alpine F1 Team, what does this mean for the future at Enstone? The team break down the key decisions from a tumultuous few years.Plus, listen out for analysis of recently announced (and unannounced) circuit contract extensions, the promising steps being made by F1 Academy, and why Williams Racing have secured team principal James Vowles to a long-term contract extension.

This week, the Mics Out team reconvene ahead of this weekend's 24 Hours of Le Mans to preview one of motorsport's most famous races.Off the back of two quiz losses, Tom takes control of the third Mics Out quiz as Cian and Pete compete to see who knows the most about the World Endurance Championship's landmark event.Meanwhile, Nascar makes history with its first points-paying race outside the US so the team looks ahead to a first for the stock car racing series.Plus, Mics Out gives their reaction to the latest calendar announced by Formula 1 as Imola is dropped in favour of Madrid and there's a clash with the Indy 500 for the first time.

Formula 1 and IndyCar both have problems with their marquee events, but for wildly different reasons.Cian and Tom analyse why the huge success of the Indy 500 is a detriment to the wider series, and how the Monaco Grand Prix risks getting left behind if it does not modernise for today's Formula 1.The team also look at the decision to move the MotoGP British Grand Prix back to August after an unsuccessful experiment to hold the event earlier in the season.Meanwhile, Nascar's debut on Prime Video represents a new frontier for the series after a quietly impressive showing during the Fox segment of the new broadcast deal.

The Mics Out team returns with the latest business-related news in the world of motorsport, so listen along for the latest comment, insight, and analysis.This week, Cian and Pete go back through the defining moments from Formula 1's history that transformed it into the multibillion-dollar powerhouse that it is today.

It's the Miami Grand Prix this weekend, a clear signifier of the growth enjoyed by Formula 1 over recent years, especially in the US.At last month's BlackBook Motorsport Forum, we welcomed key executives from the series to discuss the milestones, transformative moments, and strategies that have turned F1 into a cultural phenomenon while setting the stage for its next era of growth in its 75th year.Hear from Jonny Haworth, Louise Young, Ian Holmes, and Donna Birkett Baida - all expertly moderated by Jennie Gow - at last month's Forum.Talking points include:How F1 expanded its reach, built a dedicated fanbase, and evolved its brand to engage new audiences worldwideF1’s approach to media rights, content creation, and digital platforms to enhance fan engagement and commercial growthBehind F1’s business model and the role of new markets, sponsorship strategies, and evolving race promotion tactics

Los Angeles-based investment firm The Forest Road Company acquired ERT last October, ushering in an eventual rebrand to Cupra Kiro and ambitions to make the team a leading force in motorsport.Six months on from that deal, the Formula E outfit’s leadership is intent on thinking differently to achieve its goals.Mics Out sits down with Russell O'Hagan and Jeremy Tarica to find out more.

The Mics Out team returns with the latest business-related news in the world of motorsport, so listen along for the latest comment, insight, and analysis. This week, Cian and Tom discuss the importance of Formula 1's new commercial rights agreement and what this could mean for the teams, especially the incoming Cadillac entry.The team also discuss Stefano Domenicali's contract extension and what his recent visit to Thailand could mean for a race in the near future. Plus, there's just over one week until the BlackBook Motorsport Forum, so listen out for all the important info.

This week, Cian and Tom dig into the recently released financial results from Formula 1 and pick out some interesting facts and figures that indicate the future direction of the series.The team also looks at recent media rights developments in the US for both F1 and MotoGP and delves into an interesting collaboration between Lewis Hamilton and Lululemon.Talking points:Why Lewis Hamilton's brand ambassador role with Lululemon is so important (05:52)Looking at F1's financial results for 2024 (10:18)Why did Q4 2024 underperform for the series? (15:41)What else did we learn from the financial results? (22:43)Breaking down MotoGP's new media rights deal with Fox in the US (27:08)Could F1 leave ESPN? And where would it go next? (31:27)

This week, Cian, Tom and Pete reflect on the history of Formula 1 as the series celebrates its 75th anniversary, picking out some iconic moments over the years.Tom also looks to avenge his quiz defeat earlier in the year, while the team offer some wider predictions for the 2025 season.Talking points: Reflecting on our earliest memories of F1 (05:31) What is the best F1 race of all time? (08:52) Ranking the most iconic circuits in F1 history (13:53) Who is the most underrated F1 driver ever? (17:02) Discussing the lasting legacy of Bernie Ecclestone (21:46) The Mics Out quiz rematch - Tom vs Pete (26:17) Predictions for the 2025 F1 season (33:50)

After Honda revealed a bike without the Repsol badge for the first time in 30 years, the Mics Out team think through the most iconic partnerships in motorsport. Martini? Marlboro? Or what about the infamous half-and-half BAR? Probably not the latter, but Cian, Tom & Pete decide their winner. The team also run through the latest news, with everything from David Beckham's son in a Formula E car and LeBron James owning a powerboat racing team. Talking points: Ford announces return to Le Mans with 2027 WEC entry (5:18) Louis Vuitton and Moet & Chandon officially confirmed as F1 partners in LVMH deal (9:19) Performance gap between male and female drivers in Extreme E drops 70% over four years (12:36) LeBron James named as latest celebrity owner in all-electric E1 powerboat series (16:57) Formula E set to put the likes of Brooklyn Beckham and Sergio Aguero behind the wheel (21:34) Our initial reactions to seeing a Honda bike without a Repsol livery (27:19) The team debate the most iconic motorsport liveries of all time and decide on a winner (28:40)

As South Africa becomes the latest country to throw its hat in the ring for a future Formula 1 race, the Mics Out team evaluates the current schedule and how it looks set to evolve. Cian Brittle and Tom Brown come up with their ideal F1 calendar and, in the process, find out just how hard it is to achieve a schedule that is sufficiently global and sustainable in equal measure. Elsewhere, we compete to build our fantasy driver lineups for the 24 Hours of Daytona, which takes place this weekend. Talking points: Why Lewis Hamilton's first Ferrari picture broke the internet (3:03) Tom and Cian build their fantasy driver lineups for the 24 Hours of Daytona (6:25) The final lineups: which one is better? (16:47) Evaluating the current state of the F1 schedule (17:21) Creating our dream F1 calendar (21:25)

The Mics Out team returns for another year of motorsport with a preseason quiz to test their knowledge of the past 12 months. Cian, Tom & Pete also put their necks on the line to predict the 2025 champions in F1, MotoGP, Nascar, IndyCar, and Formula E: how many will they get right? Talking points: F1 2025 season predictions (01:55) MotoGP 2025 season predictions (09:46) Formula E 2025 season predictions (15:11) Nascar 2025 season predictions (19:03) IndyCar 2025 season predictions (22:16) New Year Quiz - Tom vs Pete (26:05) Q1 - Which race will drop off the F1 schedule after 2026? (26:55) Q2 - What is the average estimated team value on the F1 grid? (28:34) Q3 - Where is the F1 Academy season finale taking place in 2025? (30:52) Q4 - Which two teams are involved in a lawsuit Nascar? (32:46) Q5 - How much did Liberty Media pay to acquire MotoGP? (35:42) Q6 - Which major OEM committed to a future WEC programme last year? (37:15) Q7 - Where will IndyCar's new race take place in 2026? (39:40) Q8 - Which race did BlackBook's Peter Jones say should move to a rotational basis on the calendar? (42:39) The tiebreaker: find out who wins the Mics Out New Year Quiz... (43:51)

Mics Out sits down with Emily Jacobs, vice president of licensing for the Lego Group, to discuss the brand’s new collaboration with F1 and how the company’s toys and other merchandise will build engagement with the sport’s growing audience.

Max Verstappen won a fourth world title, yet 2024 was anything but processionary as it delivered a much-needed injection of excitement to F1.  The Mics Out team of Cian Brittle, Tom Brown, and Peter Jones unpack the big off-track talking points and evaluate how the series is set up for the future. Talking points: How F1 has revolutionised its commercial approach (07:23) The exponential growth in value of F1 teams (15:04) What effect will General Motors have once it joins the grid in 2026? (21:16) FIA chaos risks overshadowing positive F1 progress (27:16) What do F1's calendar announcements indicate about the series' future direction? (36:32) Strong 2024 attendances, but are we nearing capacity? (40:57)

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Unless, of course, it’s the global travelling circus that is F1. Cian Brittle and Tom Brown review the series' most unique race weekend and weigh up the pros and cons of hosting a Grand Prix on the Strip. Plus, the team discuss the potential impact of General Motors joining the F1 grid as the 11th team from 2026 and how the series' footprint in the US will develop. Elsewhere, we round-up the latest news from the wider world of motorsport, including some major manufacturer news in WEC, MotoGP's big rebrand ahead of the Liberty acquisition, and the 2025 F1 Academy schedule announcement. Talking points: Mercedes to join WEC from 2025 as Lamborghini confirm exit (02:34) MotoGP confirms rebrand ahead of Liberty acquisition (04:34) F1 announce diversity and inclusion charter (07:46) 2025 F1 Academy schedule confirms visit to Las Vegas (09:37) Reviewing the Las Vegas Grand Prix (17:04) Why General Motors provided the strongest case for an 11th F1 team (33:23) How will F1's footprint in the US develop? (41:05)