Last week, Nav sparked a question during our Canadian GP recording: why does McLaren, a family-friendly brand, carry a Velo sponsorship when tobacco advertising is banned in F1? That question kicked off this episode of Grand Pricks.

We dive into Formula 1’s commercial evolution, from its roots as a nationalistic sport fuelled by engineering pride, through the tobacco-fuelled sponsorship boom of the late 60s, to Bernie Ecclestone’s reign turning F1 into a global entertainment powerhouse. Was Ecclestone a visionary or just a power-hungry dictator?

We unpack the sport’s corporate growth in the 80s and 90s, the decline of tobacco sponsorships, and the rise of digital media, spotlighting Lewis Hamilton’s social influence challenging the old guard. We also look at how F1 is growing worldwide, dealing with environmental and money challenges, and how Liberty Media is trying to update the sport with streaming, social media, and big events, while trying to keep the spirit of racing alive.

We’ll be back next week with a new episode covering the Austrian Grand Prix so make sure to stay tuned!

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