Fast Five: Bahrain's Mumtalakat secures full ownership of McLaren F1, Haaland upsets Verstappen in BBC World Sports Star award, and other big updates

Bahrain's Mumtalakat secures full ownership of McLaren F1 

Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat is set to acquire full ownership of the McLaren Group, including the F1 team, with a reported deal expected to be announced this week. Approximately 20% of McLaren's equity will be converted into new contracts, providing economic rights for potential future events like an IPO. Mumtalakat, already holding a 60% stake, gained approval for a full recapitalization, introducing a simplified share structure and streamlined governance for McLaren's growth and brand expansion.

Click here to read the full article by Lewis Larkam (crash.net)

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Haaland upsets Verstappen in BBC World Sports Star award

Max Verstappen, reigning F1 world champion, was defeated by footballer Erling Haaland in the BBC World Sports Star of the Year award. Despite Verstappen's outstanding performance in winning 19 of 22 races and securing his third successive world championship, Haaland's remarkable goal-scoring achievements, including breaking the Premier League record with 36 goals in 35 games, led to his victory. This marks the second consecutive year that Verstappen has been surpassed by a footballer for the award, with Lionel Messi winning in 2022. F1 drivers have historically won the overseas award only twice, with Niki Lauda in 1977 and Sebastian Vettel in 2013.

Click here to read the full article by Lewis Larkam (crash.net)

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Ticket prices surge 8-10%, with Hungary staying the cheapest

Formula 1 ticket prices are set to increase by 8-10% on average in 2024, with Hungary offering the cheapest tickets. Tickets for the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix are not yet on sale, but in 2019, Shanghai had some of the season's cheapest tickets. Analysis based on 17 out of 24 races indicates that Hungary remains the cheapest, with an average ticket price of $207. The Chinese Grand Prix's prices are not yet available, but when it was last on the calendar in 2019, it offered some of the season's cheapest tickets. Notably, the Mexico City Grand Prix is the most expensive, mainly due to high Main Grandstand seat costs. Prices in the USA have seen a slight decline, with Miami Grand Prix tickets being 15-30% cheaper on average for 2024. General Admission tickets in Japan are the cheapest at $81, while Hungary's Bronze 1/2 grandstands offer the most affordable seated tickets at $153. The analysis includes 18 races, and prices for the 2024 Chinese, Azerbaijan, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix are not yet available.

Click here to read the full article by Andrew Balfour (f1destinations.com)

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Honda USA to contribute to Aston Martin's 2026 power unit development

Honda's rebranded US motorsport division, now named Honda Racing Corporation USA, will play a significant role in developing the new Formula 1 power unit for Aston Martin starting in 2026. The organization, formerly known as Honda Performance Development, will also provide race support with the Aston Martin team. The move signifies closer collaboration with HRC Japan, and any contributions from the US side will adhere to FIA's power unit financial regulations. HRC USA has a rich history in motorsports, including Indy car, IMSA, and Formula Regional America, and aims to strengthen Honda's global racing organization.

Click here to read the full article by Adam Cooper (motorsport.com)

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Mercedes superfan grills Wolff with fan questions

Tom, a big Mercedes fan, was invited to the team's headquarters to chat with Toto Wolff. Mercedes had called on fans everywhere to send in questions, and Tom did the honors reading them out. The questions revolved around Mercedes' proudest moments, lessons learned from the season, their best race, and more.