Link to the original article on the Vaucher Analytics website.

In this episode we unpack one of Formula 1’s most overlooked dynamics: the hidden cost of delivering sponsorship. 

Everyone sees the headline figures, but few understand the operational, logistical, and even performance-related strain that comes with fulfilling those commercial promises.

From hospitality to digital activations to driver appearances, each sponsor introduces complexity; if that complexity isn’t tightly managed, it quietly erodes profit, tires out personnel, and chips away at on-track competitiveness.

We break down:

• Why F1 sponsorship margins don’t scale linearly with revenue
• How delivery costs, from logistics to human capital, can spiral out of control
• What top teams do to build high-margin, low-strain sponsorship portfolios
• A framework for evaluating true sponsorship profitability using real-world benchmarks

If you’re in F1 team management, motorsports marketing, or sponsorship strategy, this episode will shift how you think about commercial success. 

Contact the show: [email protected]

Brought to you by the Motorsports Sponsorship Accelerator, the most cutting-edge resource to help you learn how to develop meaningful sponsorship relationships.

To contact Return On Racing, please send an email to [email protected]