Good morning! We may be called Money Lap, but we promise we didn't pick all of these stories just because they're based on money. This week, it seems the motorsport world is particularly focused on the financial side of things, and who can blame them?

With rumors that the F1 commercial rights are now worth a whopping $20 billion, it's no surprise that people are paying attention. In fact, that kind of value would put the F1 in the top 1000 most valuable companies in the world. Not bad when you’re in the business of burning money. How do you make a small fortune in racing?

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As always, at the bottom, we'd appreciate your feedback in our poll.

Formula 1

Sulayem Pumps the Brakes on $20B Valuation

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has warned of potential risks for Formula 1 amid "exaggerated" talk of a $20 billion valuation for the sport. Ben Sulayem believes that it was essential that ownership of F1 was only passed to organizations that had a concrete proposal on how to improve the sport, rather than it simply being sold off to the highest bidder. He also added that he believes FIA should be a part of talks or offer advice on any potential buyouts of F1 because the FIA owns the championship and any sale of the sport at such a high level could trigger some unintended consequences such as race promoters facing a grave hike in hosting fees.

Maybe this valuation is just rumors

F1 Gatekeeps Super License Points, Denies Herta for not Having Enough Points 

Former IndyCar driver and the current Race Director for the US Formula 4 and Formula 3 Championships, Scott Goodyear, revealed that Colton Herta was denied the chance to race in these categories to earn the Super License points to enter F1.

Alpine had identified Herta as a potential candidate for the AlphaTauri seat, but Herta lacked the Super License points to compete in F1, and the FIA did not award him an exemption to facilitate his entry into Formula 1 for the 2023 season.

Alsonso, AMR23 Headline Major Changes for Aston Martin

Aston Martin's deputy technical chief Eric Blandin has said that the new AMR23 car will be "95% different" from last year's model and will include "clever innovations." He added that Fernando Alonso, the team's new driver, has already had a significant impact on the development of the car, with his feedback being "extremely precise" and able to identify areas to improve upon. The team will unveil the new car on February 13 at their Silverstone headquarters.

You get a helmet cam, you get a helmet cam, everybody gets a helmet cam! 

More F1

🤝 Mick Schumacher's replacement as Ferrari reserve driver... duties split between these two drivers

NASCAR

NASCAR and Team Owners Play Let's Make a Deal

NASCAR Cup Series teams are optimistic that a new revenue-sharing plan can be secured to improve teams’ long-term fiscal sustainability. Last October, a group representing a negotiating team for Cup owners outlined its efforts to present NASCAR with changes to its business model, which were ultimately rejected by the sanctioning body. The team said NASCAR offered a counter-proposal which included a “minimal increase in revenue and the emphasis was on cutting costs dramatically.”

RFK Racing president Steve Newmark, a member of the negotiating team, said, “The dialogue continues between NASCAR and (the negotiating committee). A lot of the same issues are still the same issues we’re working through.”

Johnson and Gordon - A Dynamic Duo (just not the one you're used to)

Championship-winning crew chief Todd Gordon has joined Legacy Motor Club to oversee co-owner Jimmie Johnson's No. 84 Cup Series entry. Gordon, who won the 2018 Cup Series championship as a crew chief for Penske driver Joey Logano, will serve as crew chief for Johnson's part-time schedule this season. Gordon and Johnson will both participate in this week's test at Phoenix Raceway. Legacy MC also announced a contract extension with Dave Elenz, who currently serves as crew chief for driver Erik Jones and the No. 43 Chevrolet.

NASCAR Inducts 13th Class into the Hall of Fame

Matt Kenseth, Hershel McGriff, and Kirk Shelmerdine were inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Friday night, becoming the Hall’s 13th class. Kenseth, 50, won 39 Cup races including two Daytona 500s, and the 2003 series title. McGriff, 95, ran his first Cup race in 1950 and won four series races in 1954. Shelmerdine, 64, was a crew chief from 1977-92, won four Cup titles and 44 races as the crew chief for Dale Earnhardt.

More NASCAR

 🎰 NASCAR Championship Odds and Favorites Announced... Four drivers with better odds than the reigning Champ

📺 Frankie Muniz to debut new docuseries following his NASCAR adventures... 'Frankie in the Fastlane' 

INDYCAR

Ricky Taylor, an IMSA GTP driver for Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport, will get another chance to test an IndyCar. Taylor, who has two IMSA DPi championship titles and impressed Penske's IndyCar operation at an early 2017 run on the Miami-Homestead roval, may be placed in an extra Andretti Autosport Indy car at a few rounds if all goes well in testing. His younger brother Jordan, a three-time IMSA champion, is also on Andretti's shortlist of talent to acquire as Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport looks to expand its GTP effort to two cars in 2024.

IMSA

Acura Draws First Blood at Rolex 24

In a last minute attempt, Tom Blomqvist stormed to the overall poll for the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the first in the new GTP era! For full qualifying results

Ford V Ferrari Act II

Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley made his professional racing debut on Saturday in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge at Daytona. He drove a Ford Mustang GT4 in the GSX class of the support race during the Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona test session. Farley made 12th place in his debut, and said that motorsports is a vital part of Ford Motor Co, particularly in employee morale. Ford won the Daytona 500 last year with Austin Cindric and the NASCAR Cup championship with Joey Logano.

GLOBAL MOTORSPORT

Take a trip to far away motorsport lands

🏆 World Rally Championship Kicks off 2023 Season... Ogier wins record 9th Monte Carlo Victory

1️⃣ Francesco Bagnaia hopes to end #1 plate curse... No rider has carried the #1 plate since 2012

Memes

ONBOARD OF THE DAY

Tommy Milner Corvette C7.R Daytona 24 Hour Onboard

Join Tommy Milner in the new Corvette C7.R as he takes you through night practice at the 24 Hours of Daytona.

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