Are F1 Teams Still Undervalued Versus Major US Sports Franchises?

At Monaco 2026, Aston Martin managing director Jefferson Slack said Formula 1 teams remain undervalued versus US franchises, despite stronger fundamentals.

Seventy-six days later, Aston Martin confirmed New York Jets owner Robert ‘Woody’ Johnson had bought a minority stake, deepening ties between American franchises and F1.

The move reinforced paddock sentiment that valuation gaps to major US leagues should narrow, given F1’s stability and global reach.

Slack argues teams deserve higher revenue multiples because F1 has no promotion or relegation, offering continuity and predictable participation.

Yet current transactions sit around six to seven times revenue, far short of mature US benchmarks.

For context, NBA franchises often transact around 12 times revenue, underscoring the gap.

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown echoes the view, noting sports franchise values rise steadily as record deals reset expectations.

That perspective withstands headwinds, including recent challenges for McLaren and Oscar Piastri, on and off track.

Former Benetton boss Flavio Briatore highlights the shift, recalling a sale near $80 million versus today’s multi-billion valuations.

He even projects select teams could reach $10 billion within a few years, given momentum.

Private equity investment underpins this acceleration. Dorilton Capital’s Williams ownership exemplifies the model.

Dorilton’s Matthew Savage notes F1 teams traded near one times revenue in 2020, versus seven to ten in the NFL and NBA.

Scarcity amplifies the re-rating. There are only 11 entrants, with few willing sellers.

Comparable deals in other leagues reinforce the pattern. The LA Lakers’ valuation reportedly climbed from $10 billion to $12.5 billion in little over a year.

Capital is also broadening across sport, with investors like Apollo involved in clubs such as Wrexham, Atlético Madrid, and the Yankees.

Ownership structures complicate F1 valuation reads. Integrated manufacturers like Ferrari and energy-drink-backed Red Bull blur standalone enterprise values.

Recent trades offer markers. Toto Wolff’s stake sale implied roughly $6 billion for Mercedes. McLaren has been guided near $4.1 billion.

Alpine’s forthcoming process could prove pivotal. A 24% stake near a $3.2 billion valuation would sharpen price discovery.

In some cases, an F1 operation may approach half of a parent group’s value, surprising even seasoned analysts.

Strategically, live sport resists AI disruption. IMG’s Adam Kelly calls it appointment viewing, supporting premium rights and stable returns.

Institutional outreach to teams remains heavy, yet sellers are scarce. That imbalance continues to elevate values.

Voices spanning Slack, Brown, and Savage keep underlining undervaluation as ownership globalises across sport.

Expect further markers in coming months. For American motorsport context, see Andretti Global’s momentum and Andretti’s Palou pursuit for additional perspective.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.