Lali Michelsen

In this episode of Business of Speed, we sit down with IndyCar veteran and fan favorite Conor Daly to deconstruct the reality behind the visor. This isn't just about lap times; it's about the hustle required to raise $10 million just to reach the starting grid.From cold-calling sponsors for $500 checks to navigating the ruthless politics of the European open-wheel ladder, Conor reveals what it actually takes to build a career when the economics of the sport are stacked against you. We dive deep into the marketing disparity between F1 and IndyCar, the toxicity of social media algorithms, and why "perseverance" is more than just a tattoo—it's a business strategy.In This Episode: 00:00 - The "Psychotic" Obsession: What it takes to compete 04:50 - The ROI of Junior Formulas: Winning vs. Funding 11:59 - The $10 Million Question: Talent vs. "Pay Drivers" 15:00 - The F1 Heartbreak: Losing the Force India deal 26:00 - The Modern Sponsorship Landscape: Why money sits on the sidelines 34:30 - Ovals vs. Road Courses: The technical reality check 41:00 - The Algorithm: Battling F1 Twitter & toxic fandom 47:40 - Marketing 101: What IndyCar must learn from Formula 1 54:00 - The Dream Team: Daly, Marks, and the future of Le Mans

Mark Blundell has done it all: Formula One, IndyCar, Le Mans, and TV commentary. But the most interesting chapter of his career might be the one he's writing right now.We take a trip through Mark's incredible timeline, from his humble beginnings sleeping on a chest of drawers to testing for Williams and racing alongside legends like Ayrton Senna. Mark opens up about the financial instability of 90s F1, the adrenaline of his razor-thin victory at Portland, and the "sensory" mechanical intuition that helped him succeed despite academic struggles.Today, Mark applies that same tenacity to MB Partners. He breaks down how the landscape of motorsport marketing is shifting towards digital engagement and complex B2B networks. Whether you're a racing fan or a business leader, Mark’s journey from the grid to the boardroom offers a masterclass in reinvention.

In this episode of the Business of Speed, Lali and Vincenzo sit down with Jeff Dodds, the CEO of Formula E, as he approaches his third year leading the electric racing series. Transitioning from a massive career in telecom and media (Virgin Media O2) and automotive (Honda, Volvo), Jeff discusses how Formula E is positioning itself not just as a sport, but as a disruptive entertainment property focused on sustainability and digital growth.From the controversial "noise" of electric cars to the groundbreaking performance of the upcoming Gen 4 vehicle, Jeff offers a candid look at how Formula E plans to become the fastest motorsport in the world and overtake MotoGP in popularity by 2030.Key Topics Discussed:The "Sound of Inefficiency": Jeff debates the lack of noise in EV racing, arguing that the "growl" of a combustion engine is simply 50% energy loss, whereas Formula E cars operate at 95% efficiency.Gen 4 Revolution: A look at the future car which boasts permanent all-wheel drive and is 71% more powerful than the current generation, capable of accelerating 30% faster than a Formula 1 carWomen in the Driver’s Seat: Jeff discusses the systemic financial barriers keeping women out of elite motorsport and predicts that women will be racing alongside men in the Formula E championship within the next two to three years.Gamification & Fanbase: How Formula E uses features like "Attack Mode" and partnerships with content creators to engage a younger, gender-balanced audience (50/50 male-female) differently than legacy sports.Business Strategy: Why Formula E prioritizes broad media reach over exclusive, high-cost rights deals to grow its global audience.Hospitality & Networking: How the "open" paddock culture of Formula E fosters C-Suite networking in a way that differs from the exclusive nature of Formula 1.

In this episode of the Business of Speed podcast, we sit down with IndyCar legend, Indy 500 winner, and current Arrow McLaren Sporting Director,  ⁨@TonyKanaan⁩ .From his early days growing up in Brazil to his legendary rivalry and friendship with  ⁨@H3lioOfficial⁩ , TK opens up about the defining moments of his life. He shares the incredible story of turning down a guaranteed million-dollar contract with Audi to chase the American dream, the emotional promise he made to his father, and the grit it took to finally win the Indy 500 in 2013.Tony also discusses his transition from the cockpit to the pit wall, giving us an insider look at his role running  ⁨@ArrowMcLaren⁩ , the challenges of building a winning culture, and why he believes the future of  ⁨@indycar⁩ is brighter than ever with the new Fox Sports partnership.  ⁨@INDYCARonFOX⁩  Whether you're a die-hard racing fan or interested in the business of sports leadership, this conversation is packed with insights.Key Topics Discussed:The Million-Dollar Gamble: Why Tony turned down a house, a car, and a salary to race for free in the US.Rivalry & Brotherhood: The origin story of his friendship with Helio Castroneves.The 2013 Indy 500: Breaking the "bad luck" curse with KV Racing.Leadership: How Tony is transforming the culture at Arrow McLaren.The Greatest: Who Tony thinks is the most naturally gifted driver he ever raced against.

Vincenzo and Lali sit down for a casual, honest warm-up chat before F1 takes over Las Vegas. They also run through the fan experience around the Strip: free events, activations, watch parties, and Lali’s upcoming interview with Romain Grosjean. It’s not a complete guide to Vegas, just an honest conversation about what they’re looking forward to, what first-timers should keep in mind, and why Vegas week hits differently.

Jarno Zaffelli sculpts racetracks.The founder of Dromo Circuit Design, the man behind Zandvoort’s revival and Silverstone’s refinements, now turns his eye to Madrid.In this episode of Business of Speed, Vincenzo Landino and co-host Lali Michelsen sit down with the Italian designer redefining what “track design” means in Formula 1. Zaffelli explains why Madring, the new F1 circuit in Madrid is a living organism: flowing, breathing, and built with emotion as much as engineering.They explore:The passion and philosophy behind Madring.How Italian artistry shapes modern circuit design, from Michelangelo to motorsport.Lessons from Zandvoort, Silverstone, and Suzuka.The balance of science, art, and obsession that drives Zaffelli’s process.Why imperfection creates beauty in life, love, and lap times.

James Hinchcliffe gets brutally honest about the psychology that separates race car drivers from normal humans—and why they lack the self-preservation gene most people are born with.In this episode, Hinch reveals:Why drivers return to racing after near-death experiences (his own horrific accident included)The real reason racing legends like Zanardi and Wickens fought back into the cockpit after catastrophic injuriesWhat it's like driving a modern Formula 1 Haas car at MugelloThe one F1 rule he'd abolish immediately (and why the red flag tire change makes no sense)Why refueling needs to come back to F1 to fix boring one-stop strategiesHis journey from a 9-year-old karting in Canada to competing at the highest levelWhether blue flags belong in IndyCar racingPlus: Hinch weighs in on the tightest F1 championship battle in years and shares his broadcasting secrets for managing the insane IndyCar/F1 travel schedule.

He built endurance athletes, powered triathlon empires, and helped brands like Pepsi and Samsung enter the world of speed. Now Lee Zohlman—the man behind Formula E’s Americas partnerships—joins Vincenzo Landino and Lali Michelsen to talk about:How saying no to the wrong deal doubled his career trajectoryWhy partnerships, not sponsorships, define the next era of motorsport businessFormula E’s billion-impression growth story (and what it teaches every brand)How the electric series plans to conquer the Americas—Miami, Mexico City, São Paulo and beyond

What happens when someone decides to take on a system they know is rigged?In this episode of The Business of Speed, we sit down with Laura Villars — a professional driver who made headlines for trying to run for FIA President... even though she knew her name could never appear on the ballot.Laura opens up about what she discovered behind the scenes of motorsport’s most powerful organization, how the rules are designed to keep outsiders out, and why she still believes change has to start from within.This conversation dives into:Why the FIA election process isn’t as democratic as it seemsHow Laura’s candidacy exposed a hidden flaw in motorsport governanceThe future of women and young people in racing leadershipWhat it means to fight for change when you know you might loseIf you’ve ever felt like the system was stacked against you — this story will resonate deeply.🎧 Listen to more episodes of The Business of Speed

A single race hosting fee can hit $70 MILLION—and that's before they even sell a single ticket. The real challenge for any track promoter? It’s absorbing the massive fixed liability and turning a one-time race into a year-round, profitable business.The truth is, the profit isn't in the Grandstands, it's with the executives in the Suites. Premium hospitality is the only sustainable margin driver.We're putting the circuit business on the lift and exposing the financial engine behind every major racing series, from F1 to IndyCar, using leverage, real estate, and B2B cash flow to survive.🏁 On This Episode of Business of Speed:00:00 The $70M Fixed Cost: Your Entry Ticket to Global Racing04:44 The Ultimate Leverage: Why a Racetrack is an Infrastructure Asset10:40 The Profit Driver: Why Luxury Suites Fund Your Favorite Race18:13 Ghost Tracks of Europe: The Need for Year-Round B2B Income21:30 The Subsidy Factor: How Cities Use Tax Dollars for PR (Vegas vs. Monaco)27:39 The 3 Non-Negotiables for Track Sustainability Checklist29:00 Real Estate Leverage: Inside the T11 "Car Condos" at COTA

This episode is where Lali and Vincenzo lay out their manifesto, explaining what they believe is changing and what is happening in the world of racing. They discuss what their new venture, Business of Speed, is offering to inquiring minds.A key part of their manifesto is making B2B cool, which they argue is a large part of motorsport sponsorship (such as with Oracle, AWS, and Arrow Electronics). They reject the "old model" of sponsorship as just signage or a "logo slap," calling it expensive and often an "ego play". They argue that today's advantage is "velocity," requiring brands, rights holders, and the C-suite to move faster and connect deeper with the fans.They reject "passive deals" tied to vanity metrics, which they believe lack real-world operational impact, fan engagement, or cultural leverage. Furthermore, they reject the "black box" idea that motorsports partnerships are so complex that the C-suite cannot grasp them, which leads to underinvestment and missed opportunities. They emphasize that sponsorship is now a partnership, requiring integration into the culture of speed and "getting your hands dirty".The episode details their six core mechanisms of velocity, which are how they execute their model to create a competitive advantage:C-Suite Education: Providing insider briefings and custom intelligence reports to ensure leadership understands and can drive the strategy of the partnership.Partnership Messaging (Narrative Engine): Crafting a humanizing story or "narrative" behind the partnership to create clarity and engage an audience that may not know who the sponsor is or why they are involved.Content Creation (Content Flywheel): Finding where audiences live and creating authentic content (not just high production value) to build brand equity and drive measurable actions, especially in the B2B world.Activations: Executing well-done, "laser-focused activations" that work and are not always on the circuit.Event Hosting: Leveraging their personalities and knowledge as hosts to facilitate insider-led events and deepen key client and partner relationships.Employee Engagement: Demystifying motorsports (through things like "lunch and learns") to get employees on board, enabling them to take pride and excitement in the partnership for a full activation.

Vincenzo Landino, founder of the six-year-old Business of Speed newsletter, and legendary Creative Director Lali Michelsen, define the DNA of your new essential motorsport briefing.Discover how a LinkedIn video of a champagne saber led to the formation of a strategic content consultancy and media empire built on one core premise: Speed is the only sustainable competitive advantage.We unpack:The Unlikely Kinship: Waking up at 5 AM for F1 in different countries and the shared "fringe of the fringe" obsession with speed. The Blueprint of Money & Tech: How the newsletter was engineered in 2019 to go beyond the track and investigate the power players, politics, and technology that fuel racing. The Consulting Pivot: Defining our mission to evolve beyond the "logo slap" and drive real-world operational and cultural leverage for sponsors. The Speed Lesson: Passion Meets Strategy. If you want to think and move at race pace, you need the right co-driver.