F1 Imola GP Canceled & Makeup Sponsorships in Formula 1

This week’s Grid Walk is a bit unique! After the devastating flooding that is currently happening in Imola, F1 announced the cancellation of the 2023 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Major props to F1 for making the right decision in a timely fashion. As much as we’d love to have a race weekend we’d prefer to prioritize safety.

The cancellation did cause Briana and Nicole to have to scrap a bunch of Imola content and lock it away in the Grid Walk vault! But after the announcement, Briana and Nicole come together to discuss F1’s decision-making regarding the 2023 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Nicole goes on a trip through Formula 1 history of past cancellations of grand prix. What events took place that stopped F1 races from occurring in Belgium, Bahrain, and the Netherlands?

An exciting development in the world of sponsorships in motorsports! How is elf cosmetics getting involved with Indy 500? What does it mean that Tarte sent representatives to the F1 Miami Grand Prix? What other beauty brands should try to break into the F1 space?

F1 Academy races in Barcelona this weekend! Briana and Nicole do their first ever picks for F1 Academy. Briana and Nicole each draft 2 drivers from the 1-7 standings and 1 driver from the rest of the grid. Will Marta García continue her impressive performance? Does Briana or Nicole select Alpine Academy driver Abbi Pulling?

Gossip Grid is back again this week! What is this F1 Royal Wedding that everyone is talking about and what do Lance Stroll and Daniel Ricciardo have to do with it? Brad Pitt is joining the grid in Silverstone at the British Grand Prix? Where is the first F1 Arcade opening in the US? How did Mercedes F1 driver Lewis Hamilton spend his Friday evening in Los Angeles?

Grid Walk is a weekly Formula 1 show that releases every Thursday. For daily F1 content follow @gridwalkshow on all social media platforms.

* The episode begins with hosts Briana L. Klein and Nicole Katz discussing the cancellation of the Miami Grand Prix due to severe weather conditions. They commend Formula One (F1) for making a timely decision to prioritize safety over the race.


* Nicole provides historical context for F1 race cancellations, noting that this is the first time a race has been canceled due to weather before the race weekend. She highlights the 1955 Le Mans disaster as a significant event that led to the cancellation of multiple races and caused Mercedes to withdraw from motor racing.


* Other notable cancellations mentioned include the 1957 Belgian and Dutch Grand Prix due to the Suez crisis, the 1969 Belgian Grand Prix due to a driver boycott over safety concerns, and the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix due to political unrest.


* The hosts then shift their focus to the recent trend of makeup sponsorships in motorsports, particularly in Formula One. They discuss the growing awareness among brands that a significant portion of F1's audience is female and that this demographic represents a valuable target market.


* Briana and Nicole highlight the recent decision by Tart, a makeup company, to send influencers to the Miami Grand Prix as a significant moment in this trend. They acknowledge the controversy surrounding Tart's treatment of Black content creators but emphasize the importance of the company's decision to target the female audience at a Formula One event.


* They also discuss the news that Elf Cosmetics will be sponsoring Katherine Legge in the Indy 500, marking a major sponsorship deal between a female-oriented brand and a female driver in a prominent motorsports event.


* Both hosts express excitement about these developments and see them as a positive sign of recognition and validation for female fans of motorsports. They emphasize that these sponsorships are not acts of charity but rather strategic business decisions based on the growing female audience in the sport.


1. **Brand Partnerships:**
- The podcast explores potential brands that could sponsor Formula One (F1), given the recent partnership with Crypto.com.
- Dyson is considered a suitable sponsor due to its appeal to a wide range of customers, including F1 fans.
- Creme Shop, a skincare brand, is suggested as a potential partner due to its gender-neutral products and alignment with F1's luxury audience.
- Drunk Elephant is another skincare brand mentioned for its high price point and association with luxury and science.
- Color Pop is proposed as a brand that could create a themed makeup line inspired by F1, appealing to the racing community.

2. **Jerry Bruckheimer and Joseph Krasinski's F1 Movie:**
- The podcast discusses the upcoming F1 movie starring Lewis Hamilton and Brad Pitt, directed by Joseph Krasinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.
- An 11th team will be added at Silverstone during the movie's filming, featuring Brad Pitt driving an F2 car adapted by Mercedes.
- The movie will be unique as it will be filmed during a live racing event, showcasing the continuous nature of F1.
- Mercedes is expected to take advantage of the movie's production by integrating it into their marketing strategies.

3. **Lewis Hamilton's Appearance at the Lakers Game:**
- Lewis Hamilton attended a Lakers game alongside his business partner and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who are co-owners of Neat Burger, a plant-based burger company.
- The podcast highlights the significance of Hamilton's presence at the game, considering the high cost of tickets and the exclusivity of courtside seats.
- It is noted that celebrities like Hamilton and DiCaprio likely paid for their tickets despite the common practice of complimentary tickets for high-profile individuals.

4. **F1 Royal Wedding:**
- The podcast reports on the recent wedding of Chloe Stroll, daughter of Lance Stroll's father, and Scotty James, an Australian snowboarder and Red Bull athlete.
- The wedding was attended by several F1 personalities, including Toto Wolff, Stefano Domenicali, and Daniel Ricciardo.
- The podcast highlights the interesting connections and relationships within the F1 community.

5. **F1 Arcade in the US:**
- An F1 arcade is set to open in Boston in early 2024, featuring 69 full-motion racing simulators, food and drink experiences, and a race-watching atmosphere.
- The arcade is expected to host watch parties with competitions, prizes, and DJ performances, similar to the one in London.
- The podcast expresses excitement about the arcade's opening and its potential to attract F1 fans and enthusiasts.

6. **F1 Academy Predictions:**
- The podcast initiates a segment called F1 Academy predictions, where the hosts draft three drivers for the F1 Academy weekend and score points based on their performance.
- The rules include selecting two drivers from the top seven and one driver from the bottom half of the standings, ensuring a mix of consistent performers and potential surprises.
- The hosts make their picks for the third round of the F1 Academy, discussing their reasons and strategies for selecting specific drivers.

7. **Yellow Sector Notes:**
- The podcast concludes with a segment called Yellow Sector Notes, highlighting interesting news and developments from various F1 teams.
- The notes include Red Bull's car livery design competition, potential talks between Austin and Honda for the 2026 engine regulations, and design updates on the Mercedes race suits.
- Other notes cover Charlotte Claire's content creation in Monaco, Alpine's CEO's ambiguous ultimatums regarding team performance, and Haas' video featuring Gunther quizzing the drivers on Italian words.
- Valtteri Bottas' launch of a gluten-free pizza truck in Finland, Nick DeVries' rumored three-race ultimatum, and Williams' event at their headquarters are also mentioned.