Remaining an independent source of motorsport business is what we strive for. If Business of Speed has provided you with useful insights this year, please consider subscribing.
MSC Cruises will title Formula 1 races in Belgium, Portugal and Türkiye in 2027, preserving the three-race package it bought for 2026 while rotating which event is titled each year.
The titles are the FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES GRANDE PRÊMIO DE PORTUGAL 2027 at Portimão on June 18-20, the FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES BELGIAN GRAND PRIX 2027 at Spa-Francorchamps on July 23-25, and the FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES TURKISH GRAND PRIX 2027 at Istanbul Park on October 1-3.
This is the second consecutive season in which MSC has taken three race titles. The 2026 package covered Barcelona-Catalunya, Austin and São Paulo. For 2027, the company replaced all three with Spa plus the two returning races.
Portugal is back for 2027 and 2028 after last hosting Formula 1 at Portimão in 2020 and 2021. Türkiye returns under a five-year agreement running through 2031.
The race titles fall under MSC Group’s broader Formula 1 partnership, signed in 2022 and extended through the end of 2030. That agreement covers MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys, as well as trackside branding and hospitality at selected Grands Prix.
For me, the strongest commercial moves sit in Portugal and Türkiye. I see both as destination plays: returning races in tourism markets, with a direct connection between the title rights, hospitality, and cruise sales. Spa gives the package prestige on Formula 1’s longest circuit.
If I were planning the activation, I’d use Spa for European clients and the return races for consumer travel stories.
Business of Speed covers the business, technology, and lifestyle of racing: Formula 1, IndyCar, IMSA, WEC, NASCAR, and more. From Vincenzo Landino, entrepreneur and creator, featured in Bloomberg, TBPN, Yahoo! Finance, Forbes, Adweek, and Front Office Sports. You can find us on Instagram, Substack, and LinkedIn.