Yesterday at 12:55
Stake F1 has been forced to change its team name for next weekend's
Dutch Grand Prix due to advertising laws in the Netherlands. But
what's the issue with the team's name? The answer lies with its
title sponsor, Stake—an online gambling company that runs afoul of
strict advertising regulations in the Netherlands. The team,
officially known as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber but more commonly
referred to as Stake F1, has been left with no choice but to
rebrand for the Zandvoort race weekend. Earlier this year, the
Netherlands introduced tougher rules governing the advertisement of
online gambling firms, specifically banning their promotion through
sponsorships. The country's Gambling Authority states that such
advertising is no longer permitted on athletes' clothing or during
sporting events—a regulation that directly impacts the Dutch GP. As
a result, Stake F1 is effectively required to modify its name, with
sponsor Kick set to feature more prominently on the car at the next
round of the 2025 F1 season. A familiar regulatory challenge for
Sauber This is not the first time the team has faced this issue.
Before last year's edition of the race, the Netherlands Gambling
Authority had already urged the team not to compete under the Stake
name, though the Hinwil-based outfit proceeded to do so at the
time. A precedent for the alteration has already been set this
season, with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto having raced
under the modified name in Belgium. The timing of this regulatory
hurdle comes as the team is enjoying a strong run of form following
the recent rounds prior to the summer break. Stake F1 currently
sits seventh in the constructors' championship, just a single point
behind Aston Martin. Both drivers have thrived in recent events —
Hulkenberg secured his first F1 podium at Silverstone, while
Bortoleto finished sixth in Hungary.
