GoDaddy CEO Spends Time In McLaren F1 Camp At Canadian GP, Source Says

GoDaddy CEO Blake Irving was at Sunday's Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal as a guest of the McLaren team, according to a source familiar with the matter, at a time when entities in F1 are increasingly trying to land U.S.-based sponsors. Arizona-based GoDaddy sponsored Danica Patrick for nearly a decade in IndyCar and NASCAR, but exited motorsports in '15 after stating that its brand awareness was at a desired level in the U.S. and that it was shifting to more of an int'l focus. The company followed through on that notion by acquiring European rival Host Europe Group in a $1.8B deal that closed in April. Asked about Irving's presence, McLaren Exec Dir Zak Brown, who is currently trying to find a title sponsor for McLaren, said that Irving was "just a guest." Formula One Group, the sanctioning body of F1 that is now owned by Liberty Media, is also trying to increase its base of sponsors, having recently hired CAA Sports to serve as its agency of record. Haas F1 team is also still hunting for a title sponsor.