GoDaddy CEO Blake Irving attended yesterday’s F1 Canada Grand Prix in Montreal as a guest of storied team McLaren-Honda, according to a source. The visit comes at a time when F1 teams 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 after ’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 international focus. The company followed through on that notion by acquiring European rival Host Europe Group in a $1.8B deal that closed this April. Asked about Irving’s presence, McLaren Exec Dir Zak Brown, who is currently in the market trying to find a title sponsor for McLaren, told THE DAILY 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.
