F1 Team Stake Forced to Rebrand for Dutch Grand Prix Due to Gambling Restrictions

The Netherlands' gaming regulator, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), contacted Formula 1 organisers prior to the weekend of racing, citing local law prohibiting advertising by unlicensed gambling companies. The team, which usually drives as "Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber," will have to relinquish all Stake branding, an internet gambling site that is not authorised to operate in the Netherlands.

The bans are relevant to several aspects of the team presentation:

• Team name shortened to "Kick Sauber" for race weekend
• Car livery will feature all Stake logos and branding stripped
• Driver attire, including helmets and racing suits, will feature alternative branding
• Trackside signage and promotional materials cannot feature Stake references

To provide ongoing sponsorship, Stake branding will be substituted by Kick branding, a streaming service with the same parent group. Thus, the connection remains in place while adhering to Dutch advertising restrictions that took effect July 1, 2025.

The situation highlights the complexity of regulatory frameworks under which international sporting competitions must function. Formula 1 teams race in dozens of countries with different gambling advertising regulations. What is acceptable at one circuit is prohibited at another, posing a continuous compliance issue.

Team officials promised that the changes are only temporary for the Dutch Grand Prix weekend. Normal Stake branding will return to other events in countries where the sponsorship is not prohibited by local laws.

Fans will have the opportunity to witness a rare mid-season identity makeover. The updated branding is one example of when regulatory requirements overshadow commercial sponsorships in international motorsport.