Bernie, we have a problem.

Austin City Council slams the brakes on Formula One plan, delays crucial vote

Bernie Ecclestone

Austin City Council members Thursday threw sand in the eyes of Formula One lobbyist Richard Suttle, postponing a crucial vote to endorse a United States Grand Prix in the Texas capital city.

Suttle, who was handpicked by State Comptroller Susan Combs to sway City Hall, told the council that unless they voted today to approve a contract that sometimes seemed like it had been ordered from LegalZoom.com, Austin might not get a race because of strict funding deadlines.

In what played out as a total debacle, Austin city lawyers sweated in front of the entire racing planet — with thousands of fans watching live online — and struggled to answer repeated questions from council members about the contract they were asking those members to endorse. That contract would bring F1 racing back to America.

Only Austin's mayor, Lee Leffingwell, seemed confident that the deal was without faults, but his peers left him in the cold, voting 6-1 to actually create a contract before they vote on it.

Austin Formula One fans — who showed up in force with pressed polo shirts and shiny handbags — are now likely creating clever combinations of four-letter words behind the wheel of their Escalades.

Why?

Because Thursday was Council Member Randi Shade's last day on the job before vocal F1 critic Kathie Tovo, who defeated Shade recently in a mudslinging bloodbath, takes her seat. The election shifted the power base to the half of city council that is skeptical of the whole thing and creates a real possibility that Austin city council will kill the F1 race, because city council must endorse the state's plan to hand $25 million over to F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, in order to hold the race at the new track already being built out by the airport, starting in 2012.

A lawsuit was filed on Wednesday in another attempt to stop that $25 million from being paid.

The Austin City Council will now hear the Formula One topic on June 29.

Formula One's creating a roar in Austin even before the track is built.

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hockey news

NHL taps Houston billionaire to launch new Texas hockey franchise

Photo by Morris Molina

Houston has been without a pro hockey team since the Aeros folded.

Hockey fans in either Houston or Austin may have a new opportunity to root for the home team. The NHL has committed to adding a 33rd team in the Lone Star State, according to multiple media reports.

As part of those plans, the NHL has reached an agreement with Pursuit Sports, an arm of the Houston-based Friedkin family. Per the agreement, the NHL has granted The Friedkin Family, led by Houston billionaire Dan Friedkin, the exclusive rights to own the future franchise. Pursuit Sports, the family’s company that owns three European soccer franchises, will evaluate both Houston and Austin as potential homes for the team.

The family issued the following statement about the NHL’s decision. It reads in part:

Each city brings unique attributes that would make a new team a huge success — both have the infrastructure, passionate fan bases, and economic strength needed to support a championship-caliber franchise for years to come.

We have wanted for some time to bring an NHL team to Texas, and we are excited that the process has now begun. Selecting a new market for an NHL franchise is a special and important responsibility, and we are grateful to the league for their faith in us and their support. Working with Commissioner Bettman and the NHL, we will undertake a principled, disciplined, and methodical process to ensure we find the right long-term home for this new franchise.

Houston has been without a professional hockey team since the Houston Aeros folded in 2013.

With a net worth of $11.4 billion, Dan Friedkin ranks No. 279 on the 2026 edition of the Forbes World’s Billionaires List. That’s good for Houston’s third richest resident, behind only Kinder Morgan chairman Richard Kinder (No. 232, $13 billion) and Landry’s owner Tilman Fertitta (No. 268, $11.7 billion).

His wealth primarily stems from his ownership of Gulf States Toyota, which has the exclusive rights to sell Toyota vehicles in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. The company sold more than $13 billion worth of Toyotas in 2025 alone, Forbes reports.

The Friedkin family launched Pursuit Sports last summer. It currently owns three European soccer clubs — A.S. Roma (Italian Serie A), A.S. Cannes (French Championnat National 2), and Everton F.C. (English Premier League).