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Front Office Sports - The Memo

Morning Edition

February 12, 2026

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Newly released DOJ emails show Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to Formula One extended into the sport’s highest ranks, linking the late sex offender to figures including Bernie Ecclestone, Lawrence Stroll, Flavio Briatore, Jean Todt, and others at the top of F1.

—Colin Salao and Margaret Fleming

First Up

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  • The NCAA said it won’t pursue settlement talks in a lawsuit that could force colleges to classify athletes as employees. Read the story.
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  • Angel Reese said she “kinda missed” Unrivaled—and now she’s back as the 3-on-3 basketball league heads into its playoff push. Read the story.

Epstein Emails Show His F1 Ties Ran Deep

Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Perhaps no sport had a closer connection to Jeffrey Epstein than Formula One. The latest batch of millions of documents from the Department of Justice last month shows that the late sex offender was enmeshed in the highest levels of the motorsport, meeting and doing business with some of its biggest names and key executives.

Front Office Sports has a detailed list of F1 figures who appear in the documents. Not all of the people mentioned corresponded with Epstein directly; some are mentioned in conversations with Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in a scheme to sexually exploit and abuse minors.

Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One Group Founder

Bernie Ecclestone, the founder and CEO of the Formula One Group from 1987 until it was sold to Liberty Media in 2017, is the most prominent name mentioned in the latest set of filings. Epstein sent a two-pound package worth about $50 to Ecclestone—now 95 years old—in July 2001, according to a FedEx receipt in the files.

In February 2011—more than two years after Epstein pleaded guilty to two counts of solicitation of prostitution and of solicitation of prostitution with a minor—Ecclestone was mentioned in an email between Epstein and Peter Mandelson, a British politician whose long friendship with Epstein has shaken up that country’s government. Epstein led a consortium in an attempt to take over Silverstone, the iconic racetrack home to the British Grand Prix. 

Mandelson indicated in an email to Epstein that he was set to meet with Ecclestone about the potential takeover.

Todd Boehly, the CEO of Eldridge Industries and a part-owner of the Lakers, Sparks, Dodgers, and Chelsea FC, was part of the consortium alongside Epstein. At the time of the emails, Boehly was the managing partner of Guggenheim Partners, the investment behemoth that owns the Dodgers. Records also show that Epstein set up two meetings with Boehly in 2011. 

The group ultimately failed to acquire the racetrack, and the British Racing Drivers’ Club continues to own and operate Silverstone. 

Ecclestone has been involved in other controversies, most recently in 2022 when he pleaded guilty to tax fraud. The billionaire agreed to pay more than $803 million (£652.6 million), but he avoided jail time.

Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin Owner

Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll is the most prominent name in the files who still has an active role in F1. The Canadian billionaire is known for investments in fashion brands including Michael Kors and Tommy Hilfiger. Stroll, 66, bought the now-defunct Formula One team Force India in 2018, transitioning the team to Aston Martin in 2020.

His son, Lance, is an active driver for Aston Martin.

Like Ecclestone, Stroll was also sent a package by Epstein for about $50, according to a FedEx receipt. Stroll’s came in January 2002, seven months after Ecclestone’s package was sent. 

A month later, Stroll’s then-wife Claire-Anne, sent an email in French to Maxwell. Claire-Anne apologized to Maxwell for not visiting “little st jeff,” an apparent nickname for Epstein’s Little St. James private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In 2003, Maxwell sent two emails that indicated Lawrence Stroll was invited to a “big dinner” in New York hosted by Epstein. One of the emails indicated that there were 24 people coming to the dinner, including Mandelson, Stroll, and “5 models who are the serving girls.” 

The email was sent to Thomas Pritzker, chairman of Hyatt Hotels, and cousin of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

In 2014, Lawrence Stroll once again appeared in an email from Epstein to his pilot, Larry Visoski, asking whether the Canadian billionaire was the seller of a plane he was considering purchasing. In January 2018, the year before his arrest and death, Epstein indicated in an email to a redacted recipient that he hadn’t seen Stroll “in a very long time.”

The Aston Martin F1 team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Flavio Briatore, Alpine Team Principal

Flavio Briatore is one of F1’s most controversial figures, and his correspondence with Epstein adds to his laundry list of scandals.

Briatore is first mentioned in the files in April 2005, when he was the head of Renault. The Italian motorsport exec appears to have left a message for Epstein saying he will be in New York City in June.

In 2010, a year after Briatore received a lifetime ban from F1 for his involvement in the “Crashgate” cheating scandal, he appeared in multiple emails. 

In April 2010, Epstein wrote that he believed Briatore was putting up real estate for sale. Two months later, Epstein received an email saying that Briatore wanted to meet with him. Later that year, Epstein referred to Briatore as his “itialin frined.”

An Alpine spokesperson told FOS that “this is not a matter for the team” and otherwise declined to comment.

Jean Todt, Former Ferrari CEO and FIA President

From 2009 to 2021, Jean Todt served as the head of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body of F1. Before his FIA tenure, he was the CEO of Ferrari.

His name first appeared in a 2013 email exchange between Epstein and French diplomat Olivier Colom. Colom asked Epstein whether he knew Todt, as he was set to meet with him that night. He also mentioned Todt was married to actress Michelle Yeoh. (Yeoh and Todt have been in a relationship since 2004 but only married in 2023.)

Epstein did not confirm in his reply whether he knew the then-FIA head, instead responding: “sounds like fun, but where are the cute ones?”

Four years later, Todt emailed Epstein, telling him “nice to get =o know you through our common friend Terje.” (Terje Rød-Larsen is a former Norwegian diplomat; some of the recent emails have formatting issues like frequent equal signs appearing.) A few days later, Epstein emailed Italian businessman Eduardo Teodorani saying Todt visited his home, and described him as “odd.”

Eddie Irvine, Former F1 Driver

Eddie Irvine is the lone Formula One driver to appear in the latest set of files with his name mentioned in two emails in September 2003. He was an F1 driver from 1993 to 2002, with his best finish as runner-up in the 1999 drivers’ championship with Ferrari.

Maxwell first mentioned Irvine in an email to Torch Capital founder Jonathan Keidan asking whether he could help Irvine secure tickets to a Dave Matthews concert. Maxwell referred to Irvine as “the F1 former driver.”

A few days later, Maxwell received an email from Coventry Bay Group managing partner David Wassong asking for contacts to “play with in Ireland,” to which Maxwell replied with Irvine’s contact information.

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LA28 Stands by Casey Wasserman After Reviewing Epstein Ties

The Oklahoman

Casey Wasserman will remain in charge of the 2028 Summer Olympics, LA28 said Wednesday.

The agency CEO and LA28 chair has come under fire in recent weeks after his 2003 emails with convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell came to light.

Singer Chappell Roan and soccer legend Abby Wambach left Wasserman’s agency this week over his ties to Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein, and LA28 had a meeting Wednesday to discuss Wasserman’s status.

The organizing committee said in a statement Wednesday afternoon that an outside legal firm conducted a review of Wasserman’s past interactions with Epstein and Maxwell, and found that his relationship with them “did not go beyond what has already been publicly documented,” specifically, a ride on Epstein’s plane in 2002 and his emails with Maxwell.

“The Executive Committee of the Board has determined that based on these facts, as well as the strong leadership he has exhibited over the past ten years, Mr. Wasserman should continue to lead LA28 and deliver a safe and successful Games,” the executive committee of the LA28 board said in a statement.

Wasserman chairs the 35-person LA28 board.

Several Los Angeles politicians, from city council members to county supervisors, have called for Wasserman to step down. The Wall Street Journal first reported news of the meeting Wednesday. 

Also on Wednesday, Wambach became the first prominent athlete to leave Wasserman’s talent agency.

“I read Casey Wasserman’s correspondence in the Epstein files. I know what I know, and I am following my gut and my values,” the U.S. women’s national team legend said in a statement. “Casey should resign. He should leave, so more people like me don’t have to.

“I am unclear of my next steps. That’s OK with me, I just know where I can’t be.”

Wasserman is one of several sports figures whose name appears in the recent batches of Epstein files released by the Department of Justice on Jan. 30; his exchanges with Maxwell are among the most damning. 

Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking and sexual abuse of girls.

In the emails dating back to 2003, Wasserman and Maxwell discuss real estate and massages. Maxwell wrote that there are “a few spots that apparently drive a man wild” and offered to “practice them on” Wasserman. Maxwell said his “desires” include “You, me, and not else much.” He also wrote that he wanted to see her in a “tight leather outfit.”

Following the release of the emails, Wasserman said in a statement: “I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell,” that happened “long before her horrific crimes came to light. … I never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. As is well documented, I went on a humanitarian trip as part of a delegation with the Clinton Foundation in 2002 on the Epstein plane. I am terribly sorry for having any association with either of them.”

Wasserman’s agency represents athletes across all major sports leagues as well as prominent broadcasters through the Montag Group, which Wasserman acquired in 2022. The agency represents women’s soccer stars like Alex Morgan and WNBA stars like Paige Bueckers, Breanna Stewart, and Brittney Griner. Other athletes across sports include NBA player Klay Thompson, NFL player Najee Harris, golfer Rickie Fowler, and swimmer Katie Ledecky. 

Wasserman also represents several college athletes through its NIL practice, and some of the biggest talents in sports media like Mike Tirico, Bob Costas, Jim Nantz, and Scott Van Pelt. The agency did not immediately respond to questions.

Several musical artists have left Wasserman following the release of the emails, most prominently Roan. She said Monday that “artists deserve representation that aligns with their values” and the decision “reflects my belief that meaningful change in our industry requires accountability and leadership that earns trust.”

Singer Billie Eilish left the agency in 2024 amid reporting on Wasserman’s alleged extramarital affairs.

On Tuesday, Wambach’s former USWNT teammate Hope Solo posted on social media in support of Roan, and she criticized Wasserman talent who hadn’t spoken out.

“Wasserman represents many athletes that are ‘known’ for using their strong, outspoken voices,” Solo wrote. “It’s easy to speak out when it’s a popular sentiment or when there is nothing to lose. Their current silence is deafening.”

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Question of the Day

Did you watch the Super Bowl, halftime show, or both?

Results: 29% of respondents said they watched only the Super Bowl, 6% watched only the halftime show, and 65% watched both.

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Written by Colin Salao, Margaret Fleming
Edited by Matthew Tabeek, Catherine Chen

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