Red Bull Italy SailGP welcomes Azimut as Global Partner
Red Bull Italy SailGP welcomes Azimut as Global Partner
Red Bull Italy SailGP is proud to announce a new global partnership with Azimut, independent global group in asset and wealth management, founded in Italy in 1990, with a presence in 20 countries which joins the team as Global Partner for the upcoming 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship, set to begin in Australia on 17–18 January 2026.
This partnership marks the start of a collaboration built on shared values of innovation, performance, international ambition and a strong commitment to a more sustainable future. As part of the agreement, the Azimut Investments logo will feature on the hull of the Italian F50 catamaran, symbolising the union of two Italian excellence-driven realities competing on the world stage. The Rolex SailGP Championship, founded in 2018 by Oracle Founder Larry Ellison alongside America’s Cup legend and SailGP CEO Russell Coutts, is the world’s most exciting and technologically advanced sailing league. Designed to deliver a high-impact, world-class sporting product, SailGP engages fans across continents through short, adrenaline-fuelled races staged in some of the world’s most iconic waterfront cities.
Often referred to as the “Formula 1 on water”, SailGP represents the pinnacle of elite sailing competition, where outcomes are determined purely by crew skill, strategic decision-making and teamwork, aboard the fastest boats ever raced in the sport. The 2026 season will see 13 national teams compete across a global calendar of 13 international venues, from Sydney to Rio, New York to Dubai. Racing takes place on identical F50s foiling catamarans, capable of lifting clear of the water and exceeding 100 km/h, delivering a unique spectacle that blends cutting-edge technology with pure sporting drama.
Azimut’s support comes at a pivotal moment in the evolution of Red Bull Italy SailGP, following the team’s recent acquisition by Muse Sport Consortium, the sport advisory platform led by a group of accomplished investors and industry leaders. The new ownership brings together a group of sports investors, venture capital leaders and figures from the entertainment world, united by a long-term vision for the growth of Italian sailing on the global stage.
The leadership team includes Assia Grazioli-Venier, Co-Owner and Board Director; Jimmy Spithill, America’s Cup legend and former Luna Rossa helmsman, Co-Owner and CEO; and Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo, Co-Owner and Chairman of the Board. With Azimut joining as Global Partner, Red Bull Italy SailGP strengthens its ambitions both on and off the water, continuing to build a project that represents Italian excellence, innovation and competitiveness at the very highest level of international sport.
The Rolex SailGP Championship is among the fastest-growing sports and entertainment properties globally and closed the 2025 season with record-breaking audience growth across all platforms:
• 215 million total global broadcast viewers
• More than 1.65 billion social media views
• 1 million YouTube subscribers
• 2.7 million total social media followers
• Over 112,000 live spectators worldwide
Giorgio Medda, CEO of the Azimut Group, commented: This partnership reflects our commitment to promoting Italian excellence worldwide, including through sport. As a global Group operating in 20 countries, we are proud to support the Italian SailGP team, which represents world-class leadership and teamwork while embodying a ‘Made in Italy’ identity capable of standing out on the international stage. SailGP is a rapidly expanding sports and media platform and, through this collaboration, we will become an integral part of an ecosystem where sport, technology, sustainability and innovation converge. A synergy we can effectively activate on a global scale.
Jimmy Spithill, CEO of Red Bull Italy SailGP, added: To compete at the highest level, you need partners who share the same mindset: ambition, discipline and an international outlook. In Azimut, we have found a partner that, like us, believes in the value of teamwork, the relentless pursuit of performance and the ability of Made in Italy to excel on the global stage. Innovation, technology and sustainability are shared pillars. Having a Group with a long-term international vision alongside us allows us to build a competitive Italian project, capable of standing out on SailGP racecourses around the world.
