Overview

• INEOS Britannia announced its withdrawal from the next America’s Cup challenge, citing prolonged settlement delays with Athena Racing.
• The six-month delay in finalizing terms with Athena Racing undermined INEOS Britannia’s preparation timeline, according to the team’s statement.
• The split between INEOS and Sir Ben Ainslie’s team stemmed from disputes over ownership, assets, and intellectual property following the 2024 America’s Cup final.
• Sir Ben Ainslie has rebranded his team as Athena Racing, which retains challenger of record status for the next America’s Cup.
• INEOS chairman Jim Ratcliffe expressed regret over the decision, noting the team’s prior success and technical backing from Mercedes F1 engineers.