Incredible scenes at Sauber: after the restrictions on Stake in the Netherlands, now Kick is under fire following the death of a content creator.
While things are going great on track, it’s far from smooth sailing for Sauber on the sponsorship front. After restrictions imposed on Stake in the Netherlands, their other title sponsor, Kick, is now under fire following a shocking and tragic case that has rocked public opinion.
The story involves Jean Pormanove, a 46-year-old French streamer who died live on air after an extreme 10-day marathon, during which he was reportedly subjected to violence, sleep deprivation, and toxic substance use. The disturbing footage spread quickly across the internet, prompting French prosecutors to open an investigation. Those responsible—present during the stream—have already been arrested.
Kick immediately banned the accounts involved and told the BBC it was committed to getting to the bottom of the case: “Our rules are designed to protect creators, and the platform remains committed to enforcing them.” Its terms of service explicitly ban content promoting self-harm, excessive violence, or illegal activity.
For Sauber, however, the incident risks spilling over into damaging consequences for their image. The team is now linked to two sponsors that continue to stir controversy. Sauber has already distanced itself, stressing that it trusts Kick “to adopt all necessary measures to ensure safety and protect creators.”
The real question now turns to 2026: with Audi, Revolut will take over as title sponsor, but Kick may remain involved with the Swiss team—media scandals permitting.
Photo: Stake Kick Sauber F1 Team
