When sponsors cause more harm than good in Formula 1. Sauber faces controversy as one of its major sponsors, Kick, becomes linked to the tragic death of French streamer Jean Pormanove.

Sauber faces a serious controversy as one of its major sponsors becomes linked to the tragic death of a well-known streamer.

A shocking event has shaken Sauber following an incident during a live stream on the platform Kick, one of the Swiss team’s sponsors, which resulted in the death of the French streamer Jean Pormanove, real name Raphaël Graven. Pormanove, 46, with over a million followers, passed away on August 18 during a 10-day streaming marathon from his home in Contes, near Nice, amid reports of physical and psychological abuse, severe sleep deprivation, and alleged use of dangerous substances, according to multiple sources. The incident has sparked major controversy, implicating Kick and, by extension, Sauber due to their sponsorship partnership.

Details of the incident
Pormanove was participating in an extreme 10-day livestream on the French channel “Le Lokal,” known for content involving staged humiliations and violent challenges for entertainment. According to French and international media reports, Graven suffered physical abuse and sleep deprivation during the livestream. He reportedly died during the broadcast, with co-streamers allegedly failing to respond with immediate empathy.

French authorities, led by Nice prosecutor Damien Martinelli, have launched a judicial investigation. An autopsy will determine the exact cause of death, and all equipment and video footage have been seized for analysis of events leading up to the incident. Pormanove had previously faced investigations related to streaming-related abuse but had claimed the actions were staged for financial gain.

Kick’s position and Sauber’s reaction
Kick, co-founded by the creators of Stake (another Sauber sponsor), released an official statement expressing condolences and announcing immediate measures. The co-streamers involved have been banned pending the investigation. Kick ended its collaboration with the French agency Le Lokal and is reviewing its platform content to improve creator safety.

The Sauber F1 Team, officially “Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber,” has faced criticism due to its link with Kick. In response, the team issued a brief but cautious statement: “We are saddened by this tragedy and trust that Kick will take all necessary measures to ensure protection and safety for its creators.” The statement reflects the delicate balance Sauber must maintain between financial reliance on sponsors and managing reputational risk.

Impact on the Kick-Sauber partnership
Kick has been accused of overly permissive moderation policies, allowing extreme content that could endanger creators. French Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs, Clara Chappaz, described Pormanove’s death as “horrendous” and reported the matter to Arcom, France’s media regulator, requesting accountability from Kick.

The partnership between Sauber, Kick, and Stake will end at the close of this year, as the Swiss team transitions to become Audi’s official F1 team, with Revolut as the new title sponsor. This change is also seen as an effort by Audi to clean up the team’s image, distancing itself from controversial sponsors associated with gambling and extreme streaming.

Jean Pormanove’s death has highlighted significant issues surrounding content moderation on Kick, indirectly affecting Sauber due to sponsorship ties. While the team issued a measured statement to limit reputational damage, the incident has sparked wider debate about the responsibility of digital platforms and the ethics of sponsorship in Formula 1. As Sauber prepares to transition to Audi in 2026, the team aims to move past this controversy, but for the 2025 season, it must navigate the repercussions of this tragedy.