So, Grayson, to busy to answer?
I thought that your main question was rhetorical, to be honest! Different commercial partners want to run native content for different reasons, and I wouldn't presume to answer on their behalf. The main reason for choosing a native content format rather than regular advertising should be so that they can get information (as opposed to a straight marketing message) which they want to spread for commercial reasons across in a format which is convenient and enjoyable for our readers. They may well be hoping to gain from the goodwill they generate by using this format rather than interruptive advertising, or they might just think that that this is a good way to engage with as many readers as possible.
Where this sort of thing is done best, it's the sort of content which our readers would have wanted to see on the site regardless of whether it was being promoted. I hope that we manage this on Autosport, but I'll leave you to judge how well we're doing against this yardstick.
As to your question about editorial involvement, Haymarket/Autosport editorial will be involved in screening and approving content at a very minimum. At times, they will also be involved in editing, rewriting or writing the content in a way that's more suitable for our editorial style and for our readers. As a policy, our editorial team will never be taking money to praise a product or service on behalf of Autosport. If you see a journalist speaking on behalf of Autosport and giving their opinion on a driver, team, product, etc. then this should be their honest personal and professional opinion.