F1 News: Mastercard to become title sponsor of McLaren F1 team
McLaren Racing has today announced that Mastercard is set to become the Official Naming Partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team from 2026 onwards.
Starting next season, the team will be known as the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, with the move representing an exciting new era not only for the partnership, but for fans of the team around the world. This expanded collaboration will unlock more opportunities for fans to enjoy exclusive, behind-the-scenes access and one-of-a-kind experiences.
The Mastercard deal is estimated to be in the region of $100 million per season, sources with knowledge of the matter disclosed to The Athletic on condition of anonymity. It is a long-term agreement that is understood to run through to the mid-2030s.
It is also believed to stand as the biggest title sponsorship agreement on the F1 grid, and is the largest commercial deal in McLaren’s history.
It will be the first time since the end of 2013 that McLaren has raced with a title sponsor. Back then, its high-profile agreement with Vodafone ended and was followed by a long period of decline for the team overall.
Delivering on its fan-first promise, Mastercard is set to debut ‘Team Priceless’ – a global initiative that will allow papaya fans to get closer to the team and action throughout the race calendar and experience a curated program of activities. On select race days, chosen fans will enjoy incredible experiences, from hot laps on track to meeting drivers and Priceless Experiences that spotlight the host city’s local culture. More details on Team Priceless and the recruitment process will be announced soon.
To launch this new chapter of the partnership, Mastercard is hosting a spectacular live fan event in Amsterdam on the evening of Wednesday, 27 August, ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix. The event is bringing fans a mix of appearances from McLaren Formula 1 Team drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as well as live music performances and more.
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said:
“There is no one more important to us than our awesome fans, so I could not be more delighted to enter this next chapter in our partnership with Mastercard with a promise to our Papaya Family around the world: that we will continue to put our fans first, bring them even closer to the team, and offer incredible experiences. Mastercard is a fantastic partner who shares our passion and values, so to have them on board as naming partner will offer us the perfect launch pad to keep pushing on and off track – and I cannot wait to see Team Priceless come to life in 2026.”
“We wanted it to be the right partner, with the right long-term commitment, with the same values as McLaren, and a brand that we felt could add value off the track,” Brown told reporters at an event in Amsterdam announcing the partnership. “If you look at Mastercard, what they’ve historically done in other sports, the amount of reach they have, how global they are, it’s a perfect fit for us.
“For us, it was all about finding the right partner. We had plenty of opportunities, as you can imagine, over the past nine years, but this is one that was a no-brainer for us.”
Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Mastercard, said:
“Our partnership has been grounded in putting fans in pole position since day one, and becoming the Official Naming Partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team takes that commitment to the next level. McLaren Racing represents the pinnacle of innovation, precision, and performance, values that mirror our own as we push boundaries and deliver winning experiences. Collaborations like Team Priceless reflect those values and give fans plenty to look forward to for this season and many more.”