Mastercard becomes McLaren F1 naming partner

Mastercard will become the official naming partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team from 2026 onwards.

As well as seeing the team renamed as the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, the deal will see Mastercard customers offered experiences through the ‘Team Priceless’ initiative, with more details to be announced. The partnership kicked off with a live fan event in Amsterdam on the evening of 27 August, ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix at the weekend.

The partnership is a major expansion of Mastercard’s existing sponsorship deal with the team, which included branding and hospitality tie-ups. It marks McLaren’s first time racing with a title sponsor since its deal ended with Vodafone in 2013.

The Athletic reported that the deal is worth in the region of $100 million per season and is expected to run through to the mid-2030s.

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.”

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 passions 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.”