Mastercard will become the Official Naming Partner of McLaren’s Formula 1 team from 2026, with the squad to be rebranded as the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team.
The agreement deepens a sponsorship first signed in 2022 and reflects the payments company’s strategy of aligning with global sports properties to expand consumer engagement.
It ends McLaren’s status as the only current F1 team without a title partner and reflects a broader strategy by the team to strengthen its commercial portfolio.
As part of the deal, Mastercard will roll out Team Priceless, a fan programme offering access to race-day experiences, driver meet-and-greets and events tied to host cities. The partnership was unveiled at a live event in Amsterdam on August 27, ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.
Mastercard is the first title partner under CEO Zak Brown, whose strategy, alongside commercial chief Matt Dennington, has focused on diversifying partnerships across sectors and tiers.
The team now counts over 50 brands on its rosters, allowing the McLaren brand to stand out amid its papaya-coloured rebrand and recent return to competitiveness.
Zak Brown, CEO of 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.”
Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Mastercard, added, “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.”
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