Mastercard drives into fast lane as McLaren’s F1 naming partner

McLaren Racing and Mastercard are giving fans a closer seat to the Formula 1 action in a new partnership.

The partnership sees Mastercard as its official naming partner of the McLaren Formula 1 team where the team will compete as the 'McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team', starting 2026. 

The partnership also sees the launch of "Team priceless", a global initiative offering exclusive access to the team and race experiences.

Don't miss: Mastercard hands US$180m global media remit to WPP Media 

"Team priceless" will allow selected fans to enjoy once-in-a-lifetime experiences, from hot laps on track to meeting drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, alongside curated activities that showcase the culture of each host city. Details on fan recruitment and the programme will be shared in the coming months.

To mark the new chapter, Mastercard hosted a live fan event in Amsterdam on Wednesday 27 August, ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix. The evening featured appearances from McLaren drivers, live music, and a preview of the experiences fans can expect under the partnership.

The collaboration positions Mastercard and McLaren at the forefront of fan engagement in Formula 1, combining behind-the-scenes access with immersive, city-specific experiences for supporters worldwide.

“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," said Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing.

He added that Mastercard is a partner who shares McLaren Racing's passions and values and that having the payment network on board as a naming partner will offer it the launch pad to keep pushing on and off track. 

Meanwhile, 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 perfomrance, values that mirror our own as we push boundaries and deliver winning experiences. Collaborations such as Team Priceless reflect those values and give fans plenty to look forward to for this season and many more," added Raja Rajamannar. 

McLaren Racing is not the only team making headlines with a major title deal. Fintech giant Revolut recently announced it will become the title partner of the future Audi F1 Team from 2026.

The agreement signals a growing trend of disruptive, consumer-facing brands leveraging Formula 1’s global stage to deepen fan engagement. For Revolut, the partnership is framed around innovation and access, with plans to introduce new digital touchpoints, exclusive benefits for its customers, and premium retail activations across race weekends.

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