McLaren Racing has confirmed that Mastercard will become the official naming partner of its Formula 1 team starting with the 2026 season.
The team will race under the banner of the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, marking the first time since Vodafone’s stint between 2007 and 2013 that the Woking outfit has carried a title sponsor.
Mastercard has also unveiled Team Priceless, a global fan engagement program offering exclusive experiences such as hot laps, driver meet-and-greets, and cultural activations at race destinations worldwide.
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, called the deal a milestone in the team’s commercial journey and 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 of Mastercard, echoed the fan-first vision and 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.”
The deal represents a major deepening of Mastercard’s commitment to F1, building on its existing partnership with McLaren Racing. By stepping up as the team’s official naming partner from 2026, Mastercard is moving from a supporting role into the spotlight with one of the sport’s most storied outfits. The collaboration underscores not only McLaren’s growing commercial pull but also Mastercard’s intent to position itself at the forefront of innovation and fan engagement in F1.
The agreement further bolsters McLaren’s growing roster of corporate and technology partners, which includes Freshworks, Sega, Allwyn, Greene Tweed, Alteryx, Medallia, Salesforce, Smartsheet, Stanley Black & Decker, and Okta. These partnerships are focused on enhancing McLaren’s digital infrastructure, analytics, and operational agility, critical ingredients for sustained success in modern F1.
The announcement comes at a high point for the Papaya outfit. McLaren currently leads the Constructors’ Championship heading into the summer break, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri firmly in contention for the Drivers’ crown. With momentum on their side, the team enters the Dutch Grand Prix weekend looking to extend its dominant run in 2025.
