McLaren Racing announces Mastercard as official naming partner for the 2026 season

Ahead of this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, McLaren has announced a new lucratice deal that will see Mastercard become its naming partner from the 2026 F1 season onwards.

Starting next season, the British team will be known as the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team. Mastercard has served as McLaren's partner for several seasons, but the two companies have elected to expand their collaboration.

The American banking giant already was named a primary partner of the team ahead of last year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix, and the new lucrative deal is due to run until the mid-2030s, and is valued at around $100 million per season.

McLaren will feature a title sponsor for the first time in over a decade, as it last had one back in 2013 with Vodafone - a partnership that began in 2007. Prior to that, the Woking squad had tobacco brands West (1997-2005) and Marlboro (from 1974-1996) as title sponsors.

The Woking-based outfit has noted that "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 programme 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.

Commenting on the announcement, McLaren's CEO, Zak Brown stated: “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.”

Reflecting on the partnership, Mastercard's Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Raja Rajamannar noted: “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.”