McLaren secures Mastercard title sponsorship for 2026 F1 season

McLaren has announced that Mastercard will become its official naming partner from the 2026 Formula 1 season, with the team rebranding to McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team. This marks McLaren's first title sponsorship in 13 years, following previous partnerships with Vodafone and tobacco brands Marlboro and West. The partnership includes the launch of 'Team Priceless,' a global initiative designed to offer fans exclusive behind-the-scenes access, such as track hot laps and meet-and-greet opportunities with drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The deal is reportedly worth around $100 million per season and is expected to run into the mid-2030s, signaling a long-term collaboration. Both McLaren CEO Zak Brown and Mastercard's Chief Marketing Officer Raja Rajamannar emphasized the fan-focused nature of the partnership, highlighting shared values of innovation, precision, and performance. Mastercard has prior experience in F1 sponsorship but this is its first naming partnership since the ill-fated Lola Mastercard team in 1997.