McLaren banks Mastercard as 2026 F1 title partner

McLaren partner Mastercard is stepping up to become the papaya squad’s official naming partner from the 2026 F1 season onwards.

From next year, McLaren will be branded as McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, signifying a step up in the payment provider’s commitment to the world champions.

McLaren and Mastercard had only signed a multi-year deal as recent as July 2024, with the brand keen to elevate the partnership beyond a traditional sponsorship formula into ways to rewards its customers and attract F1’s ever-growing fanbase.

With the naming partnership, Mastercard says it will launch the so-called ‘Team Priceless’ programme that will allow fans of the team running Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to get access to behind-the-scenes experiences, including track hotlaps, and meet and greets with the drivers.

“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 McLaren CEO Zak Brown.

“Mastercard is a fantastic partner who shares our passion 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.” 

Mastercard’s chief marketing and communication officer Raja Rajamannar 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 delivering winning experiences. Collaborations like Team Priceless reflect those values and give fans plenty to look forward to for this season and many more.”  

The new Mastercard deal means McLaren will get its first corporate title sponsor since 2013, when it last ran as Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, although it also ran as McLaren – Honda from 2015 to 2017.