German sources report that Puma will be sponsoring McLaren.

      "This was an unforeseen change."

      McLaren, currently the fastest team in Formula 1, is set to secure a new and lucrative sponsorship agreement. German media outlets, including F1 broadcaster Sky Deutschland and the country's largest newspaper, Bild, have reported that the Woking-based team will be significantly sponsored by the multinational German sports brand Puma. This deal pertains specifically to McLaren’s off-track apparel, while Alpinestars will continue to supply the overalls, driver shoes, and gloves. At present, McLaren's off-track clothing sponsor is the British brand Castore, which has a contract in place until 2027. Bild noted, "This was an unexpected change." The reasons behind the team's decision, led by CEO Zak Brown, to make this early switch remain unclear, the newspaper stated. Kronen Zeitung, an Austrian newspaper, cited Brown as saying, "The time is right to explore other opportunities that align more closely with the strategic direction of McLaren Racing." According to Sky Deutschland, McLaren’s new Puma partnership will commence in 2026 and extend for several years. As for Castore, that sportswear label is expected to shift its support to the small American team Haas. Puma also has sponsorship and supply deals with Ferrari, Aston Martin, Williams, and Sauber. This year, Mercedes notably transitioned from Puma to Adidas, another well-known German brand, following Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari.