McLaren's livery will remain 'identifiable' - CEO Brown

      "There is no one more significant to us than our incredible fans."

      McLaren has announced Mastercard as its first title sponsor in over ten years, but CEO Zak Brown assures that the iconic papaya color scheme will stay intact. "Don’t worry, the car will remain recognizable," he stated in an interview with Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad during the Amsterdam event. The agreement, reportedly valued at an impressive $100 million annually, could be the largest sponsorship deal in the history of Formula 1 and undoubtedly McLaren's largest. This also marks the first title sponsorship since Vodafone left the team in 2013.

      Brown emphasized that the partnership was designed with fans in mind. McLaren’s official announcement began with the statement, "There is no one more important to us than our awesome fans," and included images of female fans prominently. Mastercard will enhance the collaboration with a new initiative called "Team Priceless," which will provide behind-the-scenes access, hot laps, and curated experiences at Grand Prix events.

      Brown expressed his excitement, saying, "I could not be more delighted to enter this next chapter in our partnership with Mastercard. They share our passion and values, and becoming the naming partner is the perfect launch pad to continue to push forward both on and off the track."

      Raja Rajamannar, Mastercard’s marketing chief, stated, "McLaren Racing epitomizes innovation, precision, and performance—values that align with ours. Becoming the naming partner elevates our commitment to fans to the next level."

      Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone praised Zak Brown for leading what could be the start of a new ‘McLaren era’ in Formula 1. "Zak Brown is doing an excellent job," he told sport.de. "I mentioned to him once, 'I don’t think you’re very talented, but one of your talents is selecting the right people to work for you.' He has the right team around him and he successfully keeps them together."