McLaren increasingly at the heart of global motorsport

However, there are some contextual factors to take into account. The first is related to the general growth of the Circus as a whole, thanks to Liberty Media's ability to dust off F1 with an expansion of its commercial activities, including the expansion of the calendar. The second is the accentuated increase in costs, paradoxical in an era of budget caps. However, it should be considered that many of these costs are related to long-term investments, which is why McLaren Racing has seen its debt rise sharply (fivefold in ten years).

As much as participating in the Formula One championship costs the teams millions of dollars, the distribution of profits by Formula One Management usually more than compensates for the expenses, and to these revenues one must consider the indirect increase in brand visibility. In 2024, with the constructors' title win, McLaren cashed in $140 million, but Ferrari, in second place, also received a similar prize ($131) thanks to ad hoc bonuses linked to the team's historicity. From 2023, the year of fourth place, to 2024, the cheque received by McLaren grew by around $27 million.

Sporting success also generates an improvement in its commercial attractiveness: increased competitiveness has led McLaren to grow and reach fresh commercial agreements with valuable partners. In fact, Mastercard will become the team's Title Sponsor for the 2026 season, and will be joined by technology partners Papaya Groq (an American company in the AI sector) and Motul (a French multinational in the lubricants sector).

McLaren's sporting DNA doesn't stop in Formula 1. Strong is its presence in the Indycar Series with the Arrow McLaren Indycar Team from 2020, which inherits a history of successes such as the three victories at the Indianapolis 500 (1972, 1974 and 1976). To date, the team has 27 victories and 87 podiums, with excellent results in 2025, including the second place overall by Mexican driver Pato O'Ward. Finally, the Woking stable is also present in the world of Formula E since 2023 with the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, where it achieved its first victory in 2024 thanks to Sam Bird during the E-Prix of São Paulo, Brazil.

McLaren also competes in the Formula 1 Academy, the Formula 1 for young female motorsport talents, through the McLaren Young Driver Programme: among the young drivers, it supports Ella Lloyd, an Englishwoman ranked third in the women's championship.

Over the past two years, McLaren Group Limited has seen a series of changes of hands between funds, with an initial takeover of the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, followed by a subsequent sale to the Abu Dhabi-based CYVN fund. This reorganisation of capital has touched more the automotive soul than the racing soul, where Zak Brown has retained the role of CEO.

Production of road cars is limited (2188 units in 2023), but of great value. The largest market is North America (sales value of £787 million in 2023), followed by Asia (£497 million) and Europe (£488 million). With a turnover of more than £2 billion in 2023, the McLaren Group recorded a loss of £872.5 million in its financial report published at the close of 2023, a negative result but one justified by increased investment in research and development of its new models.

The McLaren Group clearly emphasises its sporting identity and corporate direction: 'The McLaren brand clearly unites the shared heritage of McLaren Automotive and McLaren Racing with their products, services and activities. The Group exists to push the boundaries of performance, offering its customers an authentic racing soul. The Group focuses on its core values: performance, emotion and belonging, and it is this philosophy that has led to its current position as one of the world's most prestigious luxury automotive brands.

For the McLaren Group, the transition to greater environmental responsibility follows the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The group aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5 per cent per year and better manage its resources. The commitment to greater sustainability is also applied to the research and development of new cars, both in Formula 1 with the new 2026 regulations and in the production of road models by pursuing the goal of eliminating petrol and diesel vehicles.

From the know-how gained in Formula 1, McLaren is distinguished by its globally acclaimed road models. McLaren Automotive's history began with the M6GT in 1969, with Bruce McLaren's vision of devising a road model based on racing technology. But it was not until 1985, under the leadership of Ron Dennis, that McLaren's true automotive segment began. Today, McLaren models span five ranges, from supercars to Legacy models.

Among the supercars, the famous 750S and Artura have been joined by the new McLaren W1 super sports car: only 399 examples in the world, for a 1,200-horsepower car sold in Italy at a price starting at 1.9 million euros.

Among the GT models, a direct reference to Formula 1 (and not only in name) is the Senna GTR, equipped with technologies developed for Formula 1. The Senna GTR has an active rear wing with compressed air brakes and a friction reduction system, conceptually similar to the DRS used in Grand Prix racing. McLaren also focuses on special editions such as the only 25 examples produced of the McLaren Solus GT, a single-seater with an enclosed cockpit. Finally, as a nod to motorsport history, there is the Legacy range, including the 675LT, a longtail inspired by the 1997 Le Mans winner.

At the COTA (Circuit of the Americas), the odds of victory assigned by the bookmakers do not give any favourites among the three battling it out, testifying to the great uncertainty of the championship finale. Without forgetting that these last six races are the end of a technical cycle, for which many teams have strongly reduced the so-called 'upgrade packages': with limited material, including engines, the real sword of Damocles of the Mercedes-powered teams this season (including McLaren), anything is still possible.

The Austin Grand Prix weekend will take place in the sprint format and will follow particular timetables for us Europeans. The only free practice of the weekend will be on Friday at 7.30 p.m., to be followed by sprint qualifying just before midnight Italian time (11.30 p.m.). The 100 km race will be run from 7 p.m. on Saturday. At 11 p.m., the single-seaters will return to compete to determine the starting grid for Sunday's race (9 p.m.).