McLaren and NTT Forge New Partnership in Formula 1

As the current Formula One World Championship season approaches its conclusion, McLaren Racing is ramping up its business initiatives with an exciting announcement.

On November 4, the team revealed a multi-year collaboration with NTT, establishing the global technology firm as an Official Partner of the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team until the 2027 season and beyond.

Reinforcing an Ongoing Relationship

This partnership continues the long-standing collaboration between McLaren Racing and the NTT Group, which has previously seen partnerships involving NTT Communications (currently NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS) and the McLaren Formula 1 Team as well as NTT DATA and the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team. The new phase of this partnership aims to fuse the technological prowess of NTT with McLaren's commitment to innovation and high performance in Formula 1.

Driving AI Integration

NTT is set to enhance its role in the Formula 1 landscape by helping the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team establish itself as the most AI-capable outfit on the grid. Central to this partnership is an emphasis on AI security governance, with NTT prepared to assist McLaren in responsibly leveraging AI technologies. This initiative will address the growing need for a framework to manage security risks associated with AI, especially as the technology swiftly evolves.

“We are thrilled to have NTT as an Official Partner of the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team. Our long association has yielded great success, and we look forward to building on that,” expressed Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren. “AI possesses vast potential for our sport and operations, and our partnership with NTT positions us to utilize these new technologies securely and responsibly.”

A Platform for Innovation

The collaboration offers not just an enhancement in racing technology but also serves as a significant opportunity for NTT to showcase its capabilities both on and off the racetrack. Through a strengthened global engagement program, clients and fans alike will find themselves more connected to the union of McLaren and NTT, as well as the thrilling domain of Formula 1.

“We are excited to announce this new chapter with McLaren Racing, reinforcing our deep-rooted and trusted relationship over the years,” stated Akira Shimada, President and CEO of NTT. “Formula 1 represents a global platform where brilliant minds merge to push the boundaries of possibility. With McLaren’s commitment to excellence and NTT’s continuous transformation while addressing societal issues, we have much in common.”

Since becoming the title sponsor of the NTT IndyCar Series in 2019, NTT has played a pivotal role in advancing motorsport. This new partnership with McLaren Racing will build upon that experience, aiming to further accelerate NTT’s global business reach.