Reporting live from the track! Inside the Mastercard and McLaren Racing partnership launch
November 21, 2024 | By Raja Rajamannar
Fans of the McLaren Formula 1 Team will see an exciting addition to the cars driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri this weekend: the iconic red and yellow Mastercard circles. As a primary partner of the McLaren Racing Formula 1 Team, we are thrilled to make our debut on the circuit — and to forge an exciting path bringing our cardholders, whether at home orand cheering from the stands, closer to the sport they love, at every race, everywhere around the world.
Our dynamic partnership infuses the spirit of Priceless into the world of McLaren Racing. For over 25 years, Priceless has been at the core of Mastercard’s ethos, emphasizing the power of passions and connecting people to what they love most. Recent proprietary research from Mastercard highlights the significant role passions play in enriching people’s lives. According to the survey, 72% of people across 22 markets say engaging in their passions is a part of their identity.
As one of the fastest-growing global passions — with one in three fans starting to follow the sport within the last past four years — Formula 1 has quickly captured the hearts of millions. And the McLaren brand is a leader of the pack, known for its jaw-dropping innovation, phenomenal drivers and incredible fan community.
We’re excited to bring millions of cardholders, 34,000 Mastercard employees and a raft of partners and customers worldwide closer to this extraordinary sport and brand, using our extensive suite of partners across sports, entertainment, culinary and more to create truly unique experiences together.
Unlocking new experiences on and off the track
Earlier today in Las Vegas, we offered 135 cardholders a glimpse of what they can experience through this partnership. Why 135? We're paying homage to McLaren driver Oscar Piastri's 1-minute, 35-second lap time at last year's Las Vegas Grand Prix – the fastest lap of last year’s race. Through priceless.com, they gained access to special grandstand tickets and enjoyed an incredible one-of-a-kind performance from our partner Cirque du Soleil as the McLaren Formula 1 Team revealed our logo on its cars for the first time.
Over the course of our partnership, we’ll continue to bring cardholders unique access through priceless.com, combining racing with other passion areas for deeper and richer experiences — and helping cardholders go behind the scenes with McLaren. We can’t wait to share the fan-focused experiences planned for 2025.
Ahead of the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix this weekend, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, above left, and Mastercard Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Raja Rajamannar, right, grasp the racing car's steering wheel, while Rajamannar, in photo on right, poses with members of the Cirque du Soleil troupe that celebrated the reveal of the team's new livery Thursday night with a custom performance.
In addition to these exciting opportunities for our cardholders, we’re also bringing this thrill within our company walls. Three Mastercard employees — true racing superfans selected from hundreds of submissions — are joining us in Las Vegas to experience the race up close. I invite you to follow along as they immerse themselves in this unforgettable moment and share the excitement of the race firsthand.
And, in true Mastercard fashion, we are bringing Priceless to everything we do. From the McLaren suite — newly rebranded as the McLaren Priceless Lounge — to our fan-focused activities on the ground, we look forward to introducing everyone to the full range of our multisensory brand.
Embracing the future of the sport
Similar to our approach with music, gaming and more, we will also support the F1 Academy to nurture the next generation of racing talent and ensure they have the guidance and resources needed to excel in the sport. The innovation of this sport is awe inspiring, and we want as many people as possible to be able to experience it — whether as a fan, as a driver or in other critical roles.
This is just the beginning, and we’re looking forward to continuing to fueling passions and creating priceless moments with McLaren Racing for fans everywhere.
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