Just in:McLaren chief issues statement…read more
McLaren chief issues statement…read more
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has issued a statement following the full acquisition of the team’s IndyCar operation, Arrow McLaren, marking a new phase for the British racing giant. McLaren Racing now owns 100% of the IndyCar team after buying out the remaining shares held by Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson. The partnership that started with Schmidt’s founding of Sam Schmidt Motorsports in 2001 and continued under the name Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in 2013, has now transitioned to McLaren’s full ownership.
In 2020, the team rebranded to Arrow McLaren SP, reflecting a growing collaboration with McLaren’s Formula 1 team. The significant step of McLaren purchasing a 75% stake in the operation in 2021 made it clear that the company was committed to expanding its presence in IndyCar, following the success and growth of its Formula 1 team. In 2024, this cross-pollination of talent and strategy between IndyCar and Formula 1 became even more visible when McLaren’s IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward took part in a Formula 1 practice session at his home race in Mexico.
With the 2024 season seeing McLaren’s Formula 1 team experience its most successful year since 1998, Zak Brown now looks to build on that momentum as the company focuses its efforts on expanding its IndyCar program. Under Brown’s leadership, McLaren Racing has gone through significant transformations, and the full buyout of Arrow McLaren is seen as a critical step towards a more unified global racing presence.
Zak Brown, 53, expressed his excitement and vision for the future of the IndyCar team in a statement: “This is an exciting step for McLaren Racing as we grow and strengthen our presence in North America, which is a very important market for our team and our fans.” He also took the opportunity to thank Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson for their partnership over the years, noting the significant contribution they made to the team’s success. “Sam and Ric have been great partners and co-owners, and I want to thank them as we continue to build on what they started many years ago. Together, we will aim to make Arrow McLaren a championship-caliber team in the NTT IndyCar Series,” Brown added.
The acquisition marks the end of an era of shared ownership, but it is also a strategic move that aligns with McLaren Racing’s broader goals. The move is part of the team’s desire to build a championship-winning IndyCar team that can compete with the likes of Penske, Ganassi, and Andretti in the prestigious NTT IndyCar Series. With McLaren’s deep engineering expertise and growing presence in North American motorsport, Brown sees significant potential for success in the series.
McLaren Racing’s expansion into IndyCar complements the team’s ongoing efforts to increase its visibility and influence in the United States. The Formula 1 series, in particular, has experienced a surge in popularity across North America, with several U.S.-based Grands Prix, including races in Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas, becoming part of the calendar. McLaren has been a key player in F1’s North American growth, with driver Lando Norris claiming his first career win at the 2023 Miami Grand Prix, a moment that added to the team’s visibility and stature in the region.
Looking ahead, Brown is optimistic that McLaren Racing can replicate the success it has enjoyed in Formula 1 within IndyCar. The team’s expansion into both series is a strategic move aimed at elevating McLaren’s status in North America, capitalizing on growing motorsport interest, and diversifying the team’s racing portfolio. By aligning the Formula 1 team’s approach with its IndyCar operations, McLaren hopes to benefit from cross-disciplinary innovation, resource sharing, and knowledge transfer between its two racing divisions.
As McLaren Racing focuses on consolidating its IndyCar presence, it will also look to nurture and develop talented drivers, engineers, and team personnel to ensure that both the F1 and IndyCar teams remain competitive. McLaren’s strategic growth in these high-profile racing series highlights the company’s ambitions to become a dominant force in global motorsport, building on its heritage while embracing new opportunities for success in the future.
With the buyout of Arrow McLaren, the racing team enters an exciting new chapter, one that promises growth, increased competition, and, most importantly, the pursuit of championship glory in both Formula 1 and IndyCar.
About The Author
