McLaren chief issues statement over team SALE
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has issued a statement following the completion of the sale of the team’s IndyCar division. McLaren Racing now owns the entirety of Arrow McLaren after acquiring the remaining shares from Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson. This acquisition marks a significant shift for McLaren’s IndyCar operations, consolidating its ownership and strengthening its presence in the American motorsport market.
Arrow McLaren’s origins date back to 2001 when Sam Schmidt, a former IndyCar driver, founded the team under the name “Sam Schmidt Motorsports.” The team quickly established itself in the competitive world of IndyCar racing, and in 2013, Schmidt was joined by Ric Peterson as a co-owner. The partnership led to the rebranding of the team as “Schmidt Peterson Motorsports,” which continued to grow and evolve within the IndyCar series.
In 2020, the team underwent another rebranding, this time becoming Arrow McLaren SP, following McLaren’s increasing involvement with the team. McLaren, already an established powerhouse in Formula 1, purchased a 75% stake in the team in 2021. This move signaled the start of a deeper connection between McLaren’s Formula 1 operations and their IndyCar program. By taking full ownership of the team in 2024, McLaren Racing solidified its commitment to the IndyCar series and its long-term strategy of global expansion.
This transition marks a crucial step for McLaren Racing as the team looks to build on the legacy of its predecessors. With the complete acquisition of Arrow McLaren, the British racing giant aims to establish a unified and powerful force in the IndyCar Series, hoping to challenge for championships and grow its fanbase across North America.
In his statement, Zak Brown expressed enthusiasm about the team’s future, stating that the acquisition was a key part of McLaren Racing’s broader plans to increase its presence in North America. This region is a vital market for the team, both in terms of fan engagement and business opportunities. McLaren’s expanded involvement in IndyCar provides the team with a unique opportunity to cater to a growing motorsport audience, particularly as the popularity of the sport continues to rise in the U.S.
Zak Brown also took the opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson, thanking them for their partnership over the years. Brown emphasized the important role that Schmidt and Peterson played in building the foundation of what has become Arrow McLaren, a team with championship ambitions. McLaren Racing intends to continue developing and improving the team, maintaining the momentum started by Schmidt and Peterson.
The acquisition of full ownership of Arrow McLaren comes at a time when McLaren Racing is also experiencing its best-ever results in Formula 1. In 2024, McLaren enjoyed its most successful season since 1998, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri playing crucial roles in helping the team secure the constructors’ championship. This success in F1 has created high expectations for McLaren as they head into 2025, with a renewed focus on continuing to improve across both the F1 and IndyCar divisions.
The crossover between McLaren’s F1 and IndyCar teams became more evident in 2024 when Pato O’Ward, a star driver for Arrow McLaren, participated in a practice session for the McLaren Formula 1 team at the Monaco Grand Prix. O’Ward’s participation highlighted the growing connection between the two racing divisions, offering a glimpse of the future collaboration and synergy McLaren hopes to achieve between its F1 and IndyCar operations.
Zak Brown’s statement underscores McLaren’s vision for growth in IndyCar. By fully integrating the team and aligning its resources with the broader McLaren Racing operation, the company aims to become a dominant force in the U.S.-based IndyCar Series. The focus will be on building a championship-caliber team, with an emphasis on driver development, technical expertise, and team cohesion.
McLaren’s commitment to growing its presence in North America also aligns with the broader trends in the motorsport world. The Formula 1 calendar has seen an increase in races held in the United States, with the addition of events like the Miami Grand Prix, which saw Lando Norris take his first-ever F1 victory. As McLaren Racing expands its footprint in the U.S. through both its Formula 1 and IndyCar operations, the team aims to build a stronger connection with its American fanbase.
McLaren’s strategy is centered on growth and sustainability, with the goal of not only competing for championships but also establishing a lasting legacy in both Formula 1 and IndyCar. As the team looks ahead to the 2025 season and beyond, the acquisition of Arrow McLaren is a key piece of this strategy. It strengthens McLaren Racing’s position in North America and offers the team a chance to further cement its place in the competitive world of motorsports.
In conclusion, the full acquisition of Arrow McLaren represents a major milestone for McLaren Racing as it continues to expand its operations in North America. With the support of Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson’s legacy, McLaren now has the resources and the vision to take the team to new heights in IndyCar, with aspirations of becoming a championship contender. This move comes at a time when McLaren’s Formula 1 team is also thriving, creating a promising future for the company across multiple racing disciplines.
