Skip to site menu Skip to page content

New McLaren, Aston Martin sponsorships, F1 Academy deals with Dirt Is Good

The McLaren and Aston Martin Formula 1 teams have signed up Global and Aquame, respectively.

Euan Cunningham May 18 2026

A duo of Formula 1 (F1) motor racing teams, McLaren and Aston Martin, have added new commercial partners.

McLaren, last season's F1 constructors' title winners, have brought in Global as a new race partner and their official audio race partner in a multi-year agreement.

Aston Martin, meanwhile, has dealt with hydration technology and water bottle producer Aquame. That brand is now the UK team's official water bottle supplier.

Through the McLaren-Global deal, the media and entertainment giant's logo will be splashed across the team's radio headsets during race-week activity across a number of key European Grands Prix, including the events at Monaco and Silverstone (UK).

This will extend to the race headsets worn by McLaren's drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and by other McLaren team personnel.

In addition, branding will extend across the team's digital assets.

Matt Dennington, co-chief commercial officer at McLaren, has said: "Bringing them into some of our most iconic race environments will add real value to how we connect with audiences throughout the season. We look forward to working closely with the Global team across the selected races.”

Last week, the McLaren Racing umbrella organization announced a new partnership with computer hardware and technology heavyweight Intel.

Aquame, meanwhile, will supply Aston Martin with a range of specially-designed water bottles.

These are available to purchase by fans now.

Commercially speaking, last month, Aston Martin extended their agreement with motorsport memorabilia producer Memento Exclusives.

McLaren and Aston Martin currently sit third and 11th, respectively, in the 11-team 2026 F1 constructors' standings.

Elsewhere, F1 Academy and laundry brand Dirt Is Good (part of the Unilever empire) have partnered up.

The all-female developmental motor racing series organized by F1 has struck a multi-year deal with Dirt Is Good, through which that brand becomes F1 Academy's laundry detergent partner.

There will be a flagship activation during the F1 Dutch Grand Prix in August, while the tie-up officially gets underway at the upcoming F1 Academy race in Montreal later this month.

Susie Wolff, F1 Academy's managing director, commented: "The momentum behind F1 Academy has never been stronger, and the standard on track keeps rising. This is a platform where drivers are learning to perform under pressure, supported by the best teams and the right partners around them. Bringing Dirt Is Good into that environment is an exciting step."

Dirt Is Good also has a tie-up in place with heavyweight English soccer club Arsenal, last extended in October of 2025.

F1 Academy, meanwhile, added US beauty retailer Sephora as a new sponsor in mid-March. Sephora became the official beauty retail partner of the series and is now providing its immersive glam bars and fan activations at select races through 2026.

Uncover your next opportunity with expert reports

Steer your business strategy with key data and insights from our latest market research reports and company profiles. Not ready to buy? Start small by downloading a sample report first.

Newsletters by sectors

close

Sign up to the newsletter: In Brief

Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Thank you for subscribing

View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network.

close