Motul and McLaren - Moving forward in partnership

It was Autumn of last year when Motul announced its return to Formula One racing, after more than half a century. Partnerships don’t come much more high profile – the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team being the holders of both the F1 Constructors’ and Drivers’ crowns  – but, from the outset, this was never about the kudos of being linked with a top F1 name, and much about how, technically, Motul was able to contribute to McLaren’s ongoing quest to be at the top of the motorsport ladder.

So, a technical partnership in the truest sense has been born and, even before the starting lights went out at the opening Grand Prix of the season, McLaren and Motul announced an extension to the partnership. The global fluids brand was named as a partner to McLaren’s nascent Hypercar programme to compete in the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship, which of course, includes the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours.

In F1, with the dramatic change of regulations coming into effect this season, the bar has been reset for everyone. As it has progressed, the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team has increasingly come into the mix for race honours, culminating with a superb race win from pole position by World Champion, Lando Norris in Hungary and an equally impressive follow-up victory at Zandvoort. 

“In most sports this would be a ‘getting to know you’ season but, in Formula One, you really need to hit the ground running,” explains Motul UK and Ireland Technical Manager, Has Tahier. “The new regulations have meant everyone having to come to terms with a whole load of new systems and, all the teams without exception, have experienced issues they have never had to deal with before. We are happy, however, to be working well with McLaren, and Motul’s long history partnering motorsport teams at the very highest levels, has undoubtedly helped this to happen.”

After the recent Dutch GP, the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team currently sits third in the Constructors’ title race, while World Champion, Lando Norris and team mate, Oscar Piastri are fourth and seventh, respectively, in the Drivers’ standings.

McLaren and Motul have worked together to develop a gearbox oil that meets McLaren’s technical specifications – which, to cope with the rigours of Formula One, are understandably extremely stringent – but one that also helps give them the opportunity of a performance advantage with its transmission function.

Motul has been the leading innovator in automotive lubricant technology over the last 70 years and, as the company who pioneered synthetic oils in the sector, the race track has long been an important factor in the development of future lubricants. Motul’s flagship 300V - the world’s first fully synthetic motor oil - was named in honour of three hundred victories achieved on Motul Oils and what makes up today’s motorsport technology, invariably benefits the motorists of tomorrow.

“Motul’s partnership with McLaren is still in its relatively early stages but is already offering us a raft of new opportunities - on many levels,” enthuses Head of Motul UK & Ireland Business, Andy Wait. “As the partnership develops and, with the Hypercar FIAWEC programme to add into the mix, on top of F1 – together will Motul’s ongoing commitment to the incorporation of sustainable technology into is everyday lubricant ranges - it is undoubtedly going to be a really exciting time ahead for the brand.“