McLaren signs Global for Monaco, British GPs

McLaren Racing said on May 18 that it has signed a new partnership with Global, the British media and entertainment group, that will put Global branding on team headsets at two Formula 1 weekends this season. The branding is set to appear at the Monaco Grand Prix on June 5-7 and the British Grand Prix at Silverstone later in the summer, according to announcements from Global and McLaren’s race calendar. McLaren and Global said the deal also covers McLaren’s Hypercar team and begins in 2026. PlanetF1 first highlighted the announcement ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix on May 19. ### What exactly did McLaren and Global announce? Global said it will join the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team and McLaren Hypercar Team as an “Official Race Partner” and “Official Audio Race Partner” from 2026 onward. The company said the partnership will place Global Player “at the heart of the action” and will include headset branding at selected races. (global.com) The Monaco and British Grands Prix are the two race weekends named in the initial rollout. PlanetF1 reported that Global branding will appear on McLaren team headsets during those events, describing the arrangement as a commercial partnership announced before the Canadian Grand Prix weekend. ### Why are team headsets part of the deal? Team headsets are among the most visible pieces of equipment in a Formula 1 garage and on the pit wall, where engineers, mechanics and strategists wear them throughout practice, qualifying and the race. (global.com) McLaren did not announce any car livery change as part of this agreement; the branding disclosed so far is tied to headsets at the selected events. (planetf1.com) Global framed the deal around audio and audience reach. Matt Dennington, McLaren Racing’s co-chief commercial officer, said bringing Global into “some of our most iconic race environments” would add value to how the team connects with audiences during the season, while Global said it plans to promote the partnership across Global Player, its radio brands and its billboard network. (global.com) ### Who is Global in this deal? Global describes itself as a media and entertainment group with radio, outdoor advertising and digital audio businesses in the UK. Its brands include Global Player, and the company has expanded further into sports-related branded entertainment in recent months. Global has already had Formula 1-related activity around McLaren. In June 2025, the company said it was the official promotional partner for McLaren Racing Live: London, a fan event staged ahead of the British Grand Prix, with Global Player branding visible across the event. (global.com) In February 2026, it also launched “Up To Speed,” a Formula 1 podcast show. (global.com) ### Does this fit McLaren’s broader sponsorship strategy? McLaren has continued to add commercial partners and partner activations around its Formula 1 program. The team already races under the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team name from 2026, and its official channels list a wide commercial portfolio spanning apparel, technology and fan-experience deals. (global.com) The Global agreement follows that pattern by attaching a media company to specific event inventory rather than announcing a wider change to the car’s identity. McLaren and Global both described the arrangement as a partnership built around selected races and audience engagement. ### When will fans first see the branding? McLaren’s official schedule lists the Canadian Grand Prix for May 22-24, followed by the Monaco Grand Prix on June 5-7. (mastercard.com) The British Grand Prix at Silverstone is the second named Formula 1 event in the Global announcement, and McLaren has a dedicated 2026 British Grand Prix event page on its site. Global said the partnership starts in 2026 and covers selected races, with Monaco and Silverstone named in the first announcement. (global.com) That makes the Monaco weekend the first confirmed Formula 1 appearance for the headset branding disclosed so far. (mclaren.com)