McLaren has revealed the reason behind the decision to remove the innovative onboard digital advertising panels that had been seen on previous Formula 1 cars.
The reigning champions introduced the unique addition in 2022 to show sponsors along the cockpit, positioned as such to be in full view of onboard TV cameras.
Debuted at the 2022 US Grand Prix, the panels were scrapped at some stage during 2024, a season which culminated in the team winning the Constructors’ title.
The Woking-based squad revealed to RaceFans last month that a willingness to maximise competitiveness through weight-saving measures was behind the reversal.
McLaren’s decision came amid the side’s close battle in the Constructors’ Championship with Ferrari and Red Bull, which ended with it pipping the former by 14 points.
From bare to branded: McLaren no longer short of sponsorship
Although the loss of the panels is rendering the loss of a feature that is both inventive and beneficial to the team, McLaren isn’t struggling on the sponsorship front.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has overseen a regrowth on the commercial side since taking the role in 2016 alongside the team’s impressive ascent on the race track.
After having a small number of sponsors at the beginning of his tenure, Brown has turned McLaren into one of the most sought-after in terms of attractiveness to potential brands.
Speaking to media including Motorsport Week ahead of the F1 75 launch last month, Brown said: “[We] Definitely have interesting things coming.
“We’re in great shape commercially. We’re having the most amount of commercial revenue that a racing team has ever had. Probably in Formula 1 would be my guess.
“We’ll know when the books all get opened up. For last year, later in the year. All of our major announcements are done. But I’ve been doing this long enough to expect the unexpected.
“But at this point, what you’ll see tonight on our race cars will be racing with. ‘26 should be more of the same.
“My biggest focus right now on the racing team is stability and visibility from a longevity point of view.
“So whether that’s the pit wall or racing drivers or sponsors is what I’m laser-focused on.
“So if all goes according to plan, you shouldn’t see much change in any of that through the balance of the decade.”
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