McLaren Racing has expanded its existing partnership with the Saudi Arabian city development project NEOM, resulting in NEOM becoming the Official Principal Partner of McLaren Shadow, the team’s sim racing division. This expanded collaboration will involve NEOM working with McLaren Shadow to create talent pathways for individuals in Saudi Arabia, spanning from grassroots projects to high-level sim racing initiatives in the region. One notable initiative is the opportunity for individuals to undergo training at the McLaren Shadow Academy, which aims to nurture aspiring sim racing drivers.
In conjunction with the unveiling of a new livery for its Formula One (F1) car, McLaren Shadow team members will sport a new jersey prominently featuring the NEOM logo. Despite NEOM’s past controversies in the esports industry, including the termination of partnerships with BLAST and Riot Games’ LEC in 2020 due to public backlash over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, McLaren Racing remains optimistic about the collaboration.
McLaren Racing introduced its esports team in 2018 and has since established a UK-based facility for driver training and content creation. In 2022, driver Lucas Blakeley secured victory in the F1 Esports Drivers Championship, marking a significant achievement for the team. Neil Walker, Head of Esports and Gaming at McLaren Racing, expressed excitement about the team’s relaunch with the new partnership, emphasizing the collaboration’s focus on developing grassroots talent in the sport.