Zak Brown believes Red Bull and Mercedes have struck ‘dangerous’ sponsorship deals

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McLaren partnered with telecommunications giants Vodafone from 2007 to 2013. Throughout Lewis Hamilton’s time with the team, they sported their logo on the side of the car.

Known as Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, they ran a chrome livery with heavy elements of the company’s signature red. Hamilton’s maiden championship triumph in 2008 immortalised that design.

However, Vodafone ended the relationship at the end of the 2013 season, and McLaren haven’t had a title sponsor since. They returned to an almost completely grey livery during their ill-fated reunion with Honda before embracing their papaya heritage.

In the past, McLaren have had deals with cigarette brands like West and Marlboro. The latter inspired their iconic red and white look during the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, most notably sported by Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.

While they’re no longer bound by such an agreement, the MCL38 remains one of the busiest cars on the grid in terms of sponsor decals. Even the wheel covers on the car have been repainted to match the Google Chrome colour scheme.

McLaren’s ascent back to the front of the grid has significantly increased their prominence in F1 broadcasts. They spent around a decade hovering around the midfield but they’ve finally reached a point where they can regularly contend for victories.

Zak Brown says Mercedes and Red Bull title partnerships are risky

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown is pleased that the team aren’t ‘dependent’ on a commercial partner. While title sponsorship deals can be lucrative, they also account for a significant proportion of a team’s revenue.

As Brown points out, that can leave a ‘big gap’ if the arrangement comes to an end, as McLaren may have found in 2014. Red Bull (Oracle) and Mercedes (Petronas) are among the teams who have agreed such deals.

Ferrari have also embraced that business model after signing a contract with HP at the end of April. Aston Martin (Aramco), RB (Visa Cash App), BWT (Alpine) and Sauber (Stake) also feature on the list, but Brown is relaxed about McLaren’s absence.

“From day one, I wanted us not to be dependent on a sponsor,” he said, via Motorsport Magazin. “If you look at our partners, we aren’t either. If you have a title sponsor, like some teams, then that’s dangerous. Because if that sponsor leaves you, you have a big gap to fill.”

Why Damon Hill thinks Lando Norris ‘can’t be comfortable’ at McLaren

McLaren are bound to be fielding interest from multiple corporations given their current level of success. They recently signed a deal with Mastercard, whose emblem will appear on the car later this season.

The Woking outfit could win the world championship this year for the first time since the noughties. While Max Verstappen is likely out of reach in the drivers’ (he’s 78 points ahead of Lando Norris), they’re just 42 behind Red Bull in the constructors’.

If Sergio Perez continues to struggle after the summer break, then it’s only a matter of time before McLaren take first place. The team feel they have the best line-up on the grid in Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Damon Hill says that Norris ‘can’t be comfortable’ right now, with his teammate closing the gap all the time. 32 points separate them ahead of the final 10 races.

Hill compared Piastri to Jackie Stewart given that he’s rarely overcome by emotion. In time, he too may attract the kind of commercial interest that sees him rival Norris’ profile.