McLaren Formula 1 is on track for a major valuation boost as its shareholders prepare to buy out the remaining minority stakes. The move would value McLaren Racing at £3 billion and bring full ownership of the team under Gulf investors.
According to Sky News reporter Mark Kleinman, Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat and UAE-based investment group CYVN Holdings are finalising a deal to acquire the 30 percent stake they do not already own. The minority holding is currently split between MSP Sports Capital and several smaller investors including UBS O’Connor and Ares Investment Management. MSP Sports Capital is well known for its sports portfolio, which includes the X Games and multiple European football clubs such as Estoril Praia, AD Alcorcon, SK Beveren, Augsburg and Brondby IF.
If completed, the deal would make McLaren Racing fully controlled by Gulf entities, highlighting the growing influence of Middle Eastern investors in global motorsport. The timing also reflects McLaren’s resurgence on track and in the commercial space. Just last week, McLaren announced a landmark title sponsorship deal with Mastercard, estimated to be worth around 100 million US dollars per season.
For context, Aston Martin was valued at £2.4 billion earlier this year after signing a binding letter of intent with an unnamed buyer for a minority stake in Aston Martin Lagonda Holdings. McLaren’s higher valuation underscores both its recent success and Formula 1’s surging global popularity.
Founded by Bruce McLaren in 1963, the iconic papaya team has returned to the top of the sport. Under the leadership of chief executive Zak Brown, McLaren captured its first constructors’ championship since 1998 last season and is on course to repeat that success this year. The team’s drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, are also battling for the drivers’ championship. A McLaren driver has not won the title since Lewis Hamilton claimed his first crown in 2008.
At the Dutch Grand Prix, Australian Oscar Piastri took victory while British teammate Lando Norris suffered a retirement, keeping the championship fight wide open.
McLaren Group Ltd remains the parent company of McLaren Racing, while CYVN Holdings already controls McLaren Automotive through McLaren Group Holdings. The expected deal would consolidate both the racing and automotive arms of the business under complete Gulf ownership.
