McLaren & Dell Cross the Finish Line on Partnership Renewal

Just milliseconds separate success and failure in a sport as fast-paced as Formula 1, making every advantage count. One way teams gain that edge is through data.

McLaren Racing has announced that it is extending its partnership with Dell Technologies to engineer and operate both physical and digital performance initiatives. The collaboration began in 2018 and integrates Dell’s high-performance technologies into McLaren’s engineering workflows, race operations and esports activities.

By combining advanced hardware with the relentless pace of competition, Dell provides McLaren with the infrastructure to manage data, drive precision decision-making and accelerate innovation across global teams.

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing says: “Our work with Dell Technologies has become a natural part of how we operate as a Formula 1 team.

“Their support strengthens the way we work across the organisation, helping us stay agile and competitive in a sport where details matter. Extending this partnership reflects the confidence we have in what we can achieve together.”

Broadening McLaren’s AI-driven ecosystem with Dell

For McLaren’s F1 team, the data science challenge is as big as the mechanical hurdles. Each race weekend generates up to 1.5TB of information, from tyre telemetry to aerodynamics data.

With Dell’s AI Factory, including PowerEdge servers and a full suite of AI capabilities, McLaren transforms this data into insight in real time. 

This enables simulation, digital-twin modelling and scenario planning before the next turn, pit stop or strategy call.

Dell’s scalable storage and compute infrastructure forms the core of McLaren’s digital performance platform. 

PowerStore and PowerScale provide the backbone for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) workloads and intricate design modelling, allowing the team to iterate car upgrades with agility throughout the season.

This combination of power, performance and scalability gives engineers the ability to collaborate globally and adapt to Formula 1’s evolving technical demands.

The role of technology partnerships in motorsport

For Dell Technologies, the collaboration goes beyond branding on a car. It demonstrates how enterprise infrastructure can support elite performance environments.

Gerri Tunnell, CMO at Dell Technologies, says: “The relationship between Dell Technologies and McLaren Racing showcases what’s possible when two organisations are dedicated to pushing boundaries. 

“Dell’s solutions are a catalyst for human progress. With McLaren, we’re demonstrating how the combination of powerful technology and human ingenuity can deliver real competitive advantages in high-stakes environments – an approach that inspires innovation across industries worldwide.”

The partnership also reflects a key trend across enterprise technology: applying high-performance computing, AI-driven analytics and digital collaboration tools in sectors that require constant iteration, such as sport and media.

Elsewhere in motorsport, Microsoft has partnered with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 to put Azure AI and cloud at the centre of 2026 racing performance, while Google Cloud works with Formula E to improve performance on and off the track. 

In terms of broadcasting, Tata Communications’ technology reaches more than two billion fans with millisecond precision.

For McLaren, Dell’s ecosystem benefits both Formula 1 and virtual racing. 

The McLaren F1 Sim Racing Team relies on Dell’s hardware for esports competitions, showing how infrastructure is designed for speed and precision transfers across physical and digital arenas.

The renewal of Dell and McLaren’s partnership exemplifies how AI and data infrastructure enable speed, precision and transformation. 

This approach is not limited to motorsport but applies to any organisation aiming for performance at scale. 

By combining hardware, software and human expertise, continuous improvement – from the race track to the enterprise boardroom – is achievable.