McLaren becomes sole owner of its IndyCar team

McLaren confirmed that it became the sole owner of the Arrow McLaren IndyCar team on December 31. This complete acquisition comes after the finalization of the last phase of the acquisition of the structure previously owned by Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson.

Until 2020, the team operated under the name Schmidt-Peterson Motorsports, before becoming Arrow McLaren SP. Then McLaren took a 75% stake in setting up the program for the 2021 season. The identity evolved further in 2023 to become simpler, becoming Arrow McLaren, but Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson remained minority shareholders.

For Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, it was important to further root the Woking company in the United States by sealing this complete takeover to have full control of the team which represents its interests in IndyCar.

“This is an exciting next step for McLaren Racing, growing and strengthening our presence in North America, which is an important market for our team and our fans.”underlines the businessman. “Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson have been great partners and co-owners, and I want to thank them as we continue to build what they started many years ago.”

The team was founded in 2001 under the Sam Schmidt Motorsports banner, then was also called Schmidt-Hamilton, before Ric Peterson arrived as co-owner in 2013. Simon Pagenaud was the first driver to make it triumph overseas. Atlantic, on the circuits of Detroit then Baltimore.

“Leaving my role as co-owner of Arrow McLaren is a mixed feeling”Sam Schmidt did not hide. “This team has been my life's work, starting from a dream to racing at a high level. I am infinitely grateful to the drivers, team members, partners and fans who have made everything this possible, as well as to McLaren who have raised the potential of the team.”

Ric Peterson, for his part, insisted on his pride in definitively passing on a team to McLaren “who has solid foundations for success”.

For the 2025 season, McLaren will enter full-time the single-seaters powered by Chevrolet and numbered 5, 6 and 7, assigned to Patricio O'Ward, Nolan Siegel and Christian Lundgaard.