McLaren Racing has acquired 100 per cent of the Arrow McLaren IndyCar team ahead of the 2025 season.
Confirmed:
- Full acquisition comes after the final phase of buyout from Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson
- Sole ownership went into effect from 31st December 2024
Context:
The Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team became Arrow McLaren SP in 2021 when McLaren Racing purchased a 75 per cent stake in the IndyCar outfit. The ‘SP’ initials were dropped for the 2023 campaign, but Schmidt and Peterson continued as minority owners until the end of last season.
Comment:
“This is an exciting step for McLaren Racing as we grow and strengthen our presence in North America, which is a very important market for our team and our fans,” said McLaren Racing chief executive Zak Brown.
“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, and that is a championship-caliber NTT IndyCar Series team.”
“Stepping away from my ownership role with Arrow McLaren is bittersweet,” Schmidt said. “This team has been my life’s work, growing from a dream into a competitor at the highest level.
“I’m endlessly grateful to the drivers, team members, partners and fans who made it all possible and to McLaren for elevating the team’s potential. While I’m stepping back from ownership, my heart will always be with this team, and I’ll be cheering for its continued success every step of the way.”
Peterson added: “Since I joined Sam as co-owner in 2013, it’s been rewarding to see this team evolve. We welcomed Arrow as title partner in 2019, we joined forces with McLaren in 2021, we became a three-car NTT IndyCar Series team in 2023, and we celebrated many poles, podiums and wins in Indy Lights and IndyCar throughout those years.
“This team has a strong foundation for success, and Sam and I are proud of where we leave it.”
Coming next:
McLaren enters 2025 with a three-driver IndyCar lineup of Pato O’Ward, Nolan Siegel, and Christian Lundgaard. The season-opening Grand Prix of St Petersburg takes place on 2nd March.
Go deeper:
- IndyCar 2024 season review: Stuttering viewership and off-track politics overshadow an exciting year
- IndyCar CEO Mark Miles on the Fox media rights deal, expanding into new markets, and plans for an international series
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