Arrow McLaren to lose primary sponsor NTT Data after 2026 season

• Álex Palou was supposed to follow his sponsor to Arrow McLaren but reneged on agreement
• NTT Data renegotiated its deal in the wake of Palou’s breach of contract to include a break clause
• Partnership with McLaren F1 team will also end after 2026

Arrow McLaren will lose a major sponsor after next season, with NTT Data informing the IndyCar team of its intention to terminate their deal early.

As first reported by IndyStar, the Japanese technology firm will make an early exit from the six-year deal it signed in 2022.

Prior to this deal, NTT Data had title sponsored the Chip Ganassi Racing entry of Álex Palou and the Spaniard was supposed to follow the company to Arrow McLaren a year later before he reneged on the three-year contract he signed with McLaren chief executive Zak Brown.

Both Arrow McLaren and NTT Data believed Palou was part of the overall agreement, so his absence from the team has been keenly felt. That sense of loss has only been exacerbated by the three consecutive titles he has since won with Chip Ganassi.

After Palou breached his contract, NTT Data renegotiated its deal with Arrow McLaren to include a break clause for the final two years, something the company has now activated.

A major contributing factor has been the substantial publicity NTT Data has missed out on by not being attached to the IndyCar champion’s car. In response, McLaren has sought to appease its partner, for instance by expanding the deal to include the Formula One team.

“Following a global marketing review, NTT Data will conclude the current partnership arrangement with McLaren Racing after the 2026 season,” Kirk Gillette, senior marketing advisor, events and sponsorships, for NTT Data, told BlackBook Motorsport.

“Our partnership with McLaren has delivered strong brand alignment and strategic value which were primary objectives. So we are proud of our long-standing relationship with McLaren in both F1 and IndyCar. NTT Data is looking forward to another exciting race season in 2026 with McLaren Racing.”

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BlackBook says…

NTT Data’s involvement in IndyCar will continue as the company holds an entitlement partnership with the series that is believed to run until the end of the 2027 season.

Arrow McLaren, however, is left with a substantial hole to fill in its sponsorship portfolio. Unlike its Formula One counterpart, the IndyCar team does not enjoy the same commercial appeal, so there will be work to do over the next 12 months.

There is good news, though – the team recently announced multi-year extensions with both Mission Foods and Onsemi. On track, Arrow McLaren’s performances have also improved considerably, with Pato O’Ward and Christian Lundgaard regularly challenging for wins. O’Ward, in particular, would be a valuable commercial asset if the team wants to tap into the Mexican market.

Arrow McLaren are also in the process of moving to a new headquarters to further support their operations. The team began transitioning to Andretti Global’s former base on Zionsville Road in Indiana over the summer, with the site set to become its permanent home ahead of next season.