Motul expands technical partnership with McLaren Racing into F1 and WEC

Motul is deepening its technical collaboration with McLaren Racing across Formula 1 and the FIA World Endurance Championship, with custom gearbox and differential fluids already in use on the MCL40 and a Hypercar lubricant program set for 2027. The deal extends Motul’s role in elite motorsport and feeds testing data back into future lubricant development.

Why it matters: - Motul is using McLaren Racing’s top-tier programs to develop lubricants under extreme racing conditions. - The work is designed to improve mechanical efficiency, transmission reliability and future product development. - The partnership links Formula 1 engineering with endurance racing, giving Motul two major test beds for fluid technology.

What happened: - Motul expanded its technical partnership with McLaren Racing across Formula 1 and the FIA World Endurance Championship. - Motul has supplied lubricant for the MCL40 gearbox and differential since the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season. - Motul will support McLaren Racing’s WEC Hypercar program with engine and transmission lubricants starting in 2027. - Motul announced the partnership update on Oct. 8, 2026. - The release pointed readers to more information.

The details: - Motul and McLaren Racing have built the relationship over more than 10 years of collaboration across multiple GT3 programs. - Motul’s R&D teams in France and Japan worked with McLaren Racing for nine months to create a bespoke formulation for the MCL40 gearbox and differential. - More than 40 tests were completed across pre-selection, tribological testing, material compatibility assessments and final validation at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking. - The resulting lubricant is designed to optimize mechanical efficiency and transmission system reliability while maintaining performance across Grand Prix conditions. - Motul will also provide technical collaboration as McLaren Racing prepares for its WEC debut. - Motul will support McLaren Racing through its Racing Lab, a mobile laboratory that analyzes fluid samples for wear, oxidation, thermal stability and fuel dilution. - Motul’s racing range includes the 300V line, which the company describes as a benchmark for endurance racing teams. - Motul has been involved in endurance racing for more than 70 years and has had a relationship with the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1954. - Motul’s Official Lubricant Partnership with the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans began in 2016. - Motul’s motorsport portfolio also includes Formula 1, MotoGP, Dakar, MXGP and Enduro GP.

Between the lines: - The partnership gives Motul a direct path from elite racing development to consumer-facing lubricant improvements. - McLaren gains a fluid partner with deep endurance-racing experience and a testing process built around repeated validation. - The South Africa-focused comments tie global motorsport results to local racing programs, suggesting Motul wants the McLaren deal to reinforce its market position beyond F1. - Carlo Savoca said Formula 1 provides an exceptional environment to refine Motul’s technologies and that track miles create technical insights for the next generation of products. - Mercia Jansen said learnings from global racing platforms directly enhance reliability and performance for South African competitors and enthusiasts.

What's next: - Motul and McLaren Racing will continue development through the 2026 Formula 1 season, including the Singapore Grand Prix. - McLaren Racing’s WEC Hypercar lubricant support begins with the 2027 season. - Motul is expected to keep using racing data to refine its lubricant formulations across future motorsport programs.

The bottom line: - Motul is turning McLaren Racing into a high-speed R&D lab, with F1 now feeding a broader push into endurance racing and next-generation lubricant technology.