McLaren takes full control of its IndyCar team
McLaren Racing has announced that it has acquired the sole ownership of the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team, following the final phase of its buyout from Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson, deepening its commitment to motorsport in North America.
McLaren bought a 75% stake in the IndyCar team in 2021, which had evolved from Schmidt Peterson Motorsports to Arrow McLaren SP and most recently to Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team in 2023. Schmidt and Peterson retained minority ownership between 2021 and 2024.
“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,” McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said. “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.”
Speaking of the announcement, Schmidt added: “Stepping away from my ownership role with Arrow McLaren is bittersweet. 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.”
Reflecting on the news, 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.”
Pato O’Ward, Nolan Siegel and Christian Lundgaard will form Arrow McLaren’s three-driver lineup in the 2025 IndyCar season which is set to kick off on the 2nd of March with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
