Gulf Oil’s iconic blue and orange colours will be returning to Formula 1, with the lubricant and oil major announcing a multi-year strategic partnership with McLaren. The new deal will cover both, McLaren’s F1 team as well as its luxury supercar company McLaren Automotive.

• McLaren’s F1 cars will carry Gulf branding from this week onwards
• From 2021, Gulf will become the preferred lubricant supplier to McLaren Automotive

McLaren F1 cars to sport Gulf branding at Silverstone

McLaren’s F1 cars will carry Gulf Oil branding from this weekend’s 2020 British GP. Additionally, the company’s logo will also feature on Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz’ overalls, as well as on those of the pit crew.

At the end of last year, the British team had decided to end its partnership with Brazilian oil company Petrobras for cost-cutting purposes, paving the way for this new deal to be inked.

From 2021, Gulf will become the preferred lubricant supplier to McLaren Automotive, with all cars to be filled with Gulf oil and fuel optimised for high-performance engines. Gulf branding will also be displayed at McLaren Automotive’s Pure customer events that take place around the world, at retailers and on team kit.

In addition, a small and exclusive number of customers will be given the option to have their McLaren supercar hand-painted by McLaren Special Operations, the firm’s bespoke division, in Gulf liveries and colours that echo the famous F1 GTR Le Mans car that raced in the 1990s.  

McLaren’s storied history with Gulf Oil

Gulf’s link with McLaren started in 1968 and continued until the end of the 1973 season, with the pair enjoying success in Formula 1 and the Can-Am series, in which the partnership won over 40 races. The partnership was then renewed at the Le Mans 24 Hours in the 1990s, with the infamous McLaren F1 GTR running in Gulf colours throughout the decade.

Commenting on the renewed partnership, Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Gulf Oil back to McLaren and reunite two iconic brands back together in a new and exciting partnership. Gulf is part of McLaren’s history and are well-known for their innovation and technical excellence in the industry, which aligns with McLaren perfectly. We are looking forward to starting our partnership together this season.”

This is a very exciting partnership that brings the Gulf brand back into elite motor racing. The history books are full of remarkable tales that Gulf Oil and McLaren have achieved in the past and now we are together once more to write the next chapter of this unique partnership,” added Mike Jones, CEO of Gulf Oil.

“We’re proud to be working alongside a brand that shares our ambitions for innovation and growth aspirations, both, on the road and on the track. We look forward to working together and developing both Gulf Oil and McLaren’s class-leading capabilities further.”