McLaren set to lose £20m in sponsorship next year - Telegraph McLaren set to lose £20m in sponsorship next year Johnnie Walker, the whisky brand, and Santander, the banking group, are likely to walk away from McLaren McLaren are facing the prospect of losing £20 million in sponsorship next year with two major brands poised to leave the team after one of the worst seasons in their history. The Daily Telegraph understands that both Johnnie Walker, the whisky brand, and Santander, the banking group, are likely to walk away from McLaren with the team languishing ninth in the constructors championship. Johnnie Walker have been with McLaren for a decade, bringing £15 million a season. Their expected departure will be all the more galling for Ron Dennis, the McLaren chairman, given they offered at the end of 2013 to become the teams title sponsor in a £43 million-a-year deal. Dennis turned it down because he believed the offer was too small. A Johnnie Walker spokesman said on Friday night they are in ongoing conversations with McLaren but refused to comment on speculation. Santanders £5 million yearly sponsorship is also set to end. The team also lost Hugo Boss to Mercedes last season after a 33-year association.
who's left? Was last weekend the first with blank side pots? Will Honda back them? To what degree are they prepared to help out?
who's left? Was last weekend the first with blank side pots? Will Honda back them? To what degree are they prepared to help out?
Ouch. It's sad to see them struggle, even if I hated them with a vengeance on track in their better years! Hope Ron pulls something out the bag
Not great news but I think that money is not their biggest problem (yet). Their expensive drivers and their relatively good chassis show they still have cash to spend. And Honda can throw more cash if they needed to. Also, Ron can sell some cheap sponsorship space to those minor sponsors he said he has.
BBC Sport - Jenson Button wants McLaren future sorted 'in next few weeks' "McLaren have not revealed when the option on Button's contract expires, but traditionally the date for McLaren options has been at the end of September. The decision is complicated by finance. Insiders say Button's contract for 2016 guarantees him a pay rise of $5m (£3.3m), after he took a $5m pay cut to $10m (£6.6m) to stay with the team this year. Alonso is earning $40m (£26.2m) a year. McLaren have been without a title sponsor for two years, there is no obvious prospect of them finding one for next year and there have been reports they are to lose substantial backing from drinks giant Diageo next season. In addition, they are set to lose about $20m (£13.1m) in prize money because of their poor form this season following their switch to Honda engines. They lie ninth in the constructors' championship, which defines pay-outs to teams, after finishing fifth last season. That means they face a cash shortfall that might make it harder to afford Button's salary. If they try to renegotiate Button's salary, McLaren would be in breach of contract, which would mean the driver could leave if he chose to. Sources close to Button say he would prefer to stay at McLaren, as he is enjoying testing himself against Alonso, with whom he has been closely matched this season. He would prefer to stay in F1 but beyond McLaren his options are limited" Why pay huge salary's to two high profile drivers when the car isn't up to scratch. I'd say let Button go, get Vandoorne in...
Wow they pay Alonso 40 million to go around in 17th place each week? Honda pays half of it (Button's salary too) http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12479/9981224/mclaren-honda-relationship-now-at-breaking-point Arai subjected to 'brutal' media grilling on Saturday at Monza; Still no sign of a breakthrough for new partnership; Fernando Alonso claims team losing three seconds of straight-line pace per lap to Merc McLaren and Honda's relationship appears to have reached breaking point amid reports the Woking team have asked for Yasuhisa Arai to be removed. Arai, Honda's beleaguered chief motorsport officer, is under intense pressure after a series of promises went undelivered and the team produced little sign of progress after a dismal start to their renewed partnership.
Dennis has proven that the more he meddles in the team and automotive company these days, the worse they do. No wonder there are divisions amongst ownership as to what to do with him. Their F1 team is becoming farcical.
As are the P1 performance claims, but the new 675 looks like it has the goods. Honda is half the problem too.
+2 Love 'em or hate 'em, they're one of the 'great' teams out there. Seems like Mr Arai is on his way out, which probably won't change anything, but I guess someone has to fall on their sword, may as well be him..... I'm surprised it's taking so long for them to get their act together, but as noted many times, anyone who writes them off is a fool. Cheers, Ian
The Mobil 1 TV commercials featuring the McLarens are looking downright hypocritical these days. I'm surprised that ExxonMobil hasn't pulled them yet.
I can see them replacing Button for either Vandoorne or Magnussen but, methinks Alonso is in it for the long haul at $40 mill a season.
Mclaren right now would be quite happy with Alonso leaving I guess. No point splashing 40 mil on a driver when there's no way in hell this car is going to fight for podiums. As being discussed, little money coming towards them yet the money leaving their pockets at an alarming rate. They better hope Honda picks up the bill for some expenses (Alonso!).
But maybe only Alonso in the car might attract a sponsor in the moment...Because Alonso still is a star and I guess you get him for the commercials if you get McLaren....
Alonso will be on a watertight contract, they may as well keep him for the 40 mill a year, as buy out his contract and have to pay a replacement as well. They would have to have him want to leave and be happy to go for nothing, otherwise it would be nuts
I'm not quite sure if anyone wants to sponsor to the tune of 40 million for a team which is no more than a back marker right now (albeit with a fantastic past), even with 2 top rate F1 drivers. They would need a guarantee that next year the car will fight for podiums. And anyone with half a brain knows that a guarantee in F1 is non existant.
I hope for mclarens sake that a change at the top of Honda will release the cork from the bottle, otherwise I really fear for the team long term. One bad season is fine, but look at Williams, once they slipped, they had to work very very hard to get back to where they are today, and they still aren't considered regular win contenders. I do remember interviews with Patrick head where he seemed very concerned Williams was on the ropes in the mid to late 2000's
+1 If it wasn't for them having a mercedes engine but still Renault, this would very likely have been there final season.
Paying Alonso that much was a huge strategic blunder. He had nowhere to go except out of F1. You pay a guy the top of the scale who has no options? That makes no sense. Yeah I know... he'd have just left F1... BS!
