McLaren confirms BP and Castrol partnership

McLaren has confirmed a new partnership with BP and Castrol, replacing ExxonMobil as fuel and lubricant supplier.

At the end of last season Red Bull announced it would be using ExxonMobil's fuel and oil in 2017, bringing to an end a long-term partnership with McLaren. It was the second long-term McLaren partner to move to Red Bull following TAG Heuer's switch a year earlier. At the time it was suggested McLaren already had a replacement lined up and the team has now confirmed it will use BP and Castrol.

"This agreement between McLaren, BP and Castrol is between brands who both share a long-standing and well-recognized passion for innovation in all we do," McLaren Technology Group chief operating officer Jonahtan Neale said. "Our McLaren-Honda team provides a global platform for Castrol to supply bespoke advanced lubricant technology."

The new partnership has been announced as a "technical collaboration," with BP and Castrol fuel and lubricant technology being used in Formula 1 but also seeing the supply of products to McLaren Automotive. The team will also use Castrol lubricants and greases in its machine shop and dynamic chassis rig.

"The partnership between McLaren Automotive and Castrol is an important step in our journey to deliver the highest levels of performance and efficiency from the engines in our Sports and Super Car ranges," McLaren Automotive chief executive officer Mike Flewitt added. "Not only will the lubricants provided by Castrol play a wide-ranging role in delivering the efficiencies across our existing cars, but our future engine generations as well."

While McLaren has previously worked with Castrol in Formula 1, its power unit supplier Honda also has a close partnership with Castrol in other motorsport categories including MotoGP.

Confirmation of McLaren's new partnership comes soon after Renault announced it will also use BP and Castrol fuel and oil in 2017, switching from Total.

McLaren will launch its 2017 car – the MCL32 – on Feb. 24 at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking.