Data and AI Underpin Dell-McLaren Racing F1 Partnership

In Formula 1 (F1), milliseconds separate victory from defeat. The sport's relentless pace means even the smallest competitive advantage transforms race outcomes and, increasingly, that edge comes from data and AI. 

McLaren Racing's recently-extended partnership with Dell Technologies is focused on the engineering and operation of both physical and digital performance initiatives. The collaboration, which dates back to 2018, integrates Dell's high-performance technologies into McLaren's engineering workflows, race operations and esports activities.

By combining cutting-edge hardware with the demands of elite competition, Dell provides McLaren with the infrastructure needed to manage vast datasets, drive precision decision-making and accelerate innovation across global teams.

"Our work with Dell Technologies has become a natural part of how we operate as an F1 team," comments Zak Brown, CEO at McLaren Racing. "Their support strengthens the way we work across the organisation, helping us stay agile and competitive in a sport where details matter.

"Extending this partnership reflects the confidence we have in what we can achieve together."

AI infrastructure powers real-time decisions

For McLaren's F1 team, the data science challenge is as significant as its mechanical hurdles. Each race weekend generates up to 1.5 TB of information, spanning tyre telemetry to aerodynamics data.

With Dell's AI Factory – including PowerEdge servers and a complete suite of AI capabilities – McLaren transforms this data into actionable insight in real time, enabling simulation, digital-twin modelling and scenario planning before the next turn, pit stop or strategy call.

Dell's scalable storage and compute infrastructure sits at the heart of McLaren's digital performance platform. Dell PowerStore and PowerScale provide the backbone for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) workloads and intricate design modelling, allowing the team to iterate car upgrades with agility throughout the season.

This combination of power, performance and scalability gives McLaren's engineers the ability to collaborate globally and adapt rapidly to F1's evolving technical demands.

Enterprise AI lessons from motorsport

For Dell Technologies, the partnership represents more than trackside branding. By working with McLaren, the Texas-based firm demonstrates how enterprise infrastructure translates to elite performance environments.

The relationship showcases what happens when AI-driven analytics, high-performance computing and digital collaboration tools meet sectors that demand constant iteration.

Gerri Tunnell, CMO at Dell Technologies, says: "The relationship between Dell Technologies and McLaren Racing showcases what's possible when two organisations are dedicated to pushing boundaries.

"Dell's solutions are a catalyst for human progress. With McLaren, we're demonstrating how the combination of powerful technology and human ingenuity can deliver real competitive advantages in high-stakes environments – an approach that inspires innovation across industries worldwide."

The partnership speaks to a broader trend across enterprise technology: the application of AI and advanced computing in performance-critical sectors. Microsoft has partnered with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 to position Azure AI and cloud computing at the centre of 2026 racing performance, while Google Cloud's multi-year partnership with Formula E is helping to improve both on-track and operational performance. 

Meanwhile, in broadcasting, Tata Communications' technology now reaches more than two billion fans with supreme precision.

In McLaren's case, Dell's ecosystem benefits not only F1 but also the growing domain of virtual racing, where the McLaren F1 Sim Racing Team relies on Dell's hardware for esports competition.

The renewal of Dell and McLaren's partnership demonstrates how Dell positions its AI and data infrastructure solutions as enablers for speed, precision and transformation. This applies not just to McLaren, but to any organisation pursuing performance at scale. By combining hardware, software and human expertise, continuous improvement is almost certain to follow.