F1: McLaren Reunites with Estrella Galicia Following Ferrari Split

For the 2024 season, McLaren will once again be sponsored by the Spanish beer brand Estrella Galicia. Since Carlos Sainz's 2015 Formula 1 debut, the beer company has been a personal sponsor of the Spanish driver. They previously sponsored McLaren in 2019 and 2020. Despite this, Estrella Galicia has recently severed its ties with the Ferrari driver in order to assume a more prominent role as a team sponsor for McLaren.

As part of a calculated strategy, Estrella Galicia switched teams from Ferrari to McLaren and had its logo prominently displayed on the 2024 McLaren F1 vehicle. Also, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who race for McLaren, will have the beer brand's emblem on their team kit and race suit. Jose Cabanas of Estrella Galicia emphasised the allure and possible advantages of collaborating with McLaren while explaining the choice to link with the Woking-based side.

Matt Dennington of McLaren Racing said: "We are delighted to welcome Estrella Galicia back to the McLaren Racing family. We enjoyed a fantastic partnership throughout 2019 and 2020, and it is great to now continue our journey together. We’re excited about the upcoming season and building on the positive momentum we had last year, and it’s fantastic to go racing with Estrella Galicia alongside us."

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José Cabanas of Estrella Galicia said: "As part of our internationalisation process, having great partners alongside you is a key factor for success. McLaren Racing and Estrella Galicia not only share common values such as authenticity, craftmanship, and innovation but also a strong spirit of differentiation and a non-conformist attitude in everything they do. We are thrilled to start a new chapter in our F1 journey in papaya colours and I’m sure that we will have great things to toast for during the season."

F1: Estrella Galicia and Formula 1

Estrella Galicia has been Carlos Sainz's go-to sponsor since his GP3 days in 2013. In 2015, the year that Sainz and fellow rookie Max Verstappen debuted in Formula 1, the beer brand found its way into the upper echelons of motorsport with Toro Rosso. Estrella Galicia's involvement grew over the years; they were the ones to put their emblems on the car at the beginning and stick with Sainz as he switched teams.

In 2017, the brand moved from Toro Rosso to Renault, and in 2019, it will be at McLaren. Even after Sainz moved to Ferrari in 2021, Estrella Galicia still working with him. During their time together, Sainz won thrice in the previous three years.

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Nevertheless, Ferrari formally confirmed a multi-year agreement with Asahi Europe and International Ltd in January of the same year, with the deal scheduled to begin in 2024. Estrella Galicia knew its partnership with Ferrari and Sainz would terminate after the previous season, even though the announcement didn't say which non-alcoholic beverages would be promoted. Because of this, the beer company had to consider other options to remain involved in the series, ultimately deciding to return to McLaren.