How McLaren Turned Racing Into a Business Empire

McLaren didn’t just build fast cars. They built a fast brand.

In just 7 years, they scaled from 5 to 53 sponsors. Not by winning more races. Not by spending more.

By flipping the mindset.
👉 “We’re not just a race team. We’re a brand. We’re media. We’re a business.”

This is the exact playbook we run at UNITE. Whether you’re an athlete, a founder, a creator  the game is the same.

You are not your job. You are a brand. A business. A media company. And when you move like that… deals don’t chase you. They tackle you.

Here’s how McLaren did it  and how you can too:👇

1️⃣ Your Brand Needs a Face

McLaren put a face to the brand Zak Brown. The voice. The identity. The guy who showed up everywhere.

💡 People don’t buy from logos. They buy from people.

This is why at UNITE, we build person-first brands. Whether you’re a pro athlete, a business owner, or a content creator YOU are the brand. Be visible. Be memorable. Be trusted.

2️⃣ Control Your Narrative

McLaren stopped sounding like every other team. No more “we just want to be the best.”

They built their own storyline one rooted in heritage, culture, and edge.

Brand = Storytelling.
👉 Most athletes wait for the media to tell their story. We don’t play that game.

When you take control of your story your content, your partnerships, your presence you control your commercial future.

3️⃣ Speak to the Next Generation

McLaren rebuilt their brand for now. New tone. New content. New vibe.

Old-school sponsorship is dead. Modern audiences connect with humans, not highlights.

🔥 This is how we build brands at UNITE:

✅ Content that fits the platforms.
✅ A tone that fits the culture.
✅ A brand that lives beyond the game.

4️⃣ Play in More Than One Lane

McLaren didn’t stay in one sandbox. They scaled from F1 to IndyCar to Formula E.

New audiences. New platforms. New revenue streams.

Same rule applies to you.
You’re not just an athlete. Not just a founder. Not just a creator.
You’re all of it.

When you step outside the job title, you unlock multiple income streams  not just one.

5️⃣ Build Like a Media Company

McLaren didn’t add media to sponsorships.
They became a media company.

Paced. Polished. Planned. Consistent.

This is where most athletes, founders, and creators fall down. Content is random, reactive, and, frankly boring.

At UNITE, your brand deck is your playbook. Your content is your pipeline. Your media presence is your leverage.

6️⃣ Create WITH, Not FOR, Partners

McLaren doesn’t do billboard sponsorship.
They co-create campaigns. They collaborate. They integrate.

👉 Modern brand partnerships aren’t “You sponsor me.”
It’s “We build something together.”

This is why a strong brand matters.
When your identity is dialed and your story is sharp  you stop pitching… and start partnering.

🚀 Bottom Line:

McLaren didn’t win by spending more.
They won by branding better.

👉 Your brand isn’t your logo.
It’s how you show up. It’s the story you tell. It’s the experience people have  online, offline, every single day.

You’re Not Just an Athlete.

Not Just a Founder.
Not Just a Creator.

You are a brand. A business. A movement.

And at UNITE  this is exactly what we do:
✅ Build your brand assets.
✅ Sharpen your story.
✅ Plug you into products, partnerships, and business.

When you’re ready to do this properly… hit the link in bio.

Let’s build. 🏗️🔥

💥 UNITE THE DREAM.