3 March 2026 16:30 (UTC)
What is Web3, and why should you care? Your questions answered
From Overtake Mode to overcut, Boost Button to backmarker, Formula 1 is rife with specialist lingo that can be confusing to newcomers, and the internet is no different.
Terminology such as digital collectibles and Web3 can be daunting and confusing, but they offer fans unique insights and behind-the-scenes access to the team, and we’d hate for you to miss out, which is why we are here to explain what they are and what it means for you as a member of the Papaya Family.
Web3 describes the latest era of the internet. It is a vision for a decentralised internet focused on ownership and participation – empowering users to take control of their digital lives, and their own data. Web3 puts the power in your hands.
We’ve teamed up with Hedera, the trusted public network for building fast and secure Web3 applications, to deliver cutting-edge experiences that bring you closer to the team than ever before.
Think Mika Häkkinen in the Japanese Grand Prix in 1999, dial-up modems, and static web pages.
After launching a browser and waiting for your webpage to load, F1 fans could read post-race reports. If you missed Mika clinching his second title in 1999, you could relive the action by reading a thrilling text article.
Functional, but not as engaging as it could be. This era of the web was read-only.
Think Lewis Hamilton winning the title at the last corner at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2008, smartphones and MySpace.
The current era of the internet started to take shape in the mid-2000s. This period saw the growth of social media and big tech firms such as Google. Users could enjoy instant access to content, and fans could even watch the races on their phones – this would have been unthinkable in the 1990s.
Web2 proved to be a quantum leap from the text-based experience of being a motor racing fan in the '90s, but it was mostly a one-way relationship, with brands and teams providing fans with content to consume.
Enter Web3.
Think Lando’s Formula 1 World Championship triumph in 2025, digital collectibles, and Discord.
Web3 is all about giving control back to its users. New technology, such as Hedera’s decentalised hashgraph, allows fans to take direct ownership of digital collectibles.
Fans can trade digital assets directly with each other without the need for a centralised service. In the future, your Grand Prix memorabilia could be authenticated by hashgraph technology, creating a secure and unalterable record of each item’s provenance and ownership history. Community lies at the heart of the Web3 experience. Whether you’re a Web3 native or new to the scene, fans can discuss all the racing action with each other on McLaren’s Discord server and help shape the direction of the digital collectible programme.
The McLaren Racing Discord is the home of the Web3 community. It allows you to get to know other friendly members of the Papaya Family who have similar interests. Think of it as an online coffee shop where you can chat to fellow fans and get involved in race watches and quiz nights with prizes on offer. For owners of our MCL/COLLECT digital collectibles, it is also a space to discuss your digital artwork with fellow fans.
New technology allows fans to get closer to the team than ever before. Hedera’s technology rewards fans for supporting the team. Whether it’s signed merch or an exclusive experience, such as a tour of the McLaren Technology Centre, by owning one of our MCL / COLLECT digital collectables, you unlock exclusive perks and unlock entry into an exclusive prize draws.
Want to know more? Join the McLaren Racing Discord and live out this new era with us.
