A letter from Lando

Hello papaya fans,

This is my little message to you - and a big thank you for everything. I’m so excited that we have many more years together ahead of us. Four more years with McLaren. Four more years with you.

You’re such a big part of my life. We’ve shared so many incredible memories together over almost 10 years, so many very special moments – some good, some not so good – but all of them meaningful. Each has been a part of this journey, but what makes them special is that I’ve spent them with you.

From my first race for McLaren in Melbourne, to my first podium in Spielberg, my first victory in Miami and winning my home race at Silverstone last year in front of so many of you in the Landostand, I feel privileged to have shared these extraordinary experiences with you all.

I can remember walking into the factory for the first time as a 17-year-old. McLaren weren’t in the best place in their history, but I’d been given this incredible opportunity to join one of the most successful teams in Formula 1, and be a part of trying to put them back on top.

So much has changed since then, starting with me. I’m 26 now - 27 later this year - so I’ve been part of the McLaren family for nearly 10 years. That’s pretty crazy. Time has flown by. I have grown (quite literally!) in every sense of the word: as a person, in how I think about things and in how I approach race weekends. Every step has been part of a gradual evolution.

For me, McLaren is in one of the best places it’s ever been. We have incredible leaders in every department who have created a winning culture. The team is strong, supportive and collaborative. Everyone turns up to work wanting to do better than the day before. That’s the biggest and coolest change I’ve seen in my time here: the camaraderie is at an all-time high, everyone works together and pushes each other, and I’m really proud to be a part of that.

That’s what makes McLaren so special - it’s the people: all of the guys and girls who work here, and all of you who support me at home and at race tracks around the world. Every weekend, I go out there motivated to bring home a trophy for everyone to celebrate. For me, they’re the most memorable times, when I’m on the podium looking out at you all in the grandstands, or back at the factory, seeing the team’s smiling faces.

McLaren are the only team I’ve ever been with. That means I’m completely biased in everything I say, but also that so many of the people I met on day one are still on this journey with me, which is really unique. I’ve worked with a lot of my team for nearly 10 years, and we’ve all grown together. We’re a family. We’ve won together, lost together and shared so much joy. Most importantly, we share the same ambition and the same goal: to go out and achieve even more.

I am incredibly proud to be part of this amazing team, which has risen from where we were a few years ago to become back-to-back Constructors’ World Champions and Drivers’ World Champions. Hopefully, there will be more World Championships in the future. To have played a small part in helping this great team get back to the top of Formula 1 really means a lot to me. McLaren is unique because of its history and heritage, and when I’m older, I hope to be remembered as a part of that.

Thank you all so much for everything - for all of your support, and for all of the special moments. You play such a crucial part in my life, you motivate me to go out and perform, and I hope I do you proud. I will keep trying to do you proud for the next few years.

Thank you for your love, your generosity and all of your cheering. This team is unlike anything I have ever experienced before. That’s why I call it home.

Love Lando x