As a McLaren fan you’ve probably spotted #WeRaceAsOne branding on the MCL35 and across our channels this year. But what does it mean and why does it matter? We wanted to take this opportunity to speak to you directly, to update you on the purpose of the campaign and how we’re driving it forward.

We conceived the #WeRaceAsOne campaign in response to covid-19 and the return to racing. Its aim is to thank those who are helping the world confront the challenges of the pandemic and raise money for those affected by it. After discussing the campaign with Formula 1, we decided that to maximise its impact it should be implemented on a sport-wide level. Formula 1 embraced the campaign and positioned it as a central call-to-action, which encompassed the ‘End Racism’ message that was driven by the issue of racial injustice in the US and subsequent protest movement at the time.

In addition to spearheading this campaign, we chose a UK-based partner that's playing a vital role in tackling the coronavirus crisis: the mental health charity Mind. This partnership is the centrepiece of our #WeRaceAsOne effort, alongside our continued support of Formula 1’s global efforts around covid-19.

Since announcing the partnership with Mind in July, we have raised more than £200,000 through donations from fans and team members, including the #MoveforMind challenge, ecommerce sales of merchandise and a prize draw of Carlos’s and Lando’s own helmet designs. We're continuing to raise awareness of mental health in support of Mind as part of the #WeRaceAsOne campaign. This includes but is not limited to:

• Lando and Carlos wearing personally hand-painted helmet designs in support of World Mental Health Day at the Eifel Grand Prix
• A prize draw for fans to win drivers’ race-worn helmets and to raise further funds for Mind
•  The Mind logo featuring on the McLaren F1 car throughout the season, as well as ‘We’re Supporting Mind’ and ‘#WorldMentalHealthDay’ branding during the Eifel Grand Prix
• A content series focusing on mental health challenges as told by our own people
• The entire McLaren Racing team taking part in Mind’s #MoveforMind fundraising challenge by getting active for better mental health

In parallel to our work with Mind, we have accelerated and intensified our focus on diversity, equality and inclusion (DE&I). Developing our DE&I strategy was a priority that we had already identified, but our efforts have gained further momentum in the recent months in light of the ‘End Racism’ campaign.

We have a responsibility not only to our workforce but to motorsport and wider society to inspire people from all backgrounds to fulfil their potential. At McLaren, this includes creating a culture of inclusion, development and reward where everyone can bring their true and best self to work and thrive. One of the first steps we have taken is to hold a series of focus groups with our people to understand how we can collectively drive our DE&I agenda forward.

We have also engaged some of the foremost leaders in DE&I and have partnered with Jean Tomlin OBE, CEO of Chanzo, to help develop our strategy and guide our implementation. We are drawing on this invaluable external expertise to ensure our detailed long-term plan, covering recruitment, STEM, apprenticeships, outreach, family-friendly policies and inclusive employer brand, is fit for purpose now and in the future.

In addition, we’re proud to be an active member of the newly-formed Formula 1 Taskforce, which comprises our fellow teams, the FIA and Formula 1, and aims to increase DE&I at a sport and industry level. Furthermore, as a core element of our sustainability strategy, we are increasing our already strong commitment to STEM as a core driver of DE&I – building a diverse pipeline of talent, promoting the breadth of opportunities in racing and encouraging more young people across all sections of society to pursue STEM careers.

We acknowledge that we are only at the very beginning of our journey – a journey without an end – and while we are not yet where we want to be, we recognise that it takes time to deliver positive sustainable change. We hold ourselves accountable – and expect to be held accountable by our people, partners and fans – for continuous improvement and progress in this area. And we know that we will be judged on our actions and outcomes, not words alone.

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