McLaren Racing has today announced a partnership with the mental health charity Mind as part of McLaren’s support for the #WeRaceAsOne campaign, aimed at supporting those most affected and in need as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

McLaren will support Mind in conjunction with Formula 1’s choice of global charity for the #WeRaceAsOne campaign. The partnership with Mind stems from McLaren’s increased focus on mental health as part of its overall health and well-being programme. As a team in a high-performance environment at the peak of motorsport, mental health and well-being is a key priority.

A recent survey of more than 16,000 people during lockdown by the charity Mind revealed the scale of the impact of the pandemic on people with mental health problems. Two out of three (65 per cent) adults over 25 and three-quarters (75 per cent) of young people aged 13-24 with an existing mental health problem reported worse mental health. The same survey also revealed that existing inequalities in housing, employment, finances and other issues have had a greater impact on the mental health of people from different Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) groups during the coronavirus pandemic.

As part of the collaboration, for the rest of the 2020 Formula 1 season the Mind logo will feature on the MCL35 engine covers, pit crew helmets and on the helmet visors of McLaren F1 drivers, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz.

In celebration of the partnership, McLaren and Mind will be launching a prize draw where fans will have the opportunity to support the charity by entering. More information on the competition and ways to enter will be released next week. Fans are also encouraged to support Mind throughout the 2020 season by donating at Mind.org.uk/mclarenformind.

The money raised from the prize draw, together with a proportion of funds raised from associated merchandise sales, will help Mind tackle the mental health emergency created by the coronavirus pandemic, with the remaining profits going to F1’s chosen global charity.

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said:

“McLaren Racing is delighted to be collaborating with Mind as part of our support for the #WeRaceAsOne campaign. Mind is an important and considered choice of charity, as McLaren is conscious of the significance of mental health during these unprecedented times. We’re proud to welcome Mind as our chosen UK charity for the #WeRaceAsOne campaign and hope we can work together with our fans in supporting a great cause.”

Emma Ihsan, Head of Corporate Partnerships, Mind said:

“We are delighted that McLaren has chosen to support Mind for the duration of the season, and we are incredibly grateful to have this opportunity to raise vital funds and awareness.

“The pandemic has had such a devastating effect on the nation’s mental health, and those of us who were already experiencing mental health problems have seen many of the usual support services reduce or disappear. It is so important, especially in these unbelievably difficult times, that people are able to get the right support they need to see them through.

“The funds and awareness generated through this partnership will enable us to continue to provide advice, information and support so that no one has to face their mental health problem alone.”