McLaren has reportedly played down reports title sponsor Vodafone is pulling out of formula one due to the controversial Bahrain grand prix. A day after the British team confirmed that its title sponsor since 2007 will pull out at the end of the year, The Times newspaper said Vodafone made its decision "after conducting a review of the deal on the back of last year's Bahrain grand prix".
Bahrain, also a McLaren co-owner through the state-owned Mumtalakat Holding Company, has been a controversial race on the F1 calendar in the wake of the Kingdom's reaction to the Arab Spring uprising. Vodafone's chief commercial officer Morten Lundal insists the decision to quit is simply because the brand has "less need for this kind of exposure in future".
But The Times claims Vodafone "has been reconsidering its involvement with formula one" since grands prix have been going ahead "despite a violent uprising in (Bahrain) in which thousands of anti-government protesters confronted police".
The report continued: "Corporate sponsors such as Vodafone pulled their hospitality plans but could do little to press for the removal of their branding from the cars because of the structure of sponsorship deals. Vodafone was particularly sensitive to events during the Arab Spring after it was forced by armed forces to shut down its network in Egypt in January 2011 and send out a text message on behalf of the Mubarak government to 'confront the traitors and criminals'."
Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim's Telmex company is the favourite to replace Vodafone at McLaren next year, but The Times said new F1 sponsors Rolex and Emirates are also in the running. "It's not cut and dried," said a team source. (GMM)
Order the latest McLaren merchandise here!
Vodafone to quit Formula 1 over Bahrain issue - report
- Published on 15 Mar 2013 13:53
-
0
- By: Rob Veenstra
.
Trending news
-
Why Ralf Schumacher believes Piastri is no longer a team leader candidateOscar Piastri has become McLaren's second driver following a difficult start to the 2026 season, according to Ral...
27 Aug 2026 16:19 -
Why Coulthard thinks Lawson proved his doubters wrong at ZandvoortLiam Lawson has earned high praise from former Red Bull driver David Coulthard after filling in for the senior team a...
27 Aug 2026 15:18 -
Antonelli reveals emotional moment racing childhood hero VerstappenAndrea Kimi Antonelli has admitted he fought back tears the first time he raced wheel-to-wheel against Max Verstappen...
27 Aug 2026 14:16 -
Why McLaren's Stella doesn't believe Mercedes money excuseAndrea Stella expects Mercedes to accelerate its development programme imminently, despite Toto Wolff's insistenc...
27 Aug 2026 13:15 -
Why Red Bull keeps turning to Lawson during Hadjar's recoveryLiam Lawson has been handed additional track time by Red Bull Racing, completing a day of Pirelli tyre testing at Mug...
27 Aug 2026 12:13
Dutch Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Dutch Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
-
Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
-
-
-
Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
-
-
-
Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
-
-
-
Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
-
-
-
Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
-
-
-
Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
-
-
-
Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
-
-
Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
-
-
Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
-
-
World Championship standings 2026
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Pos
Team
Points
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Team profile
- Team name McLaren
- Base Woking, United Kingdom
- Jenson Button 1
- Lewis Hamilton 1
- Fernando Alonso 1
- Niki Lauda 1
- Stoffel Vandoorne 2
- Lewis Hamilton 2
- Lewis Hamilton 2
- Gerhard Berger 2
- Daniel Ricciardo 3
- Jenson Button 3
- Lewis Hamilton 3
- Kimi Räikkönen 3
- Mika Häkkinen 3
- Lando Norris 4
- Lewis Hamilton 4
- Jenson Button 4
- Kimi Räikkönen 4
- Jenson Button 5
- Sergio Perez 6
- Kimi Räikkönen 6
- Kimi Räikkönen 6
- Niki Lauda 8
- Alain Prost 8
- Kimi Räikkönen 9
- Fernando Alonso 14
- Kevin Magnussen 20
- Jenson Button 22
- Lewis Hamilton 22
- Gerhard Berger 28
- Stoffel Vandoorne 47
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- Oscar Piastri 81
- 306,981 comments on McLaren
162 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about McLaren
Replies (0)
Login to reply