Whether you’ve always dreamt of experiencing a Grand Prix in person but haven’t been able to, or you just think that the British Grand Prix isn’t long enough, McLaren Racing Live is here to feed your hunger for more motorsport action, bringing the thrill of Formula 1 to the heart of London.

As the countdown to our home race begins, we're painting our capital papaya, and you’re on the guest list. To prepare you for the two-day event, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know, from what to expect and who’ll be there, to where to find us.

What is McLaren Racing Live?

McLaren Racing Live is a unique fan-first experience, not just for our dedicated Papaya Army following, but motor racing enthusiasts everywhere, whether you’re a seasoned superfan or a more casual viewer, curious to learn more.

It’s our way of bringing the paddock to more people, by channelling the unrivalled feeling of being in the heart of a race track - the noises, the atmosphere, the once-in-a-lifetime moments - and making it more readily available to fans.

This makes up a key part of our Never Stop Racing campaign, which aims to bring our story and passion for racing to audiences who may not be able to attend a race in person. What better way to do this than by taking over the capital city of our home country?

Imagine a playground built for racing fans. McLaren Racing Live isn’t your typical London pop-up, it’s a festival-style event. With the help of our partners, we’re turning Trafalgar Square into the ultimate fan zone, complete with cars, trophies, and drivers. You'll be able to meet key team members, take on the pit-stop challenge, dive into interactive experiences, test your skills on our simulators, and explore exciting activations.

When and where is McLaren Racing Live?

We’ve taken a diversion on our journey from the McLaren factory in Woking to the Silverstone Circuit via central London. On our route to Northamptonshire, we’ll stop in Trafalgar Square for a massive papaya party. We’ll be in town from 11:30 - 22:30 on Wednesday, 2 July and from 09:00 - 21:00 on Thursday, 3 July.

You won’t believe it, but we’ve accidentally brought too much with us, so we’ll need you to take some of it off our hands… keep your eyes out for plenty of exciting giveaways, because there’s way too much for us to cart up the M1 to Silverstone.

Who will be at McLaren Racing Live?

After weeks of speculation, we’ve announced a secret set from Lando and Oscar at McLaren Racing Live: London. Our superstar pairing will be there during the day on Wednesday, before heading up to Silverstone to start their preparations for the British Grand Prix.

They complete our blockbuster line-up, headlined by CEO Zak Brown and our Team Principal Andrea Stella, renowned as the masterminds behind our 2024 Constructors’ title triumph and our current Championship charge.

The Flying Finn Mika Häkkinen, a two-time Formula 1 World Champion with McLaren, and Sky Sports’ presenter Martin Brundle, also a former McLaren driver, will headline our very own ‘legends slot’. Martin will be in London on Wednesday, while Mika will join us on Thursday.

Ian James, Sam Bird, and Taylor Barnard will bring the energy of Formula E to the capital on Wednesday, representing the NEOM McLaren Formula E team and the world of electric racing.

Sim Racing fans will get the chance to meet new signing Jake Benham, who was recently snapped up after leaving the Mercedes Sim Racing team. On Thursday, he’ll hit the stage with his new teammates Alfie Butcher and Wilson Hughes.

As with every great live event, we’ll also have a ‘newcomers slot’, designed to showcase emerging, up and coming talent. Ours will see the McLaren Driver Development Programme take to the stage on Wednesday, with F1 Academy ace Ella Lloyd and Formula 2 Championship challenger Alex Dunne joined by Formula 3 drivers Martinius Stenshorne, Ugo Ugochukwo, and Brando Badoer.

What else can fans expect from McLaren Racing Live?

Come for the stars, stay for the entertainment. While the appearance of our top-tier headline acts has created a buzz among racing fans, McLaren Racing Live has more to offer than racing royalty alone. It’s an immersive motorsport experience packed with energy, interaction, and entertainment for fans of all ages.

Think you’ve got what it takes to be part of the team? Put your skills to the test with our pit-stop challenge, Batak reaction test, and racing simulators.

A dedicated McLaren Racing merchandise store will be on-site, while we’ve teamed up with our incredible partners to take things to the next level. Explore the Allwyn Race Zone for your chance to win, capture a priceless moment with Mastercard, and dive into individual interactive activations from SEGA and Sonic the Hedgehog, DP World, Hilton, Dropbox, and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. Plus, don’t miss special on-stage announcements with Google and NEOM.

We're also proud to be hosting a special STEM engagement session for students from London schools - part of our ongoing mission to inspire the next generation of motorsport innovators.

And no motorsport party would be complete without race cars and silverware. Get up close with McLaren cars from across Formula 1, Formula E, IndyCar, WEC, and our heritage collection - along with a display of our favourite trophies.

How much does McLaren Racing Live cost, and how do I get in?

McLaren Racing Live is completely free to attend and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis, following a quintessentially British queuing system. There will be no tickets, and fans can come and go as they please, but re-entry is not guaranteed, so if you do leave, you’ll have to rejoin the back of the queue.

To keep everyone safe, there’s a limit on how many people can be inside the venue at any one time. If we hit capacity, we’ll switch to a one-in, one-out system. Follow the McLaren App and our social media channels for live updates on capacity, access, and event news throughout the two days.

The event takes place in central London, which means there’s no dedicated parking - not even for us! Parking in the city can be tricky, so we strongly recommend using public transport and planning your route with Google Maps.

The weather is constantly changing, but it is currently expected to be warm, and we are expecting queues. Please check the forecast on the day and arrive suitably prepared. Remember to drink plenty of water and use high-protection sun lotion. We would also encourage you to keep an eye on those around you and to alert staff if you spot someone who may be feeling unwell.

Got further questions? Head to our dedicated McLaren Racing Live event page here.