Cisco expands as an official technology partner of McLaren Racing

McLaren Racing and Cisco, a company that provides enterprise networking, video collaboration, and security technology, have announced a multiyear global partnership that will expand Cisco’s role with the Formula 1 Team to become an Official Technology Partner. The two organizations will use Cisco’s industry-leading solutions, innovation, and expertise to improve McLaren’s technological infrastructure on race day and at the team’s headquarters, as well as to connect with fans all over the world.

With the expanded relationship, McLaren will have access to Cisco’s entire portfolio of solutions, including enterprise networking, Wi-Fi, digital signage, collaboration, and more. Cisco’s decade-long leadership in developing purpose-built, innovative solutions in sports and entertainment will help McLaren pursue the competitive edge required to drive performance in a sport as fast as Formula 1.

As part of the agreement, Cisco will work with McLaren to explore and pilot new and emerging technologies, such as upgrading their raceday wireless deployment to Wi-Fi 6E (Extended) to ensure fast and reliable communications among all team members. Wi-Fi 6E provides more than twice the bandwidth of Wi-Fi 6, the current standard solution, and is designed to provide dependable, secure, and fast connectivity in flexible, remote locations. Furthermore, Cisco and McLaren will continue to collaborate on the networking technology infrastructure at the team’s headquarters in Surrey, the McLaren Technology Centre. Cisco’s hybrid network solutions and cloud-based service DNA Spaces will help the organization increase productivity.

The announcement today expands on an existing partnership between McLaren Racing and Webex by Cisco, the F1 team’s Official Collaboration Partner. Webex’s industry-leading suite of cloud-based collaboration tools and emerging technology solutions, such as Webex Hologram, have enabled McLaren to overcome geographical boundaries to create virtual experiences that bring fans and partners even closer to the action and enable immersive co-creation between design engineers, drivers, and crews from tracks around the world. McLaren Racing will continue to use Webex to implement flexible and secure hybrid working environments, while also providing even more opportunities for fans all over the world to connect with the team during the 2022 Formula One season.

For more than a decade, hundreds of industry-leading venues, teams, events, and organizations around the world have relied on Cisco’s sports and entertainment solutions and expertise, including SoFi Stadium, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, City Football Group, Riot Games, the National Football League, and many more.