PUMA was announced as McLaren Racing's multi-year technical apparel partner, replacing Castore.

The deal covers team kit, retail merchandise and co-branded capsule collections with staged rollouts.

Public releases did not include full financial terms, leaving exact commercial impact undisclosed.

Short answer: who replaced Castore at McLaren

PUMA replaced Castore as McLaren Racing's official technical apparel partner, announced as a new multi-year supply and merchandising agreement by both McLaren and PUMA in their press releases.

McLaren Racing press release

Track merchandise launch tasks

Pre-order signup
Email alert
Store region

Set reminders for drop dates

Timeline and background: how the switch unfolded

Castore era at McLaren: a brief recap

Before the PUMA agreement, McLaren had a multi-season relationship with Castore that supplied teamwear and technical kit; that relationship reached its contractual end without public extension, and coverage noted the switch in early 2024.

The Guardian coverage of the end of the Castore era

The announcement timeline for PUMA

McLaren and PUMA announced the new partnership at the same time in early January, with PUMA and McLaren issuing formal press releases that described a multi-year technical apparel agreement and outlined initial merchandising plans, and McLaren's dedicated announcement page also summarized the agreement.

PUMA press release on the McLaren partnership

Why McLaren and PUMA say they partnered and what analysts noted

Official rationale from McLaren and PUMA

Both organisations framed the deal as more than a supplier swap, noting ambitions for broader distribution and coordinated merchandising that reach beyond race-day teamwear to global retail audiences.

McLaren Racing press release

Media analysis on strategic fit and retail reach

Motorsport and business coverage pointed to PUMA's existing global retail footprint and merchandising capabilities as likely drivers of McLaren's choice, with commentators framing the deal as a move to expand fan access to team apparel and co-branded collections, and SportBusiness published reporting on the supplier change.

Autosport analysis of the supplier change

MPH dealer programs for merchandising partnerships

Dealers and merch managers tracking launch timing can register interest with official channels for alerts about seasonal drops and retail rollouts.

Explore dealer partnership options

What the PUMA deal covers: team kit, retail and co-branded collections

Team technical kit and racewear

Official releases specify that the agreement covers the team's technical kit and racewear supply for McLaren Racing, with PUMA delivering race-ready technical apparel to the team under the new partnership.

McLaren Racing press release

Retail merchandise and fanstore rollouts

Close up of PUMA and McLaren co branded jacket on mannequin in minimalist premium retail setting showing fabric texture stitching zipper and co branded badges castore mclaren

Both parties described plans for retail merchandise and staged fanstore rollouts timed to the racing calendar, indicating a coordinated schedule for product drops and wider retail availability.

Formula1.com coverage of the PUMA retail plans

Co-branded capsule collections

Announcements mentioned collaborative capsule collections and co-branded drops as part of the partnership, signalling more visible consumer merchandising activity than a team-only kit supply deal, and lifestyle coverage noted the initial collection launch.

PUMA press release

Fans should expect refreshed designs and broader retail access compared with the previous supplier era, with earlier and wider availability in retail channels as a stated objective of the new agreement.

Minimalist 2D vector interior of a castore mclaren fanstore with neatly arranged shirts caps capsule collection displays and a checkout counter in white black and teal accents

PUMA press release on merchandising and retail reach

Expect coordinated capsule drops and collaborative design iterations rather than a straight continuation of Castore-era merchandise lines; these drops are planned to align with season launches and marketing cycles.

Formula1.com overview of planned capsule collections

Car Inventory

Dealers and merch managers should prepare for licensing flows and staggered stock allocations that follow standard licensing cycles, with regional availability phased by market and fanstore schedules. See the dealer get started guide: dealer get started.

McLaren Racing release on merchandising rollout

How teams pick kit suppliers: common decision criteria

Brand fit and global retail reach

Teams commonly weigh brand alignment and global retail networks when selecting a supplier, and media coverage identified PUMA’s retail footprint as a likely factor in McLaren’s decision.

Autosport commentary on retail and brand fit

Technical performance and supply capability

Technical capability to deliver racewear that meets thermal, safety and performance standards is a core criterion; teams also assess a supplier’s manufacturing and logistics capacity to support global operations and race schedules.

Formula1.com on supplier responsibilities

Commercial and merchandising ambitions

Commercial scale, merchandising plans and the ability to execute co-branded consumer campaigns are increasingly central to these choices, especially where teams aim to expand merchandising beyond race-day sales. See dealer market insights: market insights.

BBC Sport report on the PUMA partnership

Common misconceptions and mistakes when interpreting kit-supplier changes

Confusing publicity with financial terms

Public announcements typically describe the scope and intent of a deal but rarely disclose full financial terms or the precise commercial value of the contract; readers should avoid assuming undisclosed figures.

McLaren Racing statement

Assuming immediate product or price changes

Not all supplier changes produce immediate price shifts or product availability changes; rollout schedules and licensing constraints can mean gradual market effects rather than instant differences.

Autosport context on phased rollouts

Overstating investment or resale value impacts

Apparel supplier changes do not directly translate into vehicle investment outcomes or resale impacts; these are distinct markets and should not be conflated when assessing financial effects.

The Guardian analysis

Practical timeline: when new PUMA kit and drops will appear

Season-aligned rollouts

Official messaging framed merchandising and product drops as staged to align with the racing season, with key items released around season starts and major events to maximise visibility.

McLaren release on staged rollouts

Fanstore and retail release cadence

Fanstore releases and wider retail availability will likely follow a phased schedule, with initial teamwear appearing in official channels and subsequent wider retail distribution phased by region and stock allocations. Check the MPH news hub for related updates: MPH news.

PUMA announcement on retail cadence

What to watch on launch days

Watch official team channels, PUMA stores and the McLaren fanstore for exact drop times and region-specific release notes; product pages and licensing notices will clarify sizing, pre-order and shipping timelines.

Formula1.com launch guidance

PUMA replaced Castore under a multi-year supply agreement announced publicly by both McLaren and PUMA, and that change is expected to produce refreshed designs and broader retail distribution over staged rollouts.

PUMA press release summary

Who replaced Castore as McLaren's kit supplier, and what does the new deal cover?

PUMA replaced Castore as McLaren Racing's official technical apparel partner under a multi-year agreement that covers team technical kit, retail merchandise and co-branded collections, with staged rollouts aligned to the racing season.

Who is McLaren's new kit supplier?

PUMA is McLaren Racing's new official technical apparel and retail partner, replacing Castore under a multi-year agreement.

Will new team kit be widely available in retail stores?

Yes, the parties described staged rollouts and wider retail availability as part of the partnership, but exact dates and regional timing will be announced by McLaren and PUMA.

Are the financial terms of the PUMA deal public?

No, public announcements described the agreement as multi-year but did not disclose full financial details.

For fans and dealers the key next step is to follow official McLaren and PUMA channels for exact drop dates and licensing details. Prepare for phased availability and watch for capsule drops timed to season openings. MPH remains a resource for connecting to dealers and curated listings while you wait for official merchandising launches.

Short answer: who replaced Castore at McLaren

Timeline and background: how the switch unfolded

Castore era at McLaren: a brief recap

The announcement timeline for PUMA

Why McLaren and PUMA say they partnered and what analysts noted

Official rationale from McLaren and PUMA

Media analysis on strategic fit and retail reach

MPH dealer programs for merchandising partnerships

What the PUMA deal covers: team kit, retail and co-branded collections

Team technical kit and racewear

Retail merchandise and fanstore rollouts

Co-branded capsule collections

How teams pick kit suppliers: common decision criteria

Brand fit and global retail reach

Technical performance and supply capability

Commercial and merchandising ambitions

Common misconceptions and mistakes when interpreting kit-supplier changes

Confusing publicity with financial terms

Assuming immediate product or price changes

Overstating investment or resale value impacts

Practical timeline: when new PUMA kit and drops will appear

Season-aligned rollouts

Fanstore and retail release cadence

What to watch on launch days

References

Who is replacing Castore at McLaren — PUMA confirmed

November 5, 2026 2:33 PM