McLaren Formula 1 Team is pleased to announce that Arnau Ferrer has signed a multi-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2029 season, reaffirming the team's long-term commitment to one of the most experienced members of its current driver line-up.
Ferrer, 26, joined the McLaren Driver Development Programme in 2017 following his championship-winning campaign in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. He progressed through the team's junior structure before winning the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship and making his Formula One debut with McLaren the following year at the age of 19.
Seven seasons later, the Barcelona-born driver has become an integral part of the team's Formula One operation. His new agreement will see Ferrer remain with McLaren into a second decade of his Formula One career, with the 2029 season marking eleven years since his Grand Prix debut.
The extension also represents a significant vote of confidence from McLaren following the Spaniard's continued development into one of the team's most technically accomplished drivers. Ferrer's detailed feedback, adaptability and understanding of car development have made him an increasingly important figure within the team's engineering structure, particularly as Formula One enters another period of significant technical change.
Speaking following the announcement, Ferrer said the decision to remain with McLaren was an easy one.
“McLaren has been my home for almost ten years now. They gave me the opportunity to become a Formula One driver, but more importantly, they've been there through every stage of my career. I've grown up with this team, and I still feel like there's so much more we can achieve together.”
Ferrer also acknowledged that his relationship with McLaren had developed into something considerably deeper than a conventional driver-team partnership.
“When I joined the programme, I was seventeen and all I wanted was to get into Formula One. Now I'm signing a contract that takes me into my thirties. That's pretty crazy when you think about it.”
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella praised Ferrer's contribution to the team, highlighting not only his performances on track but his role within the wider organisation.
“Arnau has been an important part of McLaren's journey for many years. We have seen him develop from a young driver with tremendous potential into a complete Formula One competitor and a leader within our team. His technical understanding, racing ability and commitment to McLaren make him an important part of our future.”
The announcement puts an end to speculation surrounding Ferrer's future as the 2026 driver market begins to take shape. With several established drivers entering the final years of their current agreements, Ferrer's decision to commit early to McLaren removes one of the most prominent names from the pool of potential moves for the coming seasons.
For Ferrer, however, the decision represents something more personal.
He first walked through McLaren's doors as a teenager, long before he had a Formula One race victory, a podium finish or the international profile that surrounds him today. The team supported his progression through Formula 2, gave him his first Formula One opportunity and has remained his home throughout his career.
Now, nearly a decade after joining McLaren's development programme, Ferrer has chosen to stay.
Arnau Ferrer is a Spanish Formula One driver racing for McLaren Racing. Born on 31 August 1999 in Barcelona, the 26-year-old joined the McLaren Driver Development Programme in 2017 after winning the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, before claiming the FIA Formula 2 title in 2018 and making his Formula One debut with McLaren in 2019. Known for his aggressive racecraft, technical feedback and adaptability, Ferrer has established himself as one of McLaren's most experienced drivers and a key figure in the team's long-term plans.