Big Four firm Deloitte has been selected by McLaren Racing to help supercharge its race to sustainability. Technology and sustainability specialists from both organisations will now explore opportunities to step up efforts to research and develop the concept for a circular Formula 1 racing car.
The biggest names in racing have long looked to the consulting sector for technical support. Deloitte has been working with McLaren’s Formula One outfit for a number of years to this end – most recently extending its responsibilities to include capturing and analysing data to optimise car performance in 2020. The move saw the firm apply a digital twin simulation to help inform race day decision-making for McLaren drivers.
Now, Deloitte has revealed it will further grow its mission with McLaren Racing, with a new multi-year partnership centring on sustainability. The news comes as Formula One strived to meet ambitious plan launched in 2019, to be Net Zero Carbon by 2030. Formula One produces approximately 256,000 tonnes of CO2 each year, with 73% of the emissions being generated by the logistics of moving the race set-ups across the world 23 times annually.
Matt Dennington, Executive Director, Partnerships & Accelerator, McLaren Racing, said, “We are delighted to extend our long-standing relationship with Deloitte. In Formula 1 we have both the responsibility and the opportunity to develop innovative solutions to make a positive impact on the fight against climate change. Our ambitions with Deloitte will push for tangible innovation in circularity, finding solutions that can make our team, sport and the wider world, more sustainable.”
Looking ahead, Deloitte will help to embed the concept of circularity – eliminating waste and maximising resources through reuse and recycling – into McLaren’s sustainability mission. This will support the business to advance towards its net zero targets without compromising performance. Deloitte and McLaren will also look to leverage GreenSpace Tech by Deloitte, a newly-launched offering that connects organisations with new and existing technologies and ecosystems that can help accelerate their decarbonisation efforts.
Jennifer Steinmann, Deloitte Global Sustainability & Climate Practice Leader, added, “In order to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, every sector of society – including sports – must rapidly accelerate climate action in the near-future. Deloitte’s sustainability and climate specialists will work with McLaren Racing to research and develop the concept for a fully circular F1 car. By prioritising sustainability and performance, McLaren Racing is playing an important role in shaping the future success and growth of the sport.”
Founded in 1963 by Bruce McLaren, McLaren Racing Limited is a British motor racing team based at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England. Best known as a Formula One constructor, it is the second oldest active team in the championship, and the second most successful Formula One team after Ferrari, having won 183 races, 12 Drivers’ Championships and eight Constructors’ Championships.
Deloitte is not the only Big Four firm to have collaborated with McLaren. KPMG has also previously worked with the company to help McLaren Group – which owns the racing team – to help transform its digital services. Elsewhere in the industry, Cognizant is a title sponsor of Aston Martin’s Formula One team, while TCS provides technology and data services to Jaguar’s Formula E racing outfit.
