Bowers & Wilkins is taking its long-standing partnership with McLaren to the next level. Already the Official Audio Partner for McLaren’s supercars, the company is now extending that role to include the McLaren Formula 1 Team. This means Bowers & Wilkins isn’t just about premium in-car sound anymore—it’s stepping into the high-speed, high-pressure world of F1.

For nearly a decade, Bowers & Wilkins has been fine-tuning the sound inside McLaren’s high-performance road cars. The collaboration has led to customized audio systems that work seamlessly with McLaren’s sleek and futuristic interiors. 

One standout example is the McLaren W1, which features a top-tier sound system designed to complement its high-tech InnoKnit fabric and carbon fiber construction. All of this comes straight from Bowers & Wilkins' research facility in Southwater, just a short drive from McLaren’s headquarters.

Now, with the partnership expanding to Formula 1, Bowers & Wilkins is stepping beyond car interiors. The company will be providing audio technology for McLaren’s F1 team—helping with everything from travel to pre-race prep and post-race relaxation. 

While the details are still under wraps, this could mean specialized headphones for team members, immersive sound environments in the paddock, or even exclusive audio products designed for race-day experiences.

If you’ve seen the Px8 McLaren Edition headphones or the Zeppelin McLaren Edition speaker, you already know that Bowers & Wilkins loves blending high-performance audio with McLaren’s signature grey and papaya orange color scheme. And with this expanded partnership, it’s likely we’ll see more of these co-branded products hitting the shelves soon.

Neither company has revealed exactly what’s coming next, but given their track record, fans can expect new audio gear designed to appeal to both motorsport lovers and serious audiophiles.

Both McLaren and Bowers & Wilkins emphasize that their partnership is built on a shared focus on precision engineering and innovation. Henrik Wilhelmsmeyer, McLaren Automotive’s Chief Commercial Officer, has pointed out how closely the brands work together to create top-tier sound experiences.

“Exceptional audio performance is key to further enriching the engagement of a McLaren. Specialist engineers from McLaren Automotive and Bowers & Wilkins have worked in partnership since 2015 to develop and deliver the sound technologies that ensure the levels of audio system excellence our customers demand,” said Wilhelmsmeyer.

Meanwhile, Nick Martin, Co-Chief Commercial Officer of McLaren Racing, sees this as a natural fit, with both companies always striving to push technology forward.

"We're delighted to welcome Bowers & Wilkins to McLaren Racing, building on their partnership with McLaren Automotive. Both brands share a commitment to innovation and technical excellence, and we look forward to creating exciting new products for our fans together," Martin said.

With the global reach of Formula 1, this partnership gives Bowers & Wilkins a much bigger stage. Not only does it strengthen their relationship with McLaren, but it also puts them in front of an even larger audience of racing enthusiasts and tech-savvy fans.

With the new Formula 1 season just around the corner, it’ll be interesting to see how Bowers & Wilkins makes its mark on the McLaren F1 Team. So far, the partnership has focused mainly on McLaren’s road cars, but now that it’s expanding to the race track, we could see some exciting new developments.

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