Formula 1 – creating a unique formulation that helps gain milliseconds

With the McLaren Mastercard F1 Team, Motul returns to Formula 1, a discipline where the brand has already written several chapters of its history as a technical partner to leading teams.

For a fluids champion like Motul, being present in Formula 1 represents the ultimate recognition of its excellence. It is in this discipline—where excellence is required at every level and where performance is measured in milliseconds—that an ultra-high-performance fluid can make the difference.

High loads, extreme speeds, intense temperatures: the transmission of a Formula 1 car demands a level of precision rarely visible to the eyes of the general public, yet decisive for engineers.

During nine months, Motul R&D teams in France and Japan worked alongside McLaren to develop a bespoke formulation. More than 40 tests were conducted: pre-selection phases, tribological testing, material compatibility assessments, and final validations at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking. The result: a unique lubricant, specifically designed for the gearbox and differential of the MCL40.

Pushing beyond the limits of traditional transmission oils, this lubricant is unique within the ecosystem and plays a key role in optimizing mechanical efficiency and transmission system reliability.

It has been designed to meet five critical Formula 1 requirements and challenges:

· reduce stress and friction on mechanical components within the gearbox;

· operate across an extremely wide range of temperatures;

· ensure full transmission performance throughout Grand Prix conditions over the season, including under high gearbox pressures;

· deliver performance beyond the distance covered during a Grand Prix;

· guarantee both performance (friction reduction) and durability (mechanical protection).

“McLaren was already using a very high-performance transmission fluid, with an extremely high level of requirements. Our challenge was to go even further: decrease friction losses even more, while ensuring lubricant durability over time. The formulation developed with McLaren Racing has been validated to maintain its performance over several thousand kilometers under Formula 1 conditions. And this is only the beginning: in F1, cars are constantly evolving, and the formulation will continue to progress as well,” said Julien Plet, Head of R&D at Motul.

Endurance racing: proving product performance over thousands of kilometers

Alongside the millisecond-perfect performance of racing in Formula 1 stands the uncompromising durability of endurance racing, where success is defined not only by speed, but by reliability sustained over hours of competition.In the World Endurance Championship, Motul will support McLaren Racing across the engine and transmission lubricants for its Hypercar, set to enter competition from 2027.

These fluids come from Motul racing range, including 300V, which has become a benchmark for many endurance teams.

“If our products can withstand conditions as demanding as those faced by the top racing teams, we know they meet the highest standards of quality and reliability. These are the very same products we offer to our customers. This has been part of our promise to them for decades: greater protection, endurance, and long-term reliability,” (Julien Plet, Head of R&D at Motul)

Beyond fluids, Motul supports McLaren in the WEC with its Racing Lab. This mobile laboratory is a true on-the-move scientific workshop, equipped with high-tech instruments to analyze all fluid samples based on precise criteria: wear (metal particles), oxidation and thermal stability (oil condition), and fuel dilution (oil/engine degradation). This predictive maintenance approach, implemented by Motul since 2019, enables teams to adjust their settings in real time while simultaneously feeding directly into product development.

A partnership grounded in both technology and shared culture

Beyond fluids supplying, the partnership is built on a shared approach to performance. Backed by a strong racing heritage and driven by the same pursuit of excellence, Motul and McLaren Racing share key values: ingenuity, boldness, and collaborative spirit. Beyond the technical dimension, their partnership is rooted in a shared performance culture, intended to bring teams together and drive sustained engagement.