We want to move McLaren HQ to Middle East, says Saudi Arabia

Prince Khalid said that Neom would host the motor sport hub where teams will be encouraged to relocate. It is due to include Oxagon, an innovation campus where McLaren has already announced that it will open an office in its role as a founding partner.

Construction has already begun on the city but there is skepticism as to whether the sustainable city can ever be built in full given its scale that relies on technology that is still to be developed.

Even if the infrastructure is built, the Dakar has revealed limited enthusiasm for racing in Saudi Arabia, with drivers including Carlos Sainz and race leader Nasser Al-Attiyah commenting on the sparse spectators on the route.

There is also the question of whether any F1 team would be willing to relocate from an industry ecosystem that has grown up around racing.

Saudi Arabia remains a minority shareholder of McLaren Group, the parent company of McLaren Racing, and is the second-largest stakeholder in the Aston Martin road car firm, which sponsors the F1 team, as does Saudi state oil form Aramco. The team is owned entirely by a consortium led by Lawrence Stroll.

McLaren agreed a 20-year lease on its Woking headquarters in 2021, while Aston Martin will open its brand new factory this year.

Prince Khalid, seen here with FIA president Ben Sulayem and Nasser Al-Attiyah, says the country in closing on a WRC deal

DPPI

It is not known whether the Public Investment Fund is looking to increase its stake in either company, or how much control it will seek. It currently has members on the board of McLaren and Aston Martin.

However, the fund is attempting to present itself as separate from the government and its policies, due to the Kingdom’s human rights abuses, even though Saudi Arabia’s effective ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sitting on its board.

When asked for comment, McLaren pointed to its previous announcement that it was collaborating with Neom. It is understood that the company is committed to remaining in Woking.