AbbVie Partners with McLaren F1 to Support Immunology Patients

AbbVie has announced a multi-year partnership with McLaren Racing, becoming the official pharmaceutical partner of the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team. The collaboration will support people living with immune-mediated diseases through a new global initiative called AbbVie Race to Innovate.

Announced on October 20, 2026, the partnership brings together the pharmaceutical company’s experience in immunology and McLaren’s expertise in motorsport. The initiative aims to raise awareness of autoimmune and other immune-mediated diseases while providing financial support to patient advocacy organisations worldwide.

Under the programme, AbbVie will donate $10,000 to global charities for every 10 points earned by McLaren in the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship. The donations will help organisations that provide education, resources and support to people living with immune-mediated conditions.

The initiative reflects the impact of autoimmune diseases, which affect an estimated 10% of the global population. These conditions occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues and can affect different parts of the body, including the joints, skin and digestive system.

AbbVie Race to Innovate will launch at the 2026 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. The campaign will continue throughout the 2027 Formula 1 season, with further storytelling and fan engagement activities planned to connect motorsport audiences with the experiences of people living with immune-mediated diseases.

AbbVie said the partnership is built on a shared focus on innovation, teamwork, precision and continuous improvement. In motorsport, teams use data and engineering to improve performance on the track. In pharmaceutical research, scientists use data, research and collaboration to develop medicines that address serious health conditions.

Through the campaign, the companies plan to highlight the people and ideas behind progress in both fields, while using Formula 1’s international reach to bring greater attention to immunology and patient support.

Tracie Haas, senior vice president of corporate affairs at AbbVie, said the partnership would help connect the company’s commitment to medical innovation with support for people affected by immune-mediated diseases.

AbbVie has worked in immunology for nearly three decades, developing treatments across areas including rheumatology, gastroenterology and dermatology. The company continues to invest in research aimed at improving care for people living with conditions that can have a significant impact on daily life.

McLaren Racing, founded in 1963, competes in Formula 1 and other major motorsport series. The team said the collaboration reflects a shared ambition to push boundaries and demonstrate how innovation and teamwork can lead to progress.

The partnership highlights how pharmaceutical companies are increasingly using global sports partnerships to raise awareness of health conditions and support patient communities beyond traditional healthcare campaigns.

For AbbVie, the Race to Innovate programme offers an opportunity to connect its work in immunology with a worldwide audience while providing financial support to organisations serving people affected by immune-mediated diseases.