McLaren Racing Promotes Grégoire Saucy to the McLaren Hypercar Team

The newly-established team launched the MCL-HY – its WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans challenger - on 4th May when it rolled out at Varano in Italy. Saucy was one of two drivers who took to the wheel, with fellow works driver Mikkel Jensen also on duty.

The MCL-HY rollout launched a standout summer for the young Swiss racer. Saucy attended all but one of the team’s development tests and drove the Hypercar on its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed alongside reigning McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris. 

Away from his McLaren Hypercar duties, Saucy has also had a highly impressive season in the ultra-competitive European Le Mans Series (ELMS) and 24 Hours of Le Mans with United Autosports. In fact, the 26-year-old and his teammates took the ELMS championship title last month following two wins and five podiums from the six-round feeder series to the WEC.

Saucy is no stranger to success. He dominated the 2021 Formula Regional European Championship with eight victories before making an immediate impact in endurance racing. In 2024 and 2025 he competed in the WEC in a McLaren 720 LMGT3 Evo, which resulted in him being signed by the McLaren Driver Development Programme. His speed, adaptability and relentless drive have now earned him the biggest opportunity of his career: racing for McLaren Racing on the world stage.

Grégoire Saucy, McLaren Racing Driver said: “I am over the moon to be given this opportunity. When I joined the McLaren Hypercar Team for its development season, I hoped it might lead to a full-time race seat, but I knew there was a great deal of experienced talent in the driver market. I stayed focused, worked hard and adapted quickly to the MCL-HY. I have loved every second with this team: the standards are incredibly high, the people are supportive and the atmosphere is fantastic. I cannot wait to continue this journey. Thank you to Zak for bringing me into the McLaren Driver Development Programme and to James for trusting me with this opportunity.” 

James Barclay, Team Principal McLaren Hypercar Team, said: “Grégoire’s promotion is exactly what the McLaren Driver Development Programme is designed to achieve: identifying exceptional talent, supporting that development and creating a genuine pathway to a works race seat. He has impressed us throughout the MCL-HY test programme with his pace, methodical approach within the team and his progress over the intensive testing schedule. He has earned this opportunity, and we are excited to see him take the next step in his career with McLaren.”