By David Morgan, Associate Editor
Arrow McLaren is gearing up for battle heading towards the 2027 NTT IndyCar Series season.
On Monday, the organization confirmed its revamped driver lineup for next season and beyond, adding six-time series champion Scott Dixon and reigning Indy 500 champion Felix Rosenqvist to its stable alongside team mainstay Pato O’Ward in multi-year deals for the both of them.
The team’s sporting director, Ryan Hunter-Reay, will be back behind the wheel in the 111th running of the Indy 500 in a one-off fourth car.
“Our IndyCar team has shown fantastic momentum, and this lineup of Pato, Scott, Felix and Ryan will strengthen every aspect of our program,” said McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown.
“We’ve got our eyes firmly set on the Championship as well as winning the Indianapolis 500 to secure the Triple Crown in the Papaya era. These four drivers bring a wealth of experience as well as great chemistry and will no doubt have a positive impact across our entire team.”
Dixon and Rosenqvist both announced they would be leaving their current teams – Chip Ganassi Racing and Meyer-Shank Racing, respectively – in recent weeks with all signs pointing to them winding up at McLaren.
For Dixon, it’s the end of an era as he departs Ganassi after 24 years with the team, securing his six IndyCar championships, as well as 58 race wins, which includes the 2008 Indianapolis 500.
“Joining Arrow McLaren in 2027 is an exciting next step in my career,” said Dixon. “It was a big decision for myself, for my family, and I’m looking forward to contributing to what the team, Zak and Tony are building there.
“As a New Zealander, being part of Bruce McLaren’s legacy will be special; his spirit and grit are still very much rooted in that team, and I’m excited to carry that on.”
And for Rosenqvist, it’s a homecoming of sorts as the Swede previously drove for Arrow McLaren from 2021 to 2023 before moving over to his current team at Meyer Shank.
Rosenqvist has two career IndyCar wins on his resume, with a win in 2020 while driving for Ganassi and this year’s Indy 500 win, which sent his driving stock soaring.
“I’m excited to return to Arrow McLaren next season and reunite with Pato, of course, and also Tony, Zak and the crew and engineers I worked with previously,” said Rosenqvist.
“There are a lot of familiar faces, and we’ve got an incredible lineup with Scott joining and Ryan returning for the 500. I think our collective experience will be a huge benefit. I’ve still got work to do to finish this season strong, but I’m looking forward to what’s to come at Arrow McLaren.”
With Dixon and Rosenqvist entering the fold next season, it means it will be the end of the road for Christian Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel in their time in the Arrow McLaren colors.
Both drivers are in the midst of their second full-time seasons with the team, with Siegel also running part-time for the team in the second half of 2024.
Lundgaard has won two races this season and finished on the podium in nearly half of his starts in 2026, currently sitting third in the standing as the top Chevrolet driver. But even with his latest gains in performance, it wasn’t enough to keep him in the seat long term.
“It’s never an easy decision, but when you have the opportunity to bring drivers of this caliber into your team, you take it seriously,” said Arrow McLaren Team Principal, Tony Kanaan.
“Scott’s accomplishments speak for themselves, Felix is this year’s Indy 500 winner and consistently fast and competitive and Ryan has the experience and capability to win the 500 again, without a doubt. Add that talent to what we have with Pato who’s knocking on the door of his own 500 win, and we’re the threat we’ve been building up to be in the championship and the 500.
“We’ll keep our focus on Christian and Pato’s championship fight and Nolan’s work toward top-ten finishes for the remainder of the year. Christian and Nolan have been awesome teammates and they’ve given a lot to help us build up this team the past two years.”
Brown added his thanks to both Lundgaard and Siegel in their efforts to help steer Arrow McLaren in the positive direction they are currently in.
“Christian’s and Nolan’s contributions have helped shape the progress we’re building on today, and I appreciate the energy and drive they have brought to the team since they joined.”
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