Airwallex looks inside the mind of F1 McLaren Racing’s Lando Norris for new brand film

Airwallex has unveiled its new McLaren Mastercard Formula One campaign, ‘What Next?’ to look inside the mind of World Champion Lando Norris.

The campaign is driven by one question, ‘What Next?’ as partners Airwallex and the McLaren Mastercard Formula One Team look to build, innovate and disrupt to create a better future at speed. 

It builds on the previous “Shifting Perspective” campaign and positions Airwallex as a leading global financial platform for modern businesses through a “45-second modular hero film that blends cutting-edge technology with insightful storytelling". 

Produced inside the McLaren Technology Centre, the film was created by Airwallex’s in-house Brand Studio team and Amsterdam-based production company Whale. Eight powerful stories are told directly on Norris’ face using an advanced high-definition 3D mapping system combined with infrared camera technology that adjusts visuals in real time. The result is an immersive portrait of a Formula One driver operating at the very peak of his sport. 

Through visuals and a distinctive voiceover captured in an in-car radio style, viewers are placed directly alongside Norris.

McLaren Racing and Airwallex’s shared ambition to constantly look ahead, anticipating every corner before it arrives, is brought to life through the film’s visual execution, which plays off its current ‘What Next?’ creative concept.

“Airwallex, like Lando and the McLaren team, is always looking at the next challenge, never settling for good enough and instead always asking, 'What Next? This campaign celebrates our shared mindset to build better at speed, as we move towards a bolder, borderless economic future. We also want this film to demonstrate how we continue to challenge traditional sponsorship conventions, telling visually compelling stories through our partnerships that culturally resonate and offer genuine emotional impact,” said Matt Jennings, global creative director at Airwallex.

The content has been created with media partners Sky, to sit alongside the Sky F1 programming in the UK, as well as being pushed across Airwallex and McLaren’s social media channels. The launch coincides with McLaren’s 1000th race milestone at this season’s Monaco Grand Prix. 

Alongside its partnership with Arsenal F.C., the collaboration reinforces Airwallex’s long-term commitment to elite global sport.