Length of contract: 1 year | Annualised value: US$500,000 | Overall value: US$500,000

McLaren has agreed to a sponsorship deal with Chinese computer firm Lenovo for 2009.

The one-year deal sees Lenovo provide the British Formula One team with notebook and desktop PCs at the racetrack and team headquarters, while the Chinese firm's technology will be integrated into McLaren's engineering operations.

Lenovo has been a sponsor to the Williams F1 team for two years, but will move to McLaren from the start of next season. McLaren has not offered the prominent on-car sponsorship Lenovo enjoyed at Williams, but the computer firm believes a sponsorship deal with McLaren, along with additional trackside advertising, will bring better returns on their Formula One investment.

Figures haven’t been released but the deal is said to be worth around US$16 million, a similar figure to Lenovo’s deal with Williams.

McLaren Mercedes chief executive, Martin Whitmarsh said: “Both Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Lenovo are committed to the competitive advantages from exceptional engineering. We are looking forward to the significant technology contribution that Lenovo will provide through its notebooks and desktop computer solutions.”