# Team-Branded Energy Drinks Monster Preps a Papaya McLaren Racing Drink By Amy Duong | Written with AI assistance | Published 2026-10-13 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/team-branded-energy-drinks References: [stack3d](https://www.stack3d.com/2026/10/monster-mclaren-energy-drink)  Monster is extending its [racing drink collaborations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/partnership-with-formula-1) from individual drivers to a full team with the upcoming [McLaren Racing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mclaren-racing-and-mastercard) Monster Energy Drink, giving European fans a can tied directly to McLaren rather than one racer. The drink is built around [papaya flavor](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/relentless-guava) and wraps that taste into a team-branded energy drink from Monster. Papaya gives the drink a sweet fruit profile while echoing McLaren's signature orange color, and the can carries the team's logo for an unmistakable tie-in. It also keeps zero sugar and low calories, with a Europe-only rollout set for early next year. Europe-only availability turns this into a divergence play for motorsport fans who want a flavor built around team identity, not just a driver name. Moving from Lando Norris to McLaren Racing also widens how Monster can use its Formula One ties across future collaborations. Image Credit: Monster ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.2/10 - Popularity: 8% | Activity: 17% | Freshness: 100% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Team-branded Functional Drinks:** Energy drink collaborations anchored to full sports teams create broader fan appeal while opening space for collectible flavors tied to club colors, logos, and regional fandom. - **Color-matched Flavor Branding:** Papaya flavoring that mirrors McLaren’s orange identity shows how taste, visual design, and team equity can merge into more memorable limited-edition beverages. - **Regional Fan Exclusives:** Europe-only product launches build scarcity around localized sports partnerships, giving brands a way to test demand through geographically focused fandom communities. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Energy Drinks:** Zero-sugar, low-calorie formulas paired with sports IP point to new premiumization paths for functional beverages seeking lifestyle and fandom relevance. - **Motorsports:** Formula One team licensing is expanding beyond apparel and collectibles into consumables, creating new brand touchpoints for fans outside race weekends. - **Sports Merchandising:** Consumable merchandise such as team-branded drinks adds repeat-purchase potential to fan commerce, blending everyday products with identity-driven collectibles. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [80s-Inspired Energy Drinks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/monster-energy-ultra-vice-guava.md) - [Bold Retailer-Exclusive Energy Drinks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/circle-k-and-monster-energy.md) - [Strawberry-Flavored Energy Drinks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/monster-energy-strawberry-shot.md) - [Retail-Exclusive Energy Drinks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mango-energy-drinks.md) - [Tropical Energy Drink Flavors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/juice-razz-rocket.md) - [Refreshingly Tropical Energy Drinks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/monster-energy-ultra-wild-passion.md) - [Apple-Forward Energy Drinks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bad-apple.md) - [Zero-Sugar Energy Drinks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/guava-is-limited.md) - [Branded Motosport-Inspired Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grand-prix1.md)