Patrick Sean McNally, a former racing driver and influential figure in the world of Formula One hospitality, has died at the age of 88. McNally, who was widely recognized for transforming the corporate hospitality experience at Grand Prix events, passed away on July 22, 2026.

Born on December 20, 1937, in Gravesend, Kent, McNally grew up in County Monaghan, Ireland, and was educated at Stonyhurst College in Lancashire. After a varied early career that included selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door and trading bric-a-brac, he entered the motor racing industry through journalism. His uncle, Redmond Gallagher, a notable Irish racing driver, helped McNally secure a position at Autosport magazine.

During the 1960s, McNally competed as a racing driver mostly in lower-tier events, achieving some success such as a victory at a Midlands club meeting in 1965. He raced professionally until 1969, when he retired from competition after finishing fourth in a 500-kilometer endurance event in South Africa. Following this, he moved to Switzerland and began working for Philip Morris as a sponsorship consultant for their Marlboro cigarette brand.

McNally’s association with Formula One deepened through his role with Marlboro, which sponsored driver James Hunt. He became Hunt’s personal assistant during the 1976 championship-winning season, managing the demands of the famously hedonistic driver. His work in sponsorship provided McNally with extensive insights into Formula One’s commercial workings and brought him into close contact with Bernie Ecclestone, the sport’s chief executive.

In 1983, with Ecclestone’s support, McNally founded Allsport Management, based in Geneva. The company pioneered the development of premium corporate hospitality within Formula One, most notably through the establishment of the Formula One Paddock Club. Originally struggling to gain traction, the Paddock Club grew into a lucrative business, offering exclusive access and high-end experiences to sponsors, VIPs, and celebrities. By the late 1980s, the club attracted famous figures including George Harrison and Hollywood stars. Today, it remains a major revenue source, selling tens of thousands of tickets annually at premium prices.

McNally’s personal life was marked by high-profile relationships and a reputation as a jet-setter. In 1967, he married Anne Downing, daughter of the racing driver Ken Downing, and they had two sons. After Anne’s death in 1980, McNally entered a relationship with Sarah Ferguson, the future Duchess of York, who acted as a nanny to his children. The relationship lasted three years, and despite its end, the pair remained close. Ferguson has spoken publicly about McNally’s worldly advice and their enduring friendship.

McNally owned several notable properties globally, including Sevenhampton Place in Wiltshire, the former home of author Ian Fleming, a grouse moor in the Scottish Highlands, and multiple estates in the Swiss ski resort Verbier. One of his Verbier residences garnered media attention for its lavish parties during the 1980s.

After selling Allsport Management in 2006 for £262 million to a private equity firm, McNally continued as chief executive until 2011. He spent much of his later years at Sevenhampton Place, where he was the victim of a significant art theft in 2004.

McNally is survived by his son Rollo; his other son, Sean, passed away earlier this year.