Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsFerrari

Ferrari extends partnership with Shell

Shell and Ferrari announced on Sunday that they have agreed a five year extension to their existing commercial partnership.

The two companies have a relationship that extends all the way back to the start of the FIA world championship in 1950, and even further to when the Anglo-Dutch oil company sponsored Enzo Ferrari himself as a driver in the late 1920s.

"The signing of this contract is another step forward on the path to stability, and we are delighted to work with Shell on an extended basis," said Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene in a press statement.

"Historically the engine is at the very core of Ferrari, which means that everything we do with Shell is working around our heritage as an engine constructor.

"Already this season the work that Shell has done has contributed to our wins in Malaysia and Hungary, which is proof of not only a professional commitment, but is also the result of a great partnership as well."

The new deal means that Shell becomes an innovation partner of Scuderia Ferrari. As part of a expanded arrangement that will see the two companies work closer together and across a wider variety of projects than ever before including the FIA World Endurance Championship, Shell will have a permanent technical staff presence at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters.

"Shell’s goal is to help power Scuderia Ferrari to an 11th constructors’ championship title in partnership with Shell," said Shell’s Downstream Director, John Abbott. "We are determined to help bring success to the Scuderia, and develop even better fuels and lubricants for our millions of customers."

"Shell has helped drive Scuderia Ferrari to more success than any other team in the sport’s history, and for that we are very proud," added Istvan Kapitany the executive vice-president of Shell Retail.

"Formula 1 is a world-class test bed where we are able to develop the fuels and motor oils that should give Scuderia Ferrari a competitive edge. These advances in product science also make their way into the vehicles of motorists across the globe.

"With the help of some of the greatest scientific and business minds in the industry, we hope to achieve great things with Scuderia Ferrari as a result of this rejuvenated partnership."

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.