Renault partners with BP-Castrol for fuel and lubricants

Renault Sport's F1 engine will be a well powered and well oiled piece of work in 2017, thanks to a five-year deal inked with fuel company BP and its lubricant division Castrol.

Both companies enjoy a tremendous motorsport heritage with numerous successful associations and technical partnership spanning decades.

Indeed, the last time the two companies joined forces was during the 1997 season when Williams Renault won both the Formula 1 Constructors Championship and the Drivers Championship.

"With the new aerodynamic regulations for the 2017 Formula 1 season, power sensitivity will increase," said Cyril Abiteboul, Managing Director, Renault Sport Racing.

"Therefore fuels and lubricants will make an even greater difference to the overall performance of the car than they have since the new power unit regulations have been introduced in 2014.

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"The teams at BP and Castrol are very excited by the challenges offered by Formula 1 and we are confident they will help us achieve our ambitions for our new car in 2017 and beyond."

"The vision that Renault has to be the best team in Formula 1 is something we at Castrol, and across BP, are proud to be a part of,” said Mandhir Singh, COO, BP Lubricants.

"Joining the team at this point means we can work together on innovative solutions and be part of creating new success stories."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.