Williams announces partnership with Michael Johnson Performance Inc

Williams F1 is delighted to announce a new sponsorship agreement between the team and Michael Johnson Performance Inc, a company founded by Olympic gold medalist and world record holder, Michael Johnson. MJP focuses on training top level athletes in all sports, and this new partnership will enable the Williams F1 Team to ensure every aspect of its performance is at the highest level.

During his illustrious athletics career Michael Johnson broke world records in the 200 metres, 400 metres and 4x400 metres relay, becoming known as the fastest man in the world when he completed the historic 200 and 400 metre Olympic double in 1996. The MJP Center was opened by Michael Johnson in 2007 to train youth and professional athletes in all categories of sports. The center’s focus is on building athletes’ speed, agility, strength and stamina in order to develop an improved athletic performance by following the same training philosophy and methods Michael Johnson used to win his four Olympic and nine World Championship gold medals on the track. The partnership with Williams F1 will bring these world class expertise and training principles to areas of the Williams F1 Team as it focuses on improving all aspects of its performance for the coming season.

The partnership will see the MJP logo displayed on the sleeves of driver and team overalls, personnel uniform and across the team. MJP will also provide an intensive training programme for the team’s pit crew personnel as well as conducting an evaluation of the team’s training regime.

On the new agreement, Frank Williams, Team Principal of the Williams F1 Team said, “I had the privilege of first meeting Michael at the Belgian Grand Prix in the late 1990s. I have always admired the dedication required to be an Olympic Champion. The attention to detail and the commitment required is what sets these extraordinary individuals apart from the rest of us. When Michael and I met again recently he explained how he had established a company that specialized in improving athletic performance. I was extremely keen to learn how he could help our team as there seemed to be a lot of areas of common interest. Michael’s sporting achievements speak for themselves, and the principles he used to become the fastest man in the world are certainly transferable into our own hugely competitive field. Formula One is about all aspects of the race. We all know how crucial the brief time the car spends in the pits can be, and so it will be exciting to see how Michael and his team can help give us the edge in this respect. We’re all really looking forward to working with them over the coming years.”

Michael Johnson added, “Everyone at Michael Johnson Performance is excited about our partnership with the Williams F1 Team. Williams is known around the world as one of the most successful teams in the history of Formula One and has achieved great success over the years and we look forward to helping them continue that winning tradition. I have been a huge Formula One fan since I first attended the Grand Prix at Spa in 1990 where I had the great privilege of meeting Sir Frank Williams. I am confident that the experience and biomechanics expertise of the MJP staff that has benefitted numerous American football athletes, Premier League football teams, and Olympic federations, can also benefit the Williams F1 Team pit crew in their goal to cut hundredths and even tenths of a second from their pit stop times.”