Mercedes extends Petronas partnership
Mercedes AMG has announced a long-term extension of its title partnership agreement with the Malaysian national oil and gas company, PETRONAS. The new deal sees the partnership extend into Mercedes' AMG road car development.
The new agreement was unveiled in the surroundings of the Monaco Grand Prix at a press conference attended by Tan Sri Dato' Shamsul Azhar Abbas, President & Group CEO of PETRONAS; Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management, Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars; and Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport.
The partnership dates back to 2010, when the Silver Arrows works team joined the grid for the first time since 1955 and revived one of the most prestigious traditions in motorsport.
During that time, the two companies have grown a state-of-the-art technological partnership to deliver cutting-edge Fluid Technology Solutions for the Hybrid Power Unit and chassis of the works Silver Arrow cars. The integrated development of the 2014 Silver Arrow included the Fluid Technology expertise of PETRONAS to create tailor-made solutions for the technical challenges of the 2014 regulations and deliver a clear PETRONAS advantage on track.
Furthermore, this technological partnership has been complemented by a strategic business alliance with Mercedes-Benz, extending the partnership from the track to the road. The cutting-edge technology developed in the proving ground of Formula One drives the creation of class-leading lubricants for passenger cars, including high-performance Mercedes-AMG road cars.
To emphasize the partnership, the F1 W05 Hybrid race car will run with a revised livery from the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix, with enhanced PETRONAS branding on the front wing, chassis and bodywork.
Tan Sri Dato' Shamsul Azhar Abbas, President & Group CEO of PETRONAS, commented: "2014 is a milestone year for PETRONAS in Formula One. Not only does this year mark our 20th season of involvement in the sport but it also delivered an historic 1-2 finish for the Silver Arrows at the 2014 Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix. We are proud to partner the best car company in the world, Mercedes-Benz, both on the track and also in our business thanks to our strategic business alliance. Our technical teams worked hand-in-hand to deliver the level of performance we have enjoyed this season in Formula One and it shows that we are developing and delivering world-class products together - both on the track and on the road."
Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management, Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, continued: "Motorsport is in our DNA. The first Mercedes was a race car and we use the race track as a research laboratory. In Formula One, we can push new technologies to the absolute limit, before they are introduced into our production vehicles. The success of our team this season is the result of hard work and an outstanding partnership with PETRONAS. We share a passion for innovation, the commitment to excellence and, above all, the will to win. We are stronger together - and that's how it will stay."
Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, concluded: "Ever since 2010, our relationship with PETRONAS has been founded on the values of true partnership: trust, honesty and shared ambition. In that time, PETRONAS has become the most prominent energy company in Formula One and we have worked as one to develop a world-class partnership in Fluid Technology Solutions that has delivered a measurable on-track advantage in 2014. The result is a partnership that has delivered on every level. It is therefore a proud moment to further extend this agreement and build towards a decade of partnership between Mercedes-Benz and PETRONAS."
