Infiniti leaves Formula One at the end of 2020
Infiniti, the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Nissan, announced that it will conclude its involvement in Formula One at the end of 2020, following 10 successful years in the sport.
The Yokohama-based brand of premium automobiles entered the pinnacle of motorsport in 2011 as commercial sponsor of Red Bull Racing to then become title sponsor of the team in 2012.
After the hybrid power trains were introduced in 2014, Infiniti became an active player of the sport in 2016 as technical partner of Renault DP World F1 Team for the co-development of the Energy Recovery System (ERS). The Japanese manufacturer used its wealth of experience in hybrid performance.
In partnership with the works Renault team, Infitini took part in 100 Formula One races since the start of 2016, achieving a total of 459 championship points and three podiums. The 31-year-old company has now decided to leave Formula One after ten years.
“We are enormously proud of our participation in Formula 1 and the successes and milestones we’ve achieved,” said Tommaso Volpe, Nissan and INFINITI global motorsports director.
“Our involvement in the sport has gone from strength to strength during these past 10 years, and we have not only increased our brand awareness but also strengthened our technical credentials and capabilities. Now it is the right time for us to concentrate our resources and all the knowledge gained through our Formula 1™ activities in the research and development of our new technologies and future powertrains.
“This decade in Formula 1 has been an incredible and fruitful journey for us. We have had the privilege of collaborating very closely with companies that shared our goals and supported our vision, and we certainly come out of this experience wiser and stronger. We wholeheartedly thank all of our partners, and especially everyone at Renault DP World F1Ò Team, for the fantastic work we’ve done together during the past few years.”
Commenting on the announcement, Cyril Abiteboul, Renault DP World F1 Team managing director, said: “Having INFINITI as technical partner during the past five years has constituted a real advantage for us. They’ve brought their significant experience in electrified performance to the team, which has been a crucial element of this partnership.
„But, in addition, being part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance meant that we could also collaborate together in innovative and groundbreaking projects such as the INFINITI Project Black S and the INFINITI Engineering Academy, which wouldn’t have been possible in any other context
„ The close collaboration we could establish with INFINITI since the beginning has been very beneficial for both parties; we’ve enjoyed every minute of it and are very proud of everything we’ve accomplished together. We wish INFINITI all the best in their future endeavors and remain open to new – and no doubt equally successful – collaborations with them in the future,” Abiteboul concluded.
