Kick Sauber confirms new partnership with Sunoco
The freshly-renamed Kick Sauber F1 Team has announced a new partnership with two legendary brands in motorsport as it is set to work together with Sunoco and its parent company, Energy Transfer in 2024.
The Sunoco oil brand is set to make its return to Formula 1 this season with the Sauber team after an absence of 48 years from the series.
Founded in Pittsburgh in 1886, Sunoco has expanded its operations and capabilities over the course of the past decades, developing innovative technologies for its customers and establishing itself as an iconic American brand.
Its parent company, Energy Transfer was founded in 1996, and has established itself as one of the largest energy infrastructure companies specialising in the transportation, storage and terminalling of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, and refined products. With more than 125.000 miles of pipelines and related assets traversing over 44 states, and international offices in Beijing and Panama City, Energy Transfer is one of the top 50 largest corporations in the United States.
"Based on a common striving for innovation, quality, and excellence in their respective fields, the partnership between Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, Sunoco, and Energy Transfer will leverage the rising success of Formula One in the United States, opening the way for new and exciting activations at the three American races on the 2024 Formula One calendar," read Kick Sauber's statement.
As part of the agreement, Sunoco’s logo will be sported on the team’s 2024 contender, the C44, at the Miami and Las Vegas Grands Prix, as well as on the overalls of drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu; Energy Transfer will be taking the spot at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas – closer to its Dallas home.
Expanding on the announcement, Kick Sauber Team Principal Alessandro Alunni Bravi said: “We are delighted to welcome Sunoco and Energy Transfer onboard, as preparations are underway for the 2024 Formula One World Championship. I am first and foremost a motorsport fan, and Sunoco is a brand that elicits strong emotions for me, as it is deeply ingrained into this world. It’s a brand that is synonymous with racing, one that evokes memories of golden eras of sportscar racing and, more recently, the most followed American series, NASCAR and IndyCar.
"It’s an honour for us to work with them during the Miami and Las Vegas Grands Prix, and to welcome Energy Transfer in Austin. The US market is gaining more and more importance within our sport over the recent years, and we are now partners with two of the most important and recognizable brands in the
country.”
Speaking of the new partnership, Vice President of Business Development for Sunoco, Sandra Deiters added: “We are pleased to join the Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber family and look forward to working together this season. Sunoco has a long history of being involved with high performance motorsports, and as a brand synonymous with performance fuels, we can’t wait to bring our commitment and passion to the pinnacle of motorsport.”
