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Why Our Relationship With PETRONAS Is So Important

17 October 2024
8 Min Read

In the ever-changing world of F1, there has been one constant in our family since we returned to the sport in 2010: PETRONAS.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of our title and technical partner, and our race cars ran a special livery at the Singapore Grand Prix to celebrate.

PETRONAS have been front and centre to our F1 journey, so it was fitting that both W15s showcased PETRONAS' iconic emerald green colour at Marina Bay at the end of September.

A Rich History in Motorsport

The 2024 United States Grand Prix in Austin will mark the 300th Grand Prix with PETRONAS as our Title and Technical Partner.

It is a collaboration that has been running since our team returned to F1 at the start of 2010 and has created a record to be proud of. 119 wins, 131 pole positions, and 279 podiums.

A shared passion for dedication has helped PETRONAS provide Fluid Technology Solutions™️ that powered the team to eight consecutive Constructors' Championships and seven consecutive Drivers' Championships in F1's hybrid era.

Why We Have Changed Our Livery

But PETRONAS' history in F1 dates back three decades. Between 1995 and 2005, they were the primary sponsor of the Sauber F1 Team and continued that relationship when the Swiss outfit became BMW from the start of 2006.

Between 1999 and 2017, PETRONAS was the title of sponsor of every single Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International circuit and were also co-sponsors of the Chinese and Korean Grands Prix.

From four wheels to two, PETRONAS is also a prominent feature in MotoGP - hosting the Malaysian round of the championship at Sepang - and World Superbikes, where it has been a title sponsor of the MIE Honda Racing Team since 2023.

Test Your Knowledge of the US GP at COTA

Sustainable on Track and on Road

PETRONAS are just as pivotal to our success off track as they have been on it.On the road, they have played a key part in driving forward our use of HVO100 Biofuels in our race trucks through the European season.

First trialled in 2022, the programme expanded to include powering our paddock hospitality and engineering trucks for 2024.

Team Powers European Season Using Sustainable HVO100 Biofuel

Datuk Sazali Hamzah, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of PETRONAS Downstream said: "We continue to progress in our efforts to reduce carbon footprint within other parts of the motorsport ecosystem, including travel and logistics.

"Though these segments of the industry may not be visible to the fans, they demand concerted efforts in reducing emissions."

With the future in mind, PETRONAS are heavily involved with our team-mates at Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains in the build-up to F1's new regulations at the start of 2026 and beyond, which will see all teams and cars race with redesigned hybrid engines run on 100% renewable fuels.

Preparing Our People for the Future

The team and PETRONAS share a simple motto when it comes to its team members: Our people are our power.

Every year since 2011, the team has taken on a cohort of students from the Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS in Kuala Lumpur for seven months.

The internship programme allows the team to develop the next generation of engineering talent from Asia, and has helped around 100 students into engineering and motorsport-related jobs since.

History of the PETRONAS Interns Programme

Trackside Teamwork

When the racing gets going on a Grand Prix weekend, PETRONAS are right in the thick of it.

Two Trackside Fluid Engineers monitor and analyse the fluid sent trackside to make sure they are at optimum level. Before and after every session, they also collect samples of gearbox oil to monitor wear.

This data is then fed back to the engineers, to help maximise performance when the lights go out on Sunday.

Mercedes F1 and PETRONAS are far more than just partners. We are family. It is no surprise that our decorated and dynamic partnership is set to extend well beyond 2026.

Our story has been filled with success, respect, and innovation, and there are plenty more chapters to write yet.

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