ExxonMobil and Aston Martin Red Bull Racing agree multi-year renewal

That Mobil 1 decal on the winglet of the Red Bull F1 car is worth more than the primary sponsorship on a 2-car IndyCar team. Why? Because IndyCar's horrible TV deal with NBC reaches less than 1% of the viewers that F1 delivers with its global TV distribution.

ExxonMobil announced today that it has agreed to a multi-year extension of its successful collaboration with the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team, which will see ExxonMobil continue as the team’s official fuel, lubricant and technology partner. Under the renewed agreement, ExxonMobil will also provide engineering support to develop next-generation lubricants to improve race car engine and gearbox performance.

The announcement, which comes just seven weeks before the start of the 2020 Formula 1 season in Australia, represents a multi-year extension of the current partnership. The renewed deal further strengthens Mobil and Esso’s commitment to Formula 1, which began at the first ever F1 Silverstone race in May 1950.

Over the course of the relationship with Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, which first took effect at the start of the 2017 Formula 1 season, ExxonMobil has continuously improved its Esso Synergy racing fuels and Mobil 1 lubricants in close collaboration with Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s engine original equipment manufacturers, resulting in enhanced lap times for the team and valuable lessons learned for ExxonMobil’s consumer products.

In line with the initial agreement, the Mobil 1 and Esso brands will continue to be prominently displayed on Aston Martin Red Bull Racing race cars, driver overalls and helmets, as well as the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Factory in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England, and during trackside events.

ExxonMobil Senior Vice President of Lubricants, Nigel Searle said: “As one of the biggest, most recognizable names in global motorsport, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing has proven to be the ideal partner for Mobil 1 and Esso Synergy. While on the track we have been able to deliver performance enhancing technology to the team, at the same time we have worked closely with Aston Martin Red Bull Racing off the track to provide technology that is also road-relevant to the modern-day consumer.

Today’s announcement enables us to continue to partner with a dynamic team and platform to showcase our advanced, high-performance lubricant and fuels technologies. With the season-opener in Melbourne fast approaching, we look forward to continue working with the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team and the exciting drivers Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon."

Commenting on the renewal of the agreement, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Team Principal, Christian Horner, said: “Aston Martin Red Bull Racing is very pleased to be continuing its successful partnership with ExxonMobil for the upcoming 2020 Formula One season and beyond. Over the past three seasons the work conducted by ExxonMobil, in close collaboration with our engineers and the Team’s engine suppliers, has produced very positive results. Each new development of fuel and lubricants has added performance that have undoubtedly helped us charge towards our on-track goals and we look forward to seeing further gains through the extension of this partnership."

The renewal of the ExxonMobil and Aston Martin Red Bull Racing partnership extends Mobil and Esso’s 70-year involvement in Grand Prix racing. In 1981, ExxonMobil’s ground-breaking synthetic lubricant Mobil 1 first appeared in F1 and has since lubricated more than 130 Grand Prix-winning cars, has won six Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championships and five Formula 1 World Constructors’ Championships.