Shell and Ferrari mark 75 years of innovation: Enduring partnership powers F1 and sustainable motorsport future

 

The 75 year long partnership between Shell and Scuderia Ferrari HP is not merely a sponsorship but an “innovation partnership” that provides a foundational platform for Shell’s push toward a sustainable energy future, testing advanced fuels in addition to the world stage. For Shell, the partnership is critical for validating its products emphasising that the extreme demanding environment of Formula One (F1) allows Shell to test its V-Power fuels as well as Helix lubricants. The “learnings gained” are then directly transferred to the development of commercial products available to everyday drivers. By celebrating 75 years, the partnership established an almost unparalled claim of trust, performance and heritage. It is a powerful marketing tool that links the global performance and luxury status of the Ferrari brand directly to Shell’s V-Power as well as helix products.

The partnership’s start date – their first race together was the inaugural FIA F1 World Championship at the Monaco Grand Prix in 1950. This means the collaboration spans the entire 75 history of the F1 World Championship making it one of the longest in global motorsport. The relationship has always been centered on technical innovation with Shell providing bespoke Shell V-Power race fuels and Shell Helix performance lubricants. Committing significant resources – over 21,000 man hours a year from more than 50 technical staff to research, develop in addition to test these products specifically for Ferrari’s engines. With the collaboration is not limited to the F1 team also serving as a key technical partner for Ferrari’s efforts in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Providing the lubricants plus coolants that powered the Ferrari AF Corse Hypercar team to back to back victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023 and 2024.

Lorenzo Giorgetti, Chief Racing Revenues Officer, Ferrari, highlighted the partnership’s enduring legacy and its path toward sustainability: “Together, we have shared victories, challenges and a relentless pursuit of performance and excellence. As we look ahead to a new era of sustainable motorsport, we are excited to continue building the future of racing side by side – both on the track and beyond.”

By emphasising the shared commitment to “performance and excellence,” Giorgetti ensures that the focus on sustainability does not dilute Ferrari’s core identity. Shell’s technology is thus framed as the indispensable ingredient that allows Ferrari to pursue victory while meeting new technical challenges.

As the partnership’s 75 year lifespan lends immense credibility to Shell’s products. Ferrari’s success, including F1 and Le Mans victories serves as the ultimate, unforgiving test bed for Shell V-Power race fuels and Shell Helix Ultra lubricants. This translates directly to the consumer – the message is that Shell’s road products are developed using technology that has been proven under the most extreme competitive pressure. The recent multi-year extension is fundamentally tied to the development of advanced sustainable race fuels for the 2026 F1 regulations. This is the most critical strategic element – Shell is positioning itself as Ferrari’s indispensable technical partner in navigating motorsport’s environment transitioning. The partnership’s reach across the entire Ferrari ecosystem provides Shell with multiple platforms to showcase its evolving energy solutions.

Shell is now publicly committed to supplying the advanced sustainable race fuel for 2026. Failure to deliver high performance, compliant fuel could severely damage their reputation for technical excellence and directly impact Ferrari’s performance straining the 75 year relationship. While loyalty is a strength, it also creates a vulnerability. Ferrari is strategically tied to Shell’s pace of innovation in a rapidly changing energy landscape. As the longest partnership, the Shell – Ferrari commitment to the 2026 sustainable fuel mandate sets a powerful precedent. It pushes other F1 teams and their respective energy partners to aggressively invest in decarbonisation research validating the sport’s role as a laboratory for the future of mobility.

📸 Imagery courtesy of Shell