Behind Shell and Ferrari’s 100 Year-Long F1 Partnership

In the fast-paced world of Formula 1 (F1), few partnerships have stood the test of time like that of Shell and Ferrari. 

Thanks to another multi-year extension of the pair’s partnership — set to take effect from 1 January, 2026 – Shell and Ferrari’s collaboration will now be set to stretch almost 100 years… albeit with a brief hiatus in the middle.

“This agreement opens the next chapter on one of the most successful partnerships in motorsport history,” says Huibert Vigeveno, Downstream, Renewables & Energy Solutions Director at Shell.

This collaboration will cover various Ferrari racing series, including Scuderia Ferrari HP, Ferrari Hypercar and the Ferrari Challenge Series. 

As the partnership looks well on its way to reaching the coveted 100-year mark, it serves as a testament to the power of innovation and shared vision in the automotive and energy sectors.

A history of Shell and Ferrari’s relationship

Working together since 1929, Shell and Ferrari serve as each other’s Innovation Partners — meaning their collaboration encompasses more than just sponsorship.

This collaboration sees the businesses focus on the development of specialised racing fuels and lubricants essential for the performance and efficiency of Ferrari’s F1 cars.

• 1924: Shell begins providing fuel and lubricants for Alfa Corse driver Enzo Ferrari
• 1929: Enzo establishes Scuderia Ferrari
• 1947: The first Ferrari-branded to bear its iconic badge, the Ferrari 125 S, is produced using Shell fuels and lubricants
• 1950: Shell and Ferrari’s partnership continues into the first FIA Formula 1 World Championship
• 1996: Shell and Ferrari resume their technical partnership following a hiatus in the 70s and 80s
• 1998: Shell launches V-Power fuel, inspired by its work with Ferrari
• 2000: Legendary driver Michael Schumacher wins Ferrari’s first World Drivers’ Championship in 21 years
• 2012: The Shell x Ferrari partnership celebrates its 500th Formula 1 race at the Singapore Grand Prix
• 2017: Shell’s fuels and lubricants contribute to more than 20% of Ferrari’s power unit efficiency gain
• 2018: Shell’s contribution increases to 21% of Ferrari’s lap time improvement
• 2021: Ferrari and Shell announce a multi-year extension of their partnership
• 2024: Another multi-year extension is announced — set to take effect from 1 January, 2026 – meaning Shell and Ferrari’s collaboration spans almost 100 years.

Shell and Ferrari’s partnership has yielded 10 Constructors' Championships and 12 Drivers' titles in Formula 1 alone. 

But the impact of this collaboration extends far beyond the racetrack.

How do Shell and Ferrari drive energy innovation together?

It’s no secret F1 is a demanding sport, pushing elite vehicles to the extremes of what’s possible — with fans and stakeholders alike always demanding more.

With that in mind, the highest class of international racing serves as the ultimate testing ground for Shell’s products. 

The aforementioned extreme conditions — as well as the constant push for performance improvements — have led to breakthroughs in top-level motorsport that also benefit everyday consumers. 

For example, Shell's V-Power fuel and Helix Ultra motor oil, both developed through the Ferrari partnership, are both race-bred technologies making its way onto public roads.

Publicly-available Shell V-Power is 99% the same as the racing fuel used by Scuderia Ferrari. Its cleaning technology helps remove deposits that can reduce fuel economy and performance. 

Whereas Helix Ultra is a carbon-neutral lubricant that offers the same high performance technology as its race motor oil equivalent.

Benefits felt by both common a garden road users and high-speed drivers include superior piston cleanliness, greater fuel economy and protection against low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI). 

“Shell Helix Ultra is the only oil which I trust to deliver ultimate engine performance,” says Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc.

Shell and Ferrari: Helping decarbonise motorsport

As the automotive world shifts towards sustainability, Shell and Ferrari are at the forefront of developing cleaner energy solutions. 

This pursuit lines up with F1’s ambitious goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Formula 1 President Stefano Domenicali says: “Sustainability is one of the most important factors to us, not only as a sport, but as a business.

“It is no longer enough for us to simply deliver great action and wheel-to-wheel racing on the track, we need to ensure that we are doing so in a sustainable way so our sport can thrive long into the future.”

F1’s net zero goal will involve the deliverables of multiple strategies, including the development of sustainable fuels, improving engine efficiency and optimising logistics to reduce travel-related emissions. 

One such way it accomplishes this is by working with DHL. This collaboration helps F1 push for net zero carbon emissions by 2030 with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and innovative logistics solutions, both on the track and in the air.

For the 2024 season, DHL has doubled its fleet of biofuel-powered trucks to 37, helping reduce carbon emissions during F1’s European races.

”Formula 1 has always been at the forefront of innovation and our early stage investment in sustainable aviation fuel is a testament to our dedication to deliver on our net zero by 2030 commitment”, Ellen Jones, Head of ESG at Formula 1 says.

“SAF is just the latest step for the business, and underscores how alternative fuels both on and off track can materially reduce carbon emissions. This delivery of our sustainability strategy is only made possible through coordinated actions across our sport.”

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