IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN AND THE MERCEDES-AMG PETRONAS FORMULA ONE TEAM CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY AS PARTNERS WITH A NEW MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT
IWC Schaffhausen is delighted to announce an expanded multi-year partnership with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. First formed in 2013, the long-standing collaboration between the luxury Swiss watchmakers and the Formula OneTM team, founded on a shared commitment to excellence, now continues into a second decade. Before the opening Grand PrixTM of the season, IWC also offers a warm welcome to George Russell, who will drive for the team alongside fellow IWC brand ambassador Lewis Hamilton in 2022.
“Our mutual passion for engineering at the highest level is what has brought us together and strengthened the bond between us, resulting in a partnership that is unique in the industry. Over the last almost 10 years, we have formed a strong community. Many members of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team are now also part of the IWC family. I am looking forward to continuing and expanding our collaboration,” said Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen.
Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO of the Mercedes- AMG Petronas Formula One Team, added: “The many parallels between motorsport and watchmaking formed the foundation for our collaboration in 2013. Since then, we have been able to learn a lot from each other and experience many unforgettable moments together. Our actions are always determined by long-term thinking and the extension of our partnership is great news, ahead of the new season and beyond.”
A PIONEERING PARTNERSHIP SHAPING THE FUTURE
As revealed at Friday’s official launch of the team’s new W13 car, IWC as ‘Official Engineering Partner’ continues to secure a prominent presence on the livery, driver gloves, overalls and team kit. The extended partnership solidifies this long-term commitment to the team and includes exciting activations expected at signature Grands PrixTM throughout the season. The first of these events will take place at May’s FORMULA 1 MIAMI GRAND PRIXTM 2022 in the United States, with further highlights scheduled throughout the 2022 race calendar.
IWC Schaffhausen and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One are also both dedicated to integrating more sustainable practices into their operations. IWC produces watches which are meant to last for generations and has been striving to manage its social and environmental impacts responsibly. In June 2022, IWC will release its third GRI sustainability report with an update on the milestones achieved and the brand’s future commitments.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One is working to establish its roadmap to become NetZero, in line with the stated 2030 objective of Formula OneTM.
Part of the extended collaboration and reflecting the commitment of both brands to responsible practices, IWC will work with the team to define and deliver a meaningful contribution to Ignite, the joint charitable initiative set up by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team and team driver Lewis Hamilton to improve diversity and inclusion in motorsport. Engineering dreams since its foundation in 1868, IWC is excited to now play a part in helping young people from under-represented backgrounds fulfil their career aspirations in motorsport.
Franziska Gsell, Chief Marketing Officer of IWC Schaffhausen, commented: “IWC Schaffhausen and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team are not only united by a shared passion for engineering and technical excellence but also by the pursuit of diversity and responsibility in our industries. In this light, the extension of our collaboration to include a contribution to Ignite is an entirely logical step.”
Richard Sanders, Commercial Director of the Mercedes- AMG Petronas F1 Team, continued: “IWC have been a crucial pillar of our partner family over the past decade. We are delighted not only to have extended our long- standing partnership, but also to have evolved it in line with our shared priorities for the years ahead.”
The broader partnership will also extend off-track with a new online gaming adventure as IWC becomes a sponsor of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Esports Team. The virtual racing squad is based in a custom-built facility at the Formula OneTM team’s Brackley headquarters. There, the team’s line-up of drivers, which includes professionals Bono Huis, Dani Moreno and Jarno Opmeer, train, qualify and compete in a number of virtual multi-round championships, including the F1TM Esports Pro Series, of which Opmeer and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Esports Team are the reigning champions.
Following Friday’s shakedown of the new W13 at Silverstone, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team will be in action in Barcelona from February 23-25 for the first of two pre-season tests. The 2022 FIA Formula 1 World ChampionshipTM is set to begin in Bahrain from March 18-20.