It’s been eight years since PETRONAS was signed on as the title sponsor of the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Motorsport team in Formula 1. Since then, the duo have stormed to four consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ championships, making the team the most successful in the current hybrid era. That’s quite some feat, by any standards.
But to call PETRONAS as simply a title sponsor would be to do it injustice – for all intents and purposes it really is a technical partner, working closely with the Brackley-based team to extract maximum performance from its 1.6 litre turbocharged V6 engine and hybrid electric powertrain.
Fierce competition and a greater emphasis on fuel saving over the years have put extreme demands on these high-tech power units, increasing the risk of mechanical failure and retirements as engines have to deliver on both performance and fuel economy. PETRONAS has expanded its efforts into making sure that its fuels, lubricants and fluids stay cool in the ultra-high-pressure environment of a Formula 1 engine, protecting vital components and keeping them reliable race after race.
Last year, Lewis Hamilton was the only driver to finish every race in the season and score points in each one on his way to winning his fourth world title. In fact, the British driver still holds the record for the most consecutive points finishes, having finished no lower than ninth place between the 2016 Japanese Grand Prix and the recent 2018 Monaco Grand Prix – that’s an astonishing 31 races.
This incredible reliability record underscores PETRONAS’ ability to develop world-class fluids at the pinnacle of motor racing – a true winning formula. All this expertise goes back into producing products that enhance and protect modern passenger car technologies, such as downsized turbocharged engines and advanced hybrid electric powertrains, that bear a striking resemblance to what you’ll find on Formula 1 cars today.
In short, PETRONAS and the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Motorsport team are pushing forward in Formula 1 together to deliver high-performance products that work for you and your car. The complete range of Primax fuels, Syntium lubricants and Tutela fluids have all been developed in the crucible of intense racing, and you can try them today at the nearest PETRONAS fuel station.
