Shell products delivered 21% of Scuderia Ferrari’s 2018 power unit lap time gain

14th MARCH 2019, Melbourne, Australia.

Shell is proud to reveal that 21% of the 2018 Scuderia Ferrari power unit’s lap time improvement was delivered by Shell V-Power race fuel and Shell Helix Ultra lubricant.

The continued development of Shell V-Power and Shell Helix Ultra formulations have been pivotal in ensuring Scuderia Ferrari delivers the best performance and efficiency on track, fuelling the team to a total of six victories and 24 podiums during the 2018 season.

Shell invests 21,000-man hours a year in its Innovation Partnership with Scuderia Ferrari and last year alone produced over approximately 200,000 candidate fuel simulations in a bid to develop the best formulation to bring to the race track.

Shell Motorsport Technology Manager, Guy Lovett, said: “To be able to put a figure on the year-to-year improvement of Shell’s contribution to Scuderia Ferrari is extremely rewarding and a true testament to the value of our Innovation Partnership. By comparing lap times at the end of the 2017 and 2018 seasons, we have been able quantify just how important the work that we do in collaboration with Scuderia Ferrari is to engine performance and efficiency throughout the entire season.”

Mattia Binotto, Scuderia Ferrari’s Team Principal, added: “During a 21-race season where we can only use three engines per driver, the engines are required to perform under intense conditions. Thanks to the specialist work that takes place inside the Shell Track Lab over the race weekend, as well as at Maranello and the Shell Technology Centre in Hamburg, we are able to ensure that the performance, efficiency and reliability of our power unit is not compromised but enhanced all season long.”

Jeanine Bakx, Shell’s Head of Strategic Partnerships for Shell, said: “Shell’s investment in research and development in Formula One ladders up to one main purpose – to develop better fuels and lubricants for customers around the world, where innovations from the track are transferred to our road-going products. Our close working relationship with Scuderia Ferrari and knowledge sharing is what sets us apart as not only a fuels and lubricants provider, but a true innovation partner.”

The Innovation Partnership with Scuderia Ferrari today continues to be an important aspect that contributes to the Maranello-based outfit’s competitive edge, and the 21% power unit lap time gain achieved by Shell race fuel and lubricants is testament to this.

Shell is one of the longest-standing and most recognised brands in Formula One, with its involvement at the pinnacle of motor racing dating back to the 1930s. Throughout its sponsorship, Shell’s goal has remained the same – to develop better fuels and lubricants for customers around the world, where innovations from the track are transferred to our road-going products.