‘Host’ race for Aston Martin and Fernando Alonso

A very special weekend for Alonso and Aston Martin, it can be said that they are racing at home.. Because despite the team’s headquarters in Silverstone and Fernando expecting a packed hall in the stands of the Circuit de Barcelona during the Spanish GP (June 2-4), the truth is that it’s a good part of the economic investment backing the ambitious project. It comes from Saudi Arabia, introduced by Lawrence Stroll.

In 2022, as Alonso grappled with numerous reliability flaws in his Alpine, Aston Martin signed a lucrative deal with Saudi oil and gas company Aramco, which also sponsors F1. And just a week ago, following the success at the Sakhir circuit, the British team announced a second sponsorship deal with the Arab country’s main airline, ‘Fly Saudia’.

state matter

Saudi Arabia’s influence in the ‘Grand Circus’ and the motoring world in general is becoming more and more relevant. They’ve secured the Formula 1 World Grand Prix since 2021 and at least until 2027, but they’ve also signed for five years as the host of the Dakar Rally and are poised to land on the MotoGP calendar. For the Saudi regime, the organization of major international sporting events, especially football and motorsport-related events, has become a State matter and all slogans are moving in that direction. The Saudi Arabian GP will be the GP that kicked off the 2024 World Cup next season.

Lawrence Stroll knew how to take advantage of this scenario to strengthen ties with the Arabs., so much so that the official name of Fernando Alonso’s team is Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team. “This is a long-term strategic partnership that will enable the development of high-efficiency internal combustion engines, high-performance sustainable fuels, advanced lubricants and non-metallic materials in vehicles,” the statement formalizing the agreement with Aramco said. Includes “private brand and sponsorship rights, as well as licensing and team sponsorship rights for fuels and lubricants”.

Aramco has more than 70,000 employees worldwide. In 2022, it was approved as the most valuable company with a market value of $ 2.43 trillion. This year, it continues to be the leader of the world’s largest companies, surpassing Apple and Microsoft. Definitely a high-end endorsement for both F1 and Aston Martin.

new partner

Airline related SaudiThe link to Formula 1, now reactivated with Aston Martin, goes back a long way. The late Sir Frank Williams was the first F1 team principal in the Middle East to seek financial backing, and the Saudia logo has already appeared on the rear wing of the special March driven by Patrick Nève in 1977. Support with Clay Regazzoni (in 1979) at Silverstone and their first title with Alan Jones the following season. The British team continued its Arab sponsorship until 1984.

“It is clear that there is a strategic alliance between the world of air transport and F1 that we will explore together, while also trying to effectively manage our pollution footprint with so much travel. The arrival of Saudia does not just highlight the opportunities F1 offers. Aston Martin’s business “It underlines the strength and appeal of the Aston Martin name for businesses of global scale, but also for like-minded brands,” said Jeff Slack, director of marketing and marketing, confirming the new Saudi partner.

on his behalfKhaled Tash, director of marketing for the Saudia group, insisted on the message his country wanted to convey to the Western world.Where Saudi money continues to raise a lot of doubt: “We believe in the power of sport to unite people and create a world without borders. That’s why we’ve been very selective in choosing the best sports teams we have in common. With a passion for driving innovation and sustainability-focused initiatives, with Aston Martin We’re confident we’ve found a natural partner.”