Shell and Scuderia Ferrari: Forging innovation for success

Shell’s technical partnership with Scuderia Ferrari has been one of the longest standing partnerships in Formula One history. They have been supplying the illustrious racing team with high technology race fluids for the race cars which have over the years seen some prolific wins. Recently, Shell has upshifted to Innovation Partner of Scuderia Ferrari, which is yet another milestone for the two organisations. This was marked by an official announcement ahead of the Italian Grand Prix in 2015 just a few weeks ago.

Together with Scuderia Ferrari since the days of Enzo Ferrari as far back as 1929, Shell has supported the racing team with a track record of 16 Constructors’ and 15 Drivers’. It has seen the team through 10 and 12 of those titles respectively, but is not one to rest on past glories as a guarantee for success. Consistently developing new fuel and lubricants for Ferrari, Shell’s trackside laboratory provides full analytical and technical support to Ferrari in much the same way as Mobil 1 to McLaren-Honda as we featured here.

At least two Shell scientists attend each Grand Prix race and test session every year, running continuous tests on the fluids used in the race cars to ensure the performance of the cars. Fuel samples are taken from the barrels and tested before each race to ensure that nothing illegal gets into it. F1 regulations stipulate the use of a fuel with a similar “DNA” to road car fuels, and Shell is proud to say that 99% of the race fuel is identical to the V-Power fuel consumers buy every day from the pump. In conjunction with the Grand Prix, Shell has also launched its new V-Power Nitro+ fuel at an event we attended earlier in the race week. Consumers can now look forward to a better V-Power than before, with 25% more friction modifier technology (FMT) to help keep the engine running cleaner and smoother delivering maximum performance. This FMT technology was also developed from F1, which shows the trickle down from development in motorsport to consumer products.

In a media roundtable with Ian Albiston, Shell’s Trackside and Logistics Manager, he noted that Shell plays a pivotal role in Scuderia Ferrari’s operations and performance. Getting the fuels and oils to the right place at the right time is crucial to the time sensitive operations of F1, while product development has to be aligned with Ferrari team goals and be delivered when the performance is needed. Work is started a few years before the race season; product development in support of Ferrari’s technical developments is researched and developed now for the 2017 season.

Scuderia Ferrari test driver Marc Gene was also present to give the media some keynotes about the current season. Despite the numerous staffing changes made in recent times, he noted that there is stability and unity because the new blood entered the team at the same time. Being particularly proud of what Ferrari has achieved over season, he said that they were proud to be the only team that beat the two silver arrows at all throughout the season. This point was made salient throughout the Grand Prix weekend in Singapore, with remarkable performances by Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen out-qualifying both Mercs on Saturday. The eventual win delivered by Vettel with Raikkonen rounding out the podium places drove home the point.

Power and reliability of the Ferrari race cars were also improved since last year, as pointed out by Marc Gene, and they are aiming to win the world championship next year. Whilst F1 is the core of the Ferrari business, Shell’s indispensable partnership with them forms part of the backbone that literally provides the performance and reliability in order to ensure that top results are delivered. Race winning fuel and lubricant formulations were critical to the success of Ferrari at the Marina Bay street circuit last night, and you can be sure that this level of quality goes into consumer road cars as well.

Credits: Story by Alvan Sio; Photos Courtesy of Shell