Mercedes announce "unusual" Petronas renewal

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has described the team's extension with title and technical partner Petronas as "unusual".

Petronas has worked alongside Mercedes since the manufacturer returned to F1 in 2010 and this commitment was further cemented on Wednesday with the announcement of a new multi-year deal.

The renewal will commence in 2026 alongside the new power unit regulations when F1 teams will be required to run 100 per cent sustainable fuels.

"Today we are doing something a little bit unusual - announcing a partnership that will begin in four years' time," said Wolff.

"This sends an important message: our team and Petronas are no longer just partners, we are family, and we will be one team for many more years to come. "From 2026, advanced sustainable fuel will be at the heart of F1 performance - and this gives us a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate our expertise in this domain, through both the power unit and Petronas Fluid Technology Solutions.

"We are excited to be racing into the future alongside Petronas, with the ambition to set the standard once again, in our on-track performance and by pioneering the transition of a global sports team to a net-zero future."

The current F1 regulations require teams to race with 10 per cent of the ethanol in their fuels to be created from sustainable sources.

The incoming change for 2026 is also a part of F1's commitment to achieving a net zero carbon footprint by 2030.

"With our longstanding partnership and extensive experience in formulating the Fluid Technology Solutions for the team, Petronas is fully equipped with the capacity and capabilities to perfect the technology to produce and supply 100 per cent advanced sustainable fuel for the next-generation power units," added Datuk Sazali Hamzah, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Petronas Downstream, "In that same vein, we are already on track with developing a greenfield biorefinery and co-processing at our facilities to supply sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a cleaner and more viable option for aircraft in our effort to support the aviation industry needs."

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