Events, Formula 1, News

PETRONAS Celebrates Fifth Formula One World Constructors’ Championship with Valtteri Bottas

PETRONAS celebrated its fifth consecutive FIA Formula One™ World Constructors’ Championship with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport driver, Valtteri Bottas at the PETRONAS Twin Towers. Valtteri arrived in Kuala Lumpur after wrapping up the final tests of the year in Abu Dhabi to pay tribute to PETRONAS, which has played a crucial role ensuring Mercedes takes home another F1 double world championship this year.

The Silver Arrows clinched the Constructors’ title in Brazil to become the second team in the sport’s history to win five double championships in a row after Lewis Hamilton lifted the Drivers’ title in Mexico, equalling the record set by Ferrari, between 2000 and 2004.

Valtteri spoke positively about the team’s partnership with PETRONAS. “It’s always good to come back to Malaysia, particularly when we get to visit our friends at PETRONAS to celebrate another successful season. The reception at the Twin Towers was incredible, it’s great to see the same level of enthusiasm and pride for our joint achievements as we have witnessed in Brackley and Brixworth.

“PETRONAS technology is the lifeblood of this amazing car we’ve been fortunate to race in this year, and we’d like to thank everyone at PETRONAS for their dedication and hard work that has contributed to both Championships. Enjoy the moment and let’s keep pushing forward.”

This continued success is a testimony to PETRONAS’ technological contribution to the Mercedes team.

As title and technical partner, PETRONAS works closely with the team to design efficient fuel, lubricants and functional fluids and as a result, since the introduction of the Hybrid power-units in 2014, PETRONAS and Mercedes have won five double world championships, plus a total of 74 Grand Prix victories in 100 races, to date. Within the same period, the team had also taken 84 pole positions and won 221 trophies.

Commenting on the World Constructors‘ Championship success, PETRONAS President and Group CEO, Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said: “On behalf of everyone from PETRONAS, I would like to congratulate Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport on claiming its fifth successive World Constructors‘ Championship. We are proud to be a key partner in this significant milestone which highlights the success of PETRONAS‘ fluid technology solutions that formulates the fuel and lubricants for the winning F1 cars and contributed to yet another victory with Mercedes-AMG.

“PETRONAS is committed to bringing our achievements on the track to the road, translating our advanced fluid technology into efficient and high-performance products for our customers.“

Over race weekends, the PETRONAS trackside laboratory is an integral part of the team’s infrastructure. The facility is able to bring precise laboratory conditions so that the engineers can benefit from full diagnostic support.  Using some of the most high-tech equipment in the world, PETRONAS experts analyse samples of PETRONAS PRIMAX racing fuel and PETRONAS SYNTIUM motor oil to monitor the health and performance of the engine, crucial for the performance of the Mercedes-AMG F1 W09 EQ Power+.

TURIN, ITALY – MARCH 14: (L-R) Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Motorsport drivers, attend the PETRONAS Global Research and Technology Centre Preview on March 14, 2018 in Turin, Italy. The $60m facility will drive PETRONAS’ cutting edge technology and will lead the global development of fluids and lubricants including those developed for the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Motorsport Team. (Photo by Guido De Bortoli/Getty Images for Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS)

Team Principal and CEO of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Toto Wolff added: “Mercedes and PETRONAS came together for the first time in 2010. Back then, if somebody had told us that we might one day win five titles in a row, we would have told them they were crazy. Now we’re only the second group of people ever to achieve five consecutive double World Championship wins.

“I’d like to thank the entire PETRONAS team for their important contribution to this success. It’s a remarkable achievement and one that felt all the sweeter after the race in Interlagos, with Lewis’ power unit on the edge of failure from lap 29 onwards. The way we managed that engine problem, with incredible teamwork and ingenuity, is a perfect example of what has made the combination of Mercedes and PETRONAS formidable in the last years. Quick thinking, clever solutions and amazing teamwork.”