Scuderia Ferrari and Shell have been working together in motor racing for nine decades. As a result, the most important automaker and the well-known fuel supplier have the longest-lasting partnership in motorsports. This year, Shell had a very difficult tasks which was perfectly executed, as confirmed by Carlos Sainz in a recent interview for RacingNews365.
The Spaniard secured his maiden Formula 1 victory this season, at the Silverstone in the spectacular British Grand Prix. The Ferrari man was asked to look back at that special Sunday in Silverstone: “To take a first victory in F1 for a team like Ferrari is already amazing, but to do it on a circuit like Silverstone made the moment complete. It was a special day in my racing career and I will never forget the memories of that day.” – he explained.
“The race was also one of the best races of the season, so that made the day even more special actually. Being on the podium was the best moment of the day, because you get to hear the Spanish and Italian national anthems and see the people from the team standing below. That gives a great feeling,” added Carlos Sainz who is clearly still very exciting when looking back at his memorable weekend in the British Grand Prix. A win that would not have been possible without the contribution of Shell, the partner associated with the Maranello team since the 1950s. In 2022, Shell was faced with a very important task which Carlos Sainz confirms they managed perfectly.
“This season it was mandatory to race with 10% bio ethanol fuel,” Carlos Sainz said when asked about the challenge Shell faced during the 2022 Formula 1 championship – “Looking at this season, I think it gave us an advantage that Shell is so strong with creating the fuel with 10% bio ethanol. They have experience with it and have worked hard in recent years to create the highest quality version. Because they have created an excellent product, as a driver the difference from last year was not noticeable. This is because they have worked hard in the last few years on the project with 10% bio ethanol and they will do the same with creating the 100% sustainable fuel in 2026.” – he continued.
As explained by the 28-year-old driver, the long-term working partnership between Shell and the Italian side allows Ferrari to continue making great products. “It is interesting to see how long Ferrari and Shell have been working together. When you come to work at Ferrari you immediately see how strong the cooperation is, both parties know each other through and through and therefore the cooperation between the parties is excellent. During the season, as a driver, you often come here to Shell’s track lab and you see how hard they are working to make everything perfect for us. They are constantly working to improve performance and keep an eye on reliability.”
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At the start of the 2022 Formula 1 campaign, the Maranello team secured an amazing one-two finish in the Bahrain Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc ahead of his teammate. It was a special Sunday for the Spaniard, given the fact that he was not yet used to competing at the top of the sport until that moment: “It was quite a different season this year because you are competing at the front, which is more stressful. Unfortunately at the beginning of the year I had to get used to the car. As a result, I was less competitive in the beginning of the season than towards the end, where I drove well. I hope to take that into next year, where I hope to have a better start to the season. Again, we hope to be at the start with a competitive car in 2023. We are working hard on that, developing the bolide as much as possible.”
In the 2023 Formula 1 championship, Formula 1 and Scuderia Ferrari also have a difficult task, given the fact that there are 24 rounds scheduled next year, a calendar that however does not represent an issue for the Spaniard:
“24 races is quite a lot, but I’m young and probably in the best phase of my career. So for me it’s doable, I enjoy traveling and being able to be competitive. I’m currently living my dream as a Ferrari driver and I love seeing the world. So I’m not a complainer about the calendar, but at the same time I do think it’s very tough for other people in the paddock. A lot of people within the teams are away from their families a lot and that weighs heavily. So we have to look carefully at how we can get it right for all the people in the paddock, that there is going to be a right balance for their private lives. F1 will have to compromise on that.” – the Ferrari man concluded.
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