Banco Santander and
Ferrari finally officially announced one of F1's worst kept
secrets in Monza today ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand
Prix that the Spanish international bank will become an
official sponsor of the team for five years starting in
2010, with the Bank’s brand and logo appearing prominently
on the cars, the drivers’ overalls and other team member’s
apparel.
Santander are
switching from the McLaren-Mercedes team where they have
been a key sponsor for the last three seasons and the deal
will see Fernando Alonso announced as a Scuderia Ferrari
driver for 2010 once contract negotiations with Kimi
Raikkonen (who has a further year on his contract) and
fitness issues with the currently recovering Felipe Massa
are finally resolved. Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo
said as much yesterday when he tried to put some distance
between Alonso's inclusion in the Santander deal, commenting
that: "I’ll be back here tomorrow to talk about a new
partnership, but that doesn’t mean anything in terms of
choices for the near future: I want to say it again, that
the drivers are chosen by Ferrari and not by the sponsors."
Santander will also
continue as title sponsor of three of the most important F1
Grand Prix, Italy, United Kingdom and Germany - and will
maintain a prominent position in Spain, Europe and Brazil.
This reinforces the Bank’s leading position in the key
markets where it operates, strengthening and boosting its
brand internationally.
Banco Santander’s
Chairman, Emilio Botín, and Montezemolo, presented the deal
as being “a new chapter in the history of Formula One,” and
expressing confidence that the partnership of both companies
is good news for the millions of fans of this sport around
the world. Santander, with more branches than any other
international bank and among the top in the world by
profitability, shares with Ferrari, the team with the
largest number of Formula One titles, the values of
dynamism, excellence, innovation and leadership, as well as
the corporate colour, red, a symbol of the perfect fit of
both brands. During the presentation of the agreement, Botín
said: "I dare say that Santander is today in banking what
Ferrari is in Formula One: an irreplaceable pillar and a
symbol of tradition, success and strength. Formula One has
turned red-hot."
"We are very happy
to have a new partner like Santander, with whom we are
beginning a very important and long term collaboration,"
commented Montezemolo. "We share common values, such as
striving for excellence, a passion for competition, an
international approach and, last but by no means least, the
colour red. These values will make this a fruitful
partnership, noteworthy around the world." During the
presentation, Botin gave Montezemelo the “Santander Red
Jacket”, a symbol used by the Bank to show its appreciation
of important sports figures. Only Pelé and Bernie Ecclestone
have received to date.
