Ferrari Marlboro has announced the renewal of its technical and commercial agreement with Shell for the next five years.

Along with team principal Stefano Domenicali and the team’s chief engineers, Felipe Massa, Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella took part in a very special celebration last night: a party for guests and media hosted by Shell, who wanted to celebrate the fact that this is the 450th race in which they have supported Scuderia Ferrari. The company marked the occasion by announcing that it was extending to the end of 2015, the technical collaboration that began over sixty years ago at the instigation of Enzo Ferrari. The new agreement underlines Shell’s desire to give its all to research and development aimed at racking up even more success.

In a short speech during the event, Stefano Domenicali underlined the unique relationship that binds the two companies. “It’s hard to imagine a more solid partnership. Renewing the contract demonstrates how much Ferrari believes in Shell’s abilities, in its attention to detail, when it comes to technical research and team work. It’s a company where it is the people who count and make the difference.”

Then it was Massa’s turn to point out how, in this season that has only just got underway, fuel consumption is more important than ever, while Alonso, the Spanish driver fresh from a visit to the Shell facility in Thornton, said he was extremely impressed by the work carried out by its very strong technical team.

“The extension of our relationship with Shell up to the end of 2015 is yet another step in the Scuderia’s plan to strengthen its long term future and is also a clear sign of continuity and the confidence placed in Ferrari by a company that is a world leader in its field,” commented Stefano Domenicali. “Shell has been with the Scuderia from the year it was established in 1929 and has played a significant role in many of our successes. Striving for excellence, a passion for competition, team work, technology transfer from track to street: these are the values we share with Shell and which characterise what is a unique partnership in the history of motor sport.”