FORMULA ONE TEAM Sauber has announced a commercial partnership with English Premier League outfit Chelsea.
Sauber’s cars have carried the slogans “Out of the Blue” and “True Blue” at both the China and Bahrain grand prixs this season.
The official deal between the two parties was confirmed on Monday, meaning Chelsea’s logo will appear on the Sauber cars for the first time at next week’s Spanish Grand Prix.
“A partnership like this between Formula One and Football has never existed before in this form, yet there are numerous commonalities and possible synergies,” Sauber CEO Monisha Kaltenborn said. “In either case we are talking about team sport at the highest – and international – level. The Sauber F1 Team and Chelsea FC are dealing with many of the same sporting and commercial topics and we want to strengthen each other in these areas.
Striking a similarly earnest tone, Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay suggested both parties stood to benefit from the agreement.
“This is an innovative partnership that will see a football club link up with a Formula One team like never before, bringing together two of the world’s biggest sports and uniting our fans. We share many philosophies when it comes to how the respective organisations are run, from the development of young talent to constantly striving for success.”
“Sauber’s philosophy towards grassroots development has produced some of the best drivers in F1, which mirrors our dedication to develop promising young football talent through our Academy.”
In addition to sharing merchandise sales and a variety of commercial interests, the teams will pool their sports science and testing infrastructure.
