With just one month left until the start of the 2022/2023 F1 season, IWC Schaffhausen recently announced with great pleasure the expansion of their longstanding partnership with last season’s championship team – the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. Both parties have committed to continuing their collaboration into the second decade.
Starting in 2013, the two parties have established their partnership on a shared commitment to excellence. This quarter, IWC also warmly welcomes British young driver George Russell to join. He will team up with teammate and seven-time world champion, as well as IWC brand ambassador, Lewis Hamilton in 2022 to compete for the team’s tenth championship.
IWC Schaffhausen CEO Christoph Grainger-Herr said: “Our shared passion for engineering excellence has brought us together, strengthened our connections, and formed a unique partnership in the industry. Over the past decade, we have built a strong community. Many members of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team are now part of the IWC family. I look forward to continuing and expanding our collaboration.”
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team principal and CEO Toto Wolff shared: “There are many similarities between racing and the watchmaking industry, which laid the foundation for our collaboration in 2013. Since then, we have been able to learn a lot from each other, experience many unforgettable moments together. Our actions before and after the new season are always determined by long-term thinking, and the expansion of our partnership is good news.”
With F1 welcoming its biggest “regulation” season in 40 years, the historically championship-contending Mercedes team unveiled their new season car, the W13, last Friday. As the “official engineering partner,” IWC will continue to play a significant role in the team’s uniforms, driver suits, workwear, and team equipment. In addition to the F1 team, the two parties will also expand their partnership beyond the track. A virtual racing team set at the Mercedes Formula One team’s Brackley headquarters, including professionals like Bono Huis, Dani Moreno, and Jarno Opmeer, will participate in a series of virtual multi-round championships, including last year’s F1TM Esports Pro Series, where Opmeer defended the championship with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Esports Team.
In addition, IWC will make a meaningful contribution to the joint charity project Ignite initiated by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. IWC Schaffhausen Chief Marketing Officer Franziska Gsell said: “Both sides are united not only by a common passion for engineering and technical excellence, but also by a commitment to industry diversity and responsibility. In light of this, expanding our collaboration to include a contribution to Ignite is a completely logical step.”
The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team will conduct one of its two pre-season winter tests in Barcelona from February 23 to 25. With the introduction of new regulations, last year’s championship-winning team will be limited to non-peak winter testing times, and the new season will kick off in Bahrain from March 18 to 20. To all Mercedes fans, don’t miss out!
資料及圖片來源：Courtesy of IWC；Mercedes-AMG Petraonas Formula One Team Facebook
