Ferrari has confirmed it has signed a five-year agreement with Santander which will see the Spanish banking giant become one of the team’s largest sponsors from next season.
The Maranello-based squad’s tie-up with Europe’s largest banking group from 2010 has been expected for over a year, Santander having sponsored the team’s arch rival McLaren for the last three seasons.
Announcing the deal at the team’s home circuit of Monza on Thursday, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said the partnership would help boost both parties’ worldwide images.
"We are very happy to have a new partner like Santander, with whom we are beginning a very important and long term collaboration," di Montezemolo said in a statement.
"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."
Santander’s corporate red and white logo will appear on the Ferrari’s F1 cars, drivers’ overalls and team uniform from the start of next season.
The long-mooted Ferrari/Santander tie-up has been thought expected to be accompanied by Spanish superstar Fernando Alonso’s transfer to the team.
Santander entered Formula 1 with McLaren in 2007 after Alonso joined the Woking-based squad, with the bank staying on as one of the team’s primary sponsors despite the double world champion’s acrimonious departure at the end of the first of its three-year agreement with the team.
And although speculation persists that Alonso will switch to Ferrari next year, di Montezemolo made a point of emphasising on Wednesday that sponsors never influenced the team’s driver decisions.
“I’ll be back here [Monza] tomorrow to talk about a new partnership, but that doesn’t mean anything in terms of choices for the near future,” the Ferrari president said.
“I want to say it again, that the drivers are chosen by Ferrari and not by the sponsors."
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