Sidepodcast

Renault F1 Announce HP Sponsorship Agreement

Credit: RenaultF1

HP branding will appear on the R30 from the first race of the year.

On the eve of the first F1 practice session of the year, the Renault F1 Team have announced a major sponsorship deal with technology company Hewlett-Packard. The new agreement means the R30 cars will run with significant HP branding adorning the bodywork.

The team will also obtain access to HP technology in order to further develop simulation technologies on the back of HP High Performance Computing servers. Additionally HP will help the team to reduce its carbon footprint, by implementing 'greener' data centres, and utilising low-energy-consumption workstations.

Renault F1 Team Chairman, Gérard Lopez commented:

"F1 has a proven ability to boost brand awareness around the world, and we are proud that Renault F1 Team will be HP's partner of choice in achieving this goal."

A rather optimistic HP representative noted the company intended to offer the best technology to support Renault F1 in their quest for victory.

Hewlett-Packard have long been using Formula One as means of promoting technological development, running a major branding campaign on the Williams teams cars from 2002 to 2005.

It's Just Plane Odd

The Williams F1 team continued to push the boundaries of acceptable marketing strategies this week, when they painted a passenger aircraft in their familiar racing livery.

TG Daily reports that an odd looking Airbus A320 was delivered to Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia yesterday. Sporting a striking blue and white colour scheme, the plane was covered in many of the logos from the team's main sponsors, while the tail proudly reminds eveyone that AirAsia are the official airline for the AT&T Williams Formula One team.

It's the cockpit however, that's most striking. Chosen, one would assume, in order to fit a different selection of sponsors onto the airframe, the front section is painted to look like Nico Rosberg's helmet!

Personally I wouldn't fancy being greeted on the runway by this thing, but I have to admit the look is quite impressive. What will they think of next?