ExxonMobil and McLaren have extended their partnership for another year, making their long-standing collaboration reach 17 years, whilst ExxonMobil extend to a 33 year involvement with F1. Mobil 1 branding will be featured once again on the McLaren livery and on the driver overalls, and in return McLaren get lubricant technology and expertise.

As well as keeping the race team a well-oiled machine, Mobil 1 will also provide grease and oil for the McLaren Technology Centre, particularly for the wind tunnels and the trucks.

This is one of the more invisible sides of Formula 1, where fans can only see a sponsor on a car, instead of the research and development that goes on behind the scenes. These smaller components are more likely the ones that will be fed back to the road car industry, though, as vice president of ExxonMobil's lubricant company Nigel Searle points out:

"For the last 16 years, we have helped McLaren win amidst the extreme conditions of Formula 1 and to help deliver outstanding passenger vehicle engine performance and protection on the road."