Williams officially confirm sponsor deal with iconic F1 brand Gulf Oil
Williams will run with a new sponsor for the 2023 season and beyond after confirming a multi-year deal with the iconic sponsor Gulf Oil.
Gulf most recently appeared on the grid in the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix when McLaren ran a special livery in the oil company’s blue and orange colours.
They did so the year previously as well having first worked together in the 1960s and 1970s but now Gulf have turned their attention elsewhere.
The American company have become a new sponsor of Williams.
The two companies worked together in F1 and Can-Am racing in the late 1960s and early 1970s, before linking up again in the 1990s when the McLaren F1 GTR ran in Gulf’s iconic blue and orange colour scheme at Le Mans.
While Williams describe the Gulf reunion as a “major signing”, they are not set to act as a title sponsor, while any dreams of a base livery as stunning as the one which McLaren ran at Monaco in 2021 were dashed with the reveal, an FW45 livery that is very much an evolution of the FW44.
Nonetheless, Gulf’s colours and logos feature on the FW45, as well as the race suits of Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant, and will also adorn the pit-stop gantry and apparel of some of the team’s pit crew.
This deal is a major boost for the Williams team which slipped back to the foot of the Constructors’ standings in 2022.
“I am incredibly excited about this partnership between Williams Racing and Gulf, a renowned and trusted global brand, who have put their trust in us as a long-term partner,” said Williams Racing chairman Matthew Savage.
“This signifies the strength of our brand and commercial offerings as we continue our transformation.
“Gulf and Williams Racing share an illustrious motorsport heritage and, together, we are making history with this partnership.”
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The Gulf partnership is set to stretch beyond the Formula 1 activities of Williams Racing, also covering the Williams Driver Academy and Williams Esports.
Gulf Oil International CEO Mike Jones added: “Gulf has a proud history in motorsport with some of the most iconic and respected teams, and Williams Racing is no exception.
“Together we share decades of motorsport experience to bring motorsport, Formula 1 and Williams Racing fans closer to the sport they love through our partnership.
“We are also excited to expand our foothold in motorsport through the Williams Racing Driver Academy and Williams Esports.
“Together we share a vision of a bright modern future for motorsport on and off the track; made possible through our common culture of partnership and innovation.
“This makes Williams Racing the perfect partner for Gulf, and we’re excited to start this next chapter of our iconic motorsport story.”
