[smr2018test]
Martini is not moving to one of Williams’s rivals, deputy team principal Claire Williams said, following the announcement their title sponsor is leaving the team.
According to Williams the alcohol brand is pulling out of F1 completely and will not move to a rival team this year or in the foreseeable future.
Williams said Martini have chosen to leave now because they have “achieved their objectives” in the sport.
“I think every brand is entitled to evolve their marketing objectives over time and that’s what Martini are doing. So they’re withdrawing not just from Williams but the whole of Formula One. You won’t see them on another team.”
Williams said the team was “incredibly lucky” to attract Martini as a sponsor five years ago. “We were ninth in the championship back in 2013 so to be able to attract a brand like Martini as a title partner in our position was pretty impressive and I think showed a lot of faith on their part.”
“We thank them for the support they’ve given us and the faith that they showed in us, we hope that they felt the same about us,” she added. “We’ve delivered them two thirds in the championship in ’14 and ’15. And we wish them well.”
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Driver choice unrelated to Martini exit
Wiliams denied the team’s decision to appoint Sergey Sirotkin in place of Felipe Massa had motivated Martini’s decision to leave. As an alcohol sponsor, Martini preferred one of the team’s drivers to be at least 25 years old for marketing reasons due to minimum age limits on alcohol consumption. Sirotkin is 22 and his team mate Lance Stroll is 19. The latter wore non-Martini-branded team kit at races in areas where he was below the legal age limit for drinking last season.
“They were fully supportive of us bringing Sergey on board so that played no part in our decision making process. They were fully aware of our plans and they were supportive of it. And I suppose next year it gives us the freedom to do what we need to do without having to worry about any age limit.”
The team is actively seeking new sponsors but is not necessarily looking for a like-for-like replacement now Martini is leaving, Williams added.
“As you would expect with us being an independent team we have a very active commercial department, we’re always looking for new partners,”she said. “We brought in new partners over this winter and we have a very good partner community at the moment.”
“I don’t want to sit there going ‘now we’re looking for a title partner’ because it’s not about looking for a title partner, it’s ensuring we have the budget we need to go racing. Whether that comes from a new title partner coming on board or a group of partners then we’ll have to wait and see how the situation evolves over the course of this year.”
“Everybody can see our results, being a listed company. We’re financially stable at the moment, I can’t talk too much about it because we’re in a closed period. But we’re not unduly concerned about them leaving at the end of this year.”
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2018 F1 season
- Honda’s jet division helped F1 engineers solve power unit problem
- McLaren Racing losses rise after Honda split
- Ricciardo: Baku “s***show” was Red Bull’s fault
- “Drive to Survive Episode 1: All to Play For” reviewed
- F1’s television and social media audiences rose last year
Robbie (@robbie)
27th February 2018, 15:41
Perhaps next year we’ll see Tommy Hilfiger on the car. But I won’t expect that will quieten people from complaining about Stroll money in F1.
RB14
27th February 2018, 16:49
A year after a very loud and public endorsement from the reigning World Champion and his World Championship Team? I don’t think so.
KP (@kp)
27th February 2018, 15:43
Need a pint of bitter to get over this shock !
Robbie (@robbie)
27th February 2018, 15:52
Oh sure…NOW you need a drink. If you had only imbibed more and sooner, they wouldn’t be leaving F1;)
bosyber (@bosyber)
27th February 2018, 17:02
LOL @robbie
Phylyp (@phylyp)
28th February 2018, 13:22
@robbie – priceless!
just.daz (@nemo87)
27th February 2018, 15:49
Williams Stroll Racing F1 team
..you heard it here first ;)
marcusbreese (@marcusbreese)
27th February 2018, 17:34
+1
Or Williams-Stroll-Sirotkin?
Gary
27th February 2018, 15:53
Williams already have the only “partner” they need, Laurence Stroll.
Robbie (@robbie)
27th February 2018, 16:03
Nah they need way more than Stroll’s chump change if they want to go up against the big 4 teams.
Esploratore (@esploratore)
28th February 2018, 0:32
For a few years he’d have enough to go up against the big 4, but then nothing!
Jay Menon (@jaymenon10)
27th February 2018, 15:57
So let’s put it this way, true that Martini are coming to the end of their contract, however, they would have looked at the current driver lineup and figured its best to quit while they’re still ahead.
Williams are very naive to think that their driver pairing didn’t play a part in this. They are trying to sell a product. If your brand ambassadors need to justify their existence, you’re probably backing the wrong horse.
Frankly, I have no issue with Williams hiring rubbish pay drivers, OK a bit harsh I know, bring back Maldonado, I don’t care, but just be honest about it. Instead of pussyfooting around it. You need money, we know, so just be honest. Don’t treat us fans like idiots.
But I guess Claire’s hands are tied ?
admo
27th February 2018, 18:48
“So let’s put it this way, true that Martini are coming to the end of their contract, however, they would have looked at the current driver lineup and figured its best to quit while they’re still ahead.”
So why aren’t they going to another team?
Shimks (@shimks)
28th February 2018, 14:46
I dream about this.
cm-cm
27th February 2018, 16:22
So Kubica was their guy if martini extended their contract, and this explains their indecision?
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
27th February 2018, 16:32
I suspect the reason Martini are ending their contract is F1 doesn’t give them the brand recognition they desire. I’m guessing they’ll re-appear associated with a sport that does fulfill their expectations. I notice Indycar drivers have lots and lots of adverts on their cars and overalls. One can’t but help think those advertisers do get the brand recognition they desire.
Robbie (@robbie)
27th February 2018, 17:52
I think we have also seen that a marketing campaign can run it’s course in terms of impact and it may have nothing to do with how F1 is doing. There would have been maximum impact initially, and now that people just expect, in this case the Williams cars, to be painted as such, there isn’t the same wow factor. All kinds of companies have experienced this, including tire suppliers who have left F1 and have come back a number of years later.
Indycar has lot’s of sponsors too but that branding space would be far far cheaper than F1, and Indycar remains in a struggle to grow their audience. Their marketing outreach would be a fraction of the reach the global series F1 has.
Todfod (@todfod)
27th February 2018, 16:33
That Martini element in William’s livery was the only thing the team had going for them. In 2018, they’re left with a plain white car and 2 rubbish but rich drivers.
Joao (@johnmilk)
27th February 2018, 18:55
Williams’ cars tend to be blue without a title sponsor
jmlabareda
27th February 2018, 17:29
Maybe replace Martini with some Russian vodka?
Joao (@johnmilk)
27th February 2018, 18:55
what about some maple syrup?
Sundar Srinivas Harish (@sundark)
27th February 2018, 22:32
Maybe some Canadian whiskey instead.
swh1386 (@swh1386)
27th February 2018, 18:03
Quite a blow for Williams given how they’ve ‘built their house’ on having a great title sponsor for the last few years, something few of even there biggest teams can claim!
Given the intense public reaction to Williams driver lineup on sites such as this, one does wonder wether similar conversations were had in the Martini boardroom.
Joao (@johnmilk)
27th February 2018, 18:56
So do we know Stroll’s and Sirotkin’s favourite colours for next year or what?
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
27th February 2018, 19:01
I hoped Sauber had poached Martini.
Philip (@philipgb)
27th February 2018, 20:43
Nooo! Is it too late to start drinking Martini?!
George (@george)
27th February 2018, 21:18
I think what she means is it’s quite hard to find drivers over 25 whose fathers are willing to spend tens of millions for the privilege. What a ridiculous statement.
Esploratore (@esploratore)
28th February 2018, 0:36
Very true!
Shimks (@shimks)
28th February 2018, 14:49
This is very bad news. One, in budgeting terms. And two, because the Martini stripes really brighten up a livery. I will be very sad to see them go.