FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ExxonMobil today announced that the company renewed its long-standing technology partnership with the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1™ team. The new multi-year agreement maintains the longest continuous oil company sponsorship with a Grand Prix race team.

As part of the agreement, ExxonMobil will continue providing Vodafone McLaren Mercedes with Mobil 1 lubricant technology, expertise and support to develop next generation lubricants for the race car engine and gearbox, along with greases, hydraulic fluids and specialist race fuel. The Mobil 1 brand also will be prominently displayed on the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes race cars, driver overalls and driver helmets as it has since 1995. ExxonMobil will leverage the technology partnership as a key component of its global marketing and communications activities.

In addition, the company will supply a range of specialized lubricant products for use at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England. These products will include high-performance cutting fluids used in the manufacture of race car components, Mobil SHC synthetic grease for the wind tunnel and Mobil Delvac 1 synthetic truck engine oil to help reduce fuel consumption and improve emissions of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes truck fleet.

“The renewal of the Mobil 1 technology partnership between ExxonMobil and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes represents a commitment to excellence and achievement by two global and like-minded organizations,” said Nigel Searle, vice president, global marketing, ExxonMobil Lubricants & Petroleum Specialties Company. “For the last 16 years, we have helped Vodafone McLaren Mercedes win amidst the extreme conditions of Formula 1™ racing and to leverage our learnings on the track to enhance Mobil 1 fully synthetic oil formulations to help deliver outstanding passenger vehicle engine performance and protection on the road. We view the technology partnership with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes as a high-return investment that helps drive the global growth of our Mobil 1 brand, and we look forward to continuing our successful collaboration.”

ExxonMobil began its relationship with McLaren in 1995, with its Mobil 1 synthetic lubricant brand, developing new lubricants and fuels designed to help improve the race team’s performance, efficiency and reliability. During the course of the partnership, the focus on technical innovation has contributed to McLaren winning four Formula 1™ World Championships, along with 65 Grand Prix race victories and 198 podium finishes.

“Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and ExxonMobil are at the cutting edge of automotive technology,” said Martin Whitmarsh, team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. “Along with the other products used in our racing cars, Mobil 1 fully synthetic motor oil and lubricant technology helps us meet the challenges of the race week after week, enabling us to maximize our performance each and every time.”

Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 Formula 1™ World Champion, who used Mobil 1 motor oil when first racing in karts, added, “Mobil 1 has been part of my racing since the beginning, and it is great news that the Mobil 1 team will continue to be an integral part of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team and our success.”

Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula 1™ World Champion, added: “I have won eight Grand Prix races using Mobil 1. I know that I can rely on Mobil 1 to give me the best technology and that their team is working side-by-side with our team to help me win.”

The renewed agreement between ExxonMobil and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes allows the Mobil 1 synthetic lubricant brand to continue its 33-year involvement in Grand Prix racing. Mobil 1 has lubricated over 100 Grand Prix-winning cars, and has won six Formula 1™ World Drivers’ and five Formula 1™ World Constructors’ Championships, since entering the sport with the Williams Formula 1™ team in 1978.

A Long History of Performance: Mobil 1 in Motorsports

Mobil 1 has long been the lubricant of choice for race teams competing in the most demanding and popular motorsports series across the globe.

Mobil 1’s history in motorsports officially began in 1978 with a sponsorship of the Williams Formula 1™ team. From that time, Mobil 1's presence on race tracks and circuits has grown by global proportions. Today, Mobil 1 synthetic oil is relied on for its ability to deliver exceptional engine performance and protection even under the most extreme conditions by automotive technicians, race car drivers, team owners and the world’s leading automotive manufacturers.

Along with the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1™ team, Mobil 1 enjoys a long association with many of world's most popular and successful race teams, including Stewart-Haas Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, Corvette Racing’s American LeMans Series team, the official AMG-Mercedes factory teams in the European-based DTM championship, Toyota Racing Development in NASCAR, Honda Performance Development in IndyCar, as well as Porsche Motorsport, where it is embraced as an “Official Partner” in global cooperation of all works-supported activities, all international Carrera Cups and the title partnership of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – the world’s fastest one-make series. Mobil 1 also is the Official Motor Oil of NASCAR.

About Mobil 1

The world's leading synthetic motor oil brand, Mobil 1 features anti-wear technology that provides performance beyond conventional motor oils. This technology allows Mobil 1 to meet or exceed the toughest standards of car builders and to provide exceptional protection against engine wear, under normal or even some of the most extreme conditions. Mobil 1 flows quickly in extreme temperatures to protect critical engine parts and is designed to maximize engine performance and help extend engine life.

About Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

New Zealand racing driver Bruce McLaren founded the McLaren team in 1963. It entered its first Formula 1™ race in 1966 and won its first Grand Prix in 1968. More than 40 years and 169 Grand Prix victories later, McLaren is still renowned as one of the sport’s most successful competitors and as one of the world’s most illustrious high-technology brands.

The McLaren Group has grown to encompass much more than just racing. It houses a cutting-edge electronics division that not only services the entire Formula 1™ grid but also many racing series across the globe. McLaren Applied Technologies creates cutting-edge solutions for modern industry while McLaren Automotive not only produced the 1990s’ original supercar, the F1, and the unique Mercedes-Benz SLR but is now building its own high-performance sports car – the extraordinary MP4-12C.

After a highly successful 2010 campaign, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes continues with the proven double world-champion line-up of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button for 2011.

ExxonMobil, Mobil 1, the 1 Icon and the ExxonMobil logotype are trademarks of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) or one of its subsidiaries.

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