SWISS SPORTS WATCH brand Certina has extended its Premium Partner agreement with Sauber F1 Team for the 2013 season.
Under the renewed deal, the Certina lettering will appear on the sidepod wind deflectors as well as on the helmet visors of both drivers.
Certina will also provide its sports timepieces to drivers Nico Hülkenberg (Germany) and Esteban Gutiérrez (Mexico) as well as the entire race team.
“After an eight-year partnership with the Sauber F1 Team, we are delighted to be continuing to make use of this dynamic and innovative Formula One platform, “ said Certina president Adrian Bosshard. “The Team’s professional work ethic and typical Swiss mindset is the perfect match for our brand.”
Certina has a long-standing relationship with sport, and motor racing, in particular.
Certina has been a partner of the Sauber F1 Team since 2005 and has struck personal endorsement deals in recent decades with Mike Doohan (MotoGP), Alex Crivillé (MotoGP), Petter Solberg (Rallying), Sete Gibernau (GP), Thomas Lüthi (Moto2), Timo Glock (F1) and Robert Kubica (F1).
In March last year, Certina became a partner of the AirAsia Renault Clio Cup UK, and earlier this month, Certina agreed to become an international partner of the World Rally Championship.
Outside of motorsport, boxing legend Muhammad Ali was a Certina Ambassador at the peak of his career, while Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjørndalen has been a Certina Ambassador since 2011.
A subsidiary of the Swatch Group, Certina claims market leadership in the sport watch segment priced between CHF 300 ($320) and CHF 2,000 ($2,140) and is present in more than 60 countries.
By Matthew Glendinning
Follow Matthew on Twitter: @mattglen