AHEAD OF THE penultimate race of the 2011 Formula One season this weekend, the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing has announced the addition of two commercial partners to its race weekend livery.
Du, the UAE-based telecommunications company, will continue its status as official race partner for the team for the second consecutive year, paying around a mid-six figure sum.
Under the terms of the deal, the brand’s logo will appear on multiple Red Bull platforms, featuring most prominently on the cars and overalls of Mark Webber and recently-crowned Formula One world champion, Sebastian Vettel.
Du’s sponsorship of Red Bull Racing sees the brand aligned with two premium sports properties in as many months, having agreed a two-year deal with Manchester United in October.
Meanwhile, in a slightly more obscure deal, French newspaper L’Equipe has also agreed a one-race partnership with Red Bull Racing for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The deal is linked to the French release of Red Bull’s monthly magazine, The Red Bulletin.
L’Equipe branding will appear on the drivers’ overalls and the rear wing endplate of both cars for the duration of the race weekend. Given the terms of the agreement, which will see L’Equipe distribute The Red Bulletin, it is unlikely that any cash was exchanged between the two parties.
Red Bull was recently boosted by the announcement of renewed backing from Nissan-owned luxury car brand Infiniti; a further illustration that Red Bull Racing is now one of the most sought after properties in the sporting world after securing back-to-back constructors’ championships in Korea last month.