Shell V-Power - Shell and Ferrari partnership milestones (text only)

Shell began supplying fuels and oils to Enzo Ferrari’s racing cars in the 1930s. Since then Shell has helped Ferrari win an incredible 134 Grand Prix races.

In the early days of motor racing, engines were heavy units. They needed power and lots of it.

Fuels were a mixture of aviation fuel and benzene. Teams would flush the engine block with normal road fuel after each motor racing session, to prevent the corrosive fuel harming the engine parts. The Ferrari engine was protected with Shell oil.

Enzo Ferrari was one of the leading voices calling for more horsepower from his engineers. Shell responded with blended fuels that generated more horsepower and protected the Ferrari engine.

Until the British Grand Prix in 1951, Alfa Romeo had won everything. But in July of that year, history was made when Jose Froilan Gonzalez drove his Shell-powered Ferrari 275 to victory, marking the beginning of Formula One’s most famous and successful dynasty.

A key reason behind the Ferrari’s win that year was its fuel economy. By developing a normally-aspirated 3 litre engine, the Ferrari used significantly less fuel than the super-charged Alfa Romeo. This, together with a special blend of Shell fuel, helped Ferrari take its first win at Silverstone.

Shell worked closely together with Ferrari in 1960 to develop the engine for the Ferrari 156 before new 1.5 litre regulations for the following year. The 1961 car proved unbeatable and at the hands of von Trips and Hill, it won Ferrari’s first ever Constructors' World Championship. Hill also took the Drivers’ championship.

The 1960s marked the first time Formula One fuels approached those used on the road. Until that point, development of racing fuels had kept pace with the development of the cars. Then, with the introduction of smaller engine regulations in 1961, Shell pushed for a more standard fuel. The 130 octane blends were replaced with a more standard leaded gasoline mixture for all Formula One cars.

At the start of the 1971 season, Shell entered a new period of Ferrari racing, with Jacky Ickx and Clay Regazzoni driving the Ferrari 312. Thanks to aerodynamics the cars began to resemble the machines we see racing in every Grand Prix today.

Ferrari retained its traditional V12 set-up and Shell continued its bespoke production of fuels and oils for the engine and gearbox. The complicated blends from the 1950’s had been abolished, and teams were now running fuel similar to the road fuels of the time.

With the arrival of early aerodynamic wings, Formula One moved into yet another stage, with 1971 marking one of the last years that the fuel was standard. Soon, engineers were calling for the new fuel blends to match the falling lap times, and by the 1980s the fuel suppliers would be blending exotic mixtures not seen since the 1950s.

World Champion Michael Schumacher was signed, together with Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn who joined the technical team. Under the guidance of Jean Todt and Luca di Montezemolo, a legendary team was established; powered by Shell.

Within months, Ferrari had secured its first win. A masterful driving display in Barcelona saw Schumacher climb to the top step of the podium in red for the first time.

By now, the complex blends of the 1980s had been abolished. Shell pioneered the development of unleaded racing fuel. This complied with European Health & Safety regulations. Unleaded fuels were later made obligatory for all Formula One cars.

By 1996, road car fuel used 95% the same components as those in racing car fuel. And the same team of scientists who developed Ferrari’s racing fuel later went on to formulate Shell V-Power for motorists in 1998.

The Shell-powered team took a record fifth-consecutive Constructors’ World Championship, whilst Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher won a record sixth Drivers’ World Championship. The F2003-GA proved to be an awesome Formula One car. With great handling, excellent reliability and Shell fuel, the car is rightly regarded as one of Ferrari’s best.

Shell’s Formula One fuel components were now 99% similar to Shell V-Power.

Formula One cars now use a sulphur-free fuel that conforms to 2009 European Union regulations on sulphur content. In this way, Formula One has proved to be the ultimate testing ground for us to develop innovative road fuels.