Esso and Mobil in Formula One

Good evening readers across the globe.

Today, I am going to talk about the important role of Esso and Mobil in Formula One.

Before 1978, both Esso and Mobil appeared as advertisement billboard only in Formula 1. Since 1978, Mobil has various partnership with various prominent Formula One team, beginning with Williams Grand Prix Engineering.

When Mobil is active in fuel and lubricant partnership for Mercedes-Benz, do you think Mobil is exclusive partner for Mercedes-Benz? No! Mobil started it's partnership with Williams, earning 4 constructor champions and 3 driver's champions, using Ford and Honda engines. Ford was the first Mobil-powered engine to win the championship in 1980, 2 years after Mobil started it's partnership with Williams Racing. Until 1988, Mobil was active in Williams before switched to Total (Elf) in 1989 when Williams partnered with Renault, while Mobil had a partnership with Benetton Formula 1, from 1987 until 1992.

After sponsored Lotus Mugen Honda for one year, in 1994, Mobil finally switched it's partnership with McLaren, when McLaren started it's partnership with Mercedes-Benz. The partnership of Mobil with Mercedes-Benz was a point in Formula 1, and because of the success for over 20 years, Mobil is a synonym to Mercedes-Benz, and also it's high performance subsidiary, Mercedes-AMG, in which Mercedes-Benz acquired AMG in 1999.

During Mercedes-Benz partnership with Mobil fuel and lubricants, Mobil enjoyed success with winning two World Constructor Champions and four World Driver Champions, separately won by McLaren and Brawn GP, while they were won by Mika Hakkinen, Lewis Hamilton, and Jenson Button, who is ow servicing for Super GT, and FIA World Endurance Championship.

When Exxon purchased Mobil in 1999 and formed ExxonMobil while became one of the largest acquisition, Esso and Mobil finally had the ability to appear officially in Formula 1, with Esso being first appeared in non-racing Formula One car, Toyota TF101, and the first Toyota F1 racing car, TF102, in 2002. Although being well-funded, Toyota failed to perform in Formula 1, compared to competitive McLaren and Brawn GP. On 4 November 2009, Toyota announced the withdrawal form Formula 1 team, that year when Force India and Brawn GP started it's use of Mobil fuel and lubricants for year, while Esso-brand officially left F1. After 15 years of Mercedes-Benz's exclusive partnership with ExxonMobil fuel and lubricants, Mercedes-Benz started the use of Petronas in work team, when Mercedes-Benz acquired Brawn GP and returned itself as work team with the name of Mercedes GP Petronas. In 2012, the name renamed as Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team before being re-branded again as Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport in 2017. Beginning with 2013, since Lewis Hamilton joined Mercedes-AMG F1, Mercedes-AMG has proven success that denied Mobil's partnership with Mercedes-Benz in McLaren and Force India. In 2014, Mercedes-AMG partnered with Williams and being the last time to partner with McLaren, and it was the first time, Esso brand appeared in Formula One on McLaren car, indirectly terminated Mobil's exclusive presence, as both Esso and Mobil are ExxonMobil brands since 1999. 2014 saw the initial domination of Mercedes-AMG F1, thanks to powerful and competent driver, powerful hybrid V6 turbo and hybrid experience, and a strong leadership under Niki Lauda, and Toto Wolff. Lewis Hamilton won 4 WC in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018 in Mercedes-AMG F1, while Nico Rosberg won in 2016, before his sudden retirement, and he is now a full time-YouTuber, who is also a brand ambassador of Mercedes-Benz. Under Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG continued the glory of Silver Arrows, and the success has finally denied Mobil's exclusive partnership with Mercedes-Benz, since the exclusive partnership with Mercedes-Benz and Petronas started in 2016.

In 2015, Honda entered F1 as McLaren team supplier, continued the use of ExxonMobil fuel and lunricants, using different fuel brands, in terms of Esso, Exxon and Mobil in different nations.

After two years world championship failure with inferior Honda engines at McLaren, ExxonMobil switched to Red Bull Racing, and one-year partnership with Scuderia Toro Rosso. Under the strong partnership with Red Bull Racing, Red Bull Racing earned 7 wins, 3 by Daniel Ricciardo,

and 4 by Max Verstappen, in different Grand Prix.

2017 saw the important year for ExxonMobil, as Mobil brand was officially introduced to Canada, and Mexico. Being North American nations, Mobil plays important role in three nations. In Canada, both Esso and Mobil are used, while Mobil is exclusive brand in Mexico.

In terms of this, Esso, Exxon and Mobil symbolize three North American nation. Esso represents Canada, Exxon represents United States of America, while Mobil represents Mexico. In Texas, Mobil has significant presence in various cities, particularly in Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, and also San Antonio. The Exxon Mobil has various success in Formula 1, thanks to the excellent leadership of Christian Horner, and also the great technical advisor of ExxonMobil, Dario Izzo, whom himself personally flies to each Grand Prix in order to make sure Esso and Mobil Synergy race fuels are prepared in best conditions to ensure perfect quality and follows the FIA rules. Also with David Tsurusaki, The ExxonMobil Global Motorsport Technology Manager, whom his job is to keep the Red Bull Racing winning with his team that consists of most advanced technical experts, including research engineers, scientist, and track lab experts to maintain the success of Red Bull Racing, in right way.

These are the simple explanation of Exxon Mobil role in Formula One world. Thanks for reading the article. This is Manuel Smith, a Formula One fan, signing off.