Williams has confirmed that its relationship with title partner Martini will conclude at the end of 2018, with the brand departing Formula 1 altogether.
Martini returned to Formula 1 as Williams’ title sponsor prior to the 2014 season, with the company’ iconic stripes featuring prominently on the team’s livery.
Martini’s contract ran through to the end of 2018 but owner Bacardi has opted to realign its marketing objectives, and will not be present in Formula 1 in 2019.
“Yes, Martini are leaving us at the end of this year,” Williams’ Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams confirmed.
“It’s the end of their contract; we have been in discussion with them for many months now about an extension beyond 2018, as you would expect.
“They’ve been a really important partner of ours for the past five years and we were incredibly lucky they chose to join the team in 2013, when we were ninth, so to be able to attract a title partner like Martini in our positon was pretty impressive and showed a lot of faith on their part.
“They’ve had a very successful time with us, they achieved their objectives; every brand is entitled to evolve their marketing objectives over time and that’s what Martini is doing.
“They’re withdrawing not just from Williams but F1, you won’t see them on another team in 2019 and for us it’s about enjoying the next 12 months with them.
“We thank them for the support they’ve given us and we hope they felt the same about us, we delivered them two third [places] in the championship in 2014/15 and we wish them well.”
Williams added that it is in a “financially stable” position, ahead of Martini’s impending exit, and played down the importance of finding a direct replacement for 2019.
“We have a very active commercial department who are always looking for new partners,” she explained.
“We brought in new partners over the winter and we have a good partner community at the moment.
“I don’t want to sit there going ‘ooh now we’re looking for a title partner’ as it’s not about looking for a title partner it’s about ensuring we have the budget we need to go racing.
“Whether that comes from a new title partner coming on board or a group of other partners we’ll have to wait and see how the situation evolves.
“Everyone can see our results, being a listed company; we’re financially stable at the moment, I can’t talk too much about it as we’re in a closed period but were not unduly concerned by them leaving at the end of the year.”
