The Mercedes Formula 1 team has announced a major new sponsorship deal with technology giant Microsoft ahead of the launch of its 2026 car.
According to a Sky News report, the deal could be worth up to $60million per season.
Alongside the branding on George Russell and Kimi Antonelli’s cars, Mercedes will use Microsoft’s data and AI systems across its operations.
“By putting Microsoft’s technology at the centre of how we operate as a team, we will create faster insights, smarter collaboration and new ways of working as we look ahead to the next generation in F1,” said team principal Toto Wolff.
Judson Althoff, CEO of Microsoft commercial business, added: “This partnership puts Microsoft’s cloud and enterprise AI technologies at the heart of racing performance, where milliseconds matter and data determines outcomes.”
Microsoft had previously backed the Alpine F1 team and its Enstone predecessor Lotus, as well as minnow Manor in 2016.
Its Lotus deal was of a reasonable size and featured Microsoft Dynamics and Lumia branding, including the four coloured squares, on various Lotus cars (and the first of the team's Renault era) on the monocoque, engine cover and rear wing.
There was a smaller Manor deal in 2016 that led to the main Microsoft brand – now on the Mercedes airbox - featuring at the back of the engine cover.
But those deals will be dwarfed by Microsoft’s new Mercedes arrangement, which should be one of F1's most valuable team deals.
