Williams Racing Announces New Partnership with Santander for 2025 Season

In a significant move that marks a new era for Williams Racing, the British Formula 1 team has announced a multi-year partnership with Spanish banking giant Santander, set to commence in the 2025 season. This strategic alliance comes on the heels of Carlos Sainz Jr.’s departure from Ferrari to join Williams, highlighting the bank’s continued support for the Spanish driver.

Partnership Details

Santander, one of the world’s leading banks with 171 million customers globally, is transitioning its partnership from Ferrari to Williams. This move is part of Santander’s broader strategy to enhance its brand visibility, particularly in key markets such as the United States, where Formula 1 will host three races in the upcoming season. The partnership will feature Santander’s branding, as well as its Openbank brand, on the Williams FW47 car, driver helmets, and team clothing throughout 2025[1][2][3].

Exclusive Fan Experiences

As part of the agreement, Santander will offer exclusive experiences to its customers, including access to the paddock and driver events. This initiative aims to engage fans more closely with the team and provide unique opportunities that enhance the overall Formula 1 experience[1][2][3].

Commercial Momentum for Williams

This new partnership is a testament to Williams Racing’s growing commercial momentum. The team has recently extended and expanded partnerships with other notable brands such as Duracell, Gulf Oil International, and Kraken for the 2025 season. Additionally, Williams has forged F1’s first autonomous vehicle partnership with robotaxi company Zoox, further solidifying its position as a forward-thinking team in the sport[1][2][3].

Official Retail Banking Partner of F1

Santander’s partnership with Williams also complements its new role as the official retail banking partner of Formula 1, a position it will assume starting from the 2025 season. This multi-faceted approach underscores Santander’s long-standing affiliation with Formula 1, which dates back to 2006 when the bank first began sponsoring the series and individual teams like Ferrari and McLaren[3].

Team Principal and Santander's Reaction

James Vowles, Team Principal of Williams Racing, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: "Williams Racing is proud to add Santander to our growing roster of iconic and innovative partners for 2025 and beyond. Joining forces with a global banking giant trusted by tens of millions of people around the world is another significant step in our transformation and we look forward to working with Santander to engage and excite fans in the years ahead."[1][2][3].

Juan Manuel Cendoya, Global Head of Communications, Corporate Marketing and Research of Santander and Vice Chair of Santander Spain, added: "We are delighted to partner with Williams Racing with a tactical agreement that allows us to keep offering exclusive experiences to our customers and continue to support Carlos Sainz in his new stage. This is one of the most historic teams with the greatest legacy in F1, and complements our role as the official retail banking partner of the competition with a focus on our main markets."[1][2][3].

As the 2025 Formula 1 season approaches, this partnership between Williams Racing and Santander promises to bring new excitement and opportunities for fans, solidifying both entities' commitment to innovation and excellence in the world of motorsport.