Shell V-Power - The Fuel Developed With Ferrari

2009 Ferrari pit team in action

We work closely with the Ferrari team in Formula One to develop the highest performance Shell V-Power race fuels and gain the best reliability from Shell Helix Ultra racing lubricants for the Ferrari team. These learnings are used to develop Shell’s fuels for road cars, to help power and protect motorists worldwide. View the Shell V-Power engine demonstration to see how our technical partnership could benefit your driving.

A technical partnership that delivers

Enzo Ferrari produced his first Ferrari racing car, a Ferrari 125C, for a race in Piacenza, Italy in May 1947. Although it did not finish, it was quick from the outset, even leading the race at the time of retirement. When Enzo Ferrari set up his own team, he took Shell's racing fuel technology with him. Providing Ferrari with fuels and oils, we had the opportunity to develop our products in an extremely demanding environment, something we continue to do today.

As Stefano Domenicali, the Director of the Ferrari Formula One team, puts it:

"In all my years' experience, I have never seen a relationship so close between a partner and a team.  The Constructors' title in 2008 definitely makes this the most successful partnership in the history of the sport."

Discover the milestones and key events of Shell and Ferrari's partnership in this interactive timeline.

Shell Tracksite Laboratory

Since Enzo Ferrari himself asked us to formally work with his racing team, we have been developing and refining fuels, and have helped power the Ferrari Formula One team to over 150 Grand Prix victories.

This includes 10 FIA World Constructors' Championships titles since 1999.  The winning credentials pf Ferrari with the support of Shell were summed up by Felipe Massa:

"2008 was a great year for me and the team.  The help of our partners, especially Shell, was for sure one of the main reasons we won our tenth Constructors' Championship."

The technical partnership has now been renewed until 2010, so Shell’s scientists will continue to provide their expertise in fuel development.

Constant innovation

As part of this continuous development process, Shell provides Ferrari with full analytical services at every Grand Prix. Our team of experts staff the Shell Trackside Laboratory - opens in new window, situated in the Ferrari team compound, help ensure that Ferrari's fuels and lubricants operate at peak efficiency and performance. We constantly test racing fuel and oil in the Ferrari Formula One cars to help ensure that the cars can perform at their best on the track.

As Stefano Domenicali said:

"Shell recently won our 'Ferrari Innovation Award' at a ceremony in Maranello, awarded for ongoing innovation in products that have contributed to improving the performance of our Formula One and Grand Turismo cars.  I must say it is very well deserved."

In anticipation of more race track successes, the 2009 Ferrari Formula One race car is supplied with Shell V-Power race fuel and Shell Helix Ultra racing oil.*

*These racing formulations differ from the formulations available to consumers for the road.

The new formulation of Shell V-Power has been developed with inspiration and learnings from the track with elite performance cars.  We have taken what we learn on the track and translated it into a new performance fuel formulated to deliver a benefit for every type of car on the road.  By constantly improving Shell V-Power race fuel and Shell Helix Ultra racing oil for Ferrari Formula One drivers, we have arrived at our new formulation of Shell V-Power road fuel helping drivers of all types of cars get the most performance out of every drop.

Every Ferrari road car leaves the production line in Maranello, filled with Shell V-Power* and Shell Helix Ultra. How can Ferrari be so confident they are right for their vehicles? The answer lies in our constant development process.  Our scientists work closely with Ferrari Formula One engineers and technicians.  This gives us an in-depth understanding of engine performance in the extreme environment of Formula One, so they know what fuel and oils are needed.*European formulation

Working with the best to deliver the best

We work with an uncompromising brand like Ferrari because, by providing the best possible race fuel and oil for their Formula One team, we have an extremely demanding environment for our products. Surviving this harshest of engineering tests gives us the valuable insights we need to keep improving Shell V-Power road fuel for motorists worldwide.