Heineken may be pouring $200m into F1

A gleeful Max Verstappen atop the Circuit de Catalunya podium, after becoming F1's youngest race winner by clinching last Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.
A gleeful Max Verstappen atop the Circuit de Catalunya podium, after becoming F1's youngest race winner by clinching last Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. PHOTO: EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY

LONDON • Formula One is coming up tulips, with the news that Max Verstappen's stunning victory in Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix will soon be followed by the announcement of a new £100 million (S$200 million) sponsorship deal with Heineken.

The 18-year-old was the first Dutch winner in F1 and now the Amsterdam brewing giant is ready to boost a sport that has been haemorrhaging sponsorship in recent years as a result of declining TV audience figures.

There has been no official announcement but there are rumours circulating in the Netherlands, and F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone told The Guardian on Tuesday: "Apparently it leaked on a website in Holland. Heineken told me they were very, very sorry and that they were p***ed off."

Three-time F1 world champion Jackie Stewart hinted at the deal recently, saying: "Very soon, a large internationally-renowned company will come into F1 as a global sponsor."

The Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf claims that company is Heineken and that the sponsorship will be in place for next month's Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. The deal is said to be worth nearly US$150 million (S$206.7 million) over five years.

  • $200m

    Value of Dutch brewery Heineken's new global sponsorship in Formula One.

A Heineken spokesman, David Pugh, said: "As a leading premium brand, we are constantly evaluating potential sponsorship and partnership opportunities.

"This includes F1 as well as many other sports properties.

"We currently have an outstanding complementary global portfolio of sponsorships and partnerships including Uefa Champions League, Rugby World Cup and the James Bond franchise.

"We will not speculate on what we might do in the future as this is commercially sensitive."

Ecclestone, meanwhile, is delighted with Verstappen's victory at the Circuit de Catalunya, a result which has breathed fresh life into the sport. "It was great by Max, wasn't it?" the 85-year-old said.

"It was a good demonstration of what I've been saying for the past two or three years. You don't need a team as dominant as them (Mercedes) who come first and second in qualifying and then first and second in the race."

THE GUARDIAN

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 19, 2016, with the headline Heineken may be pouring $200m into F1. Subscribe