Ferrari and Puma today announce long-term partnership

Ferrari and Puma today announced a long-term extension to their partnership.

Puma, the global sport-lifestyle brand will continue to be the official licensing partner for Ferrari branded products and the official supplier of team and race wear for Scuderia Ferrari.  On the back of highly successful six year collaboration, this new agreement will see the two companies work together for a further long term period.

Through this extended partnership, Puma will continue to develop Ferrari licensed footwear, apparel and accessories for global sales and distribution.  As the Formula One race calendar is expanding into new markets, the global reputation and profile of the sport continues to grow, resulting in a projected increase in the sales performance of Ferrari licensed product worldwide.  The partnership has become one of the most commercially valuable licensing relationships for both Puma and Ferrari, and the two companies have strengthened their relationship by developing a complete new collection which will be presented at the end of this year.

Puma is the sport-lifestyle brand with the longest heritage in motorsport, and its development of fire retardant technology has revolutionized driver racewear by dramatically reducing weight while maintaining the optimal performance of safety and comfort. Puma will continue to supply Scuderia Ferrari with the latest technological innovations in team and racewear, enabling Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa to compete for the coveted Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships in one of the lightest and safest race suits in F1.

Luca di Montezemolo, Chairman of Ferrari S.p.A., said:

“We have enjoyed a very successful relationship with Puma over the past six years, and we are very happy that this will continue long term.  Their commitment to product design, development and racewear technology is unrivalled in the industry, and they continue to impress us on all counts.  Clearly licensed apparel and footwear is a key business area for us, and it could not be in better hands.  We look forward to continue working with PUMA for many years to come.”

Jochen Zeitz, Chairman and CEO of Puma AG, said:

“We are delighted to continue and deepen our partnership with Ferrari.  To extend a relationship with the most prestigious brand in the automotive industry and the most popular and successful team in Formula One is of great benefit to us both commercially and reputationally.  The Ferrari licensed product development we have undertaken so far has been very successful, and the plans we have for the coming years are equally exciting.  They are an ideal motorsport partner for us in every respect.”

Schumacher, Wanna Job?

The Ferrari Formula One team have announced that Michael Schumacher will be stepping back into the cockpit as a replacement for the injured Felipe Massa.

The 40-year-old, former Ferrari driver must first pass a fitness test, having retired from the sport at the end of the 2006 season, but is expected to be on the grid at next months race in Valencia, which will be a brand new experience for the seven-times World Champion.

The Ferrari Team statement said;

“Ferrari intends to entrust Michael Schumacher with Felipe Massa’s car for as long as the Brazilian driver is not able to race.

“Michael Schumacher has shown his willingness and in the next few days he will undergo a specific program of preparation at the end of which it will be possible to confirm his participation in the championship starting with the European Grand Prix on August 23.”

Schumacher had written on his personal website;

“I talked on the telephone with (team principal) Stefano Domenicali and (Ferrari president) Luca de Montezemolo this afternoon and we decided jointly that I’ll start preparing to jump in for Felipe.

Even though I completely wrapped up the subject of Formula One quite a while ago, due to my attachment to the team I cannot ignore this unfortunate situation. As a competitor, like I am, I’m looking forward to this challenge.”

Max The Menace

FIA President Max Mosley, is said to be furious over alleged false statements made by Ferrari President Luca de Montezemelo, after the breakthrough meeting in Paris last week which put an end to the breakaway F1 group.

Mosley sent a letter to Montezemelo and FOTA, demanding a public apology over suggestions that he had been forced out of office and that he would have no seat in the FIA when he steps down from his presidency role in October.

In the letter Mosley wrote;

“We made a deal yesterday in Paris to end the recent difficulties in Formula One. A fundamental part of this was that we would both present a positive and truthful account to the media.

I was therefore astonished to learn that Fota has been briefing the press that Mr [Michel] Boeri [president of the Fia senate] has taken charge of Formula One, something which you know is completely untrue; that I had been forced out of office, also false; and, apparently, that I would have no role in the Fia after October, something which is plain nonsense, if only because of the Fia statutes.

Furthermore, you have suggested to the media I was a ‘dictator’, an accusation which is grossly insulting to the 26 members of the World Motor Sport Council who have discussed and voted all the rules and procedures of Formula One since the 1980s, not to mention the representatives of the FIA’s 122 countries who have democratically endorsed everything I and my World Motor Sport Council colleagues have done during the last 18 years.

There was no need for me to involve myself further in Formula One once we had a settlement. Equally, I had a long-standing plan not to seek re-election in October. It was therefore possible for me to confirm both points to you yesterday.

Given your and Fota’s deliberate attempt to mislead the media, I now consider my options open. At least until October, I am president of the Fia with the full authority of that office. After that it is the Fia member clubs, not you or Fota, who will decide on the future leadership of the Fia.

If you wish the agreement we made to have any chance of survival, you and Fota must immediately rectify your actions. You must correct the false statements which have been made and make no further such statements. You yourself must issue a suitable correction and apology at your press conference this afternoon.”

Still handbags at twenty paces boys and girls, just when we thought that the end was in sight they’re off again for the next round.  All we want to see is good racing but I guess those days are well and truly over!