At the San Marino Grand Prix last weekend Shell announced the renewal of its technical partnership with Ferrari for a further five years . The contract details (inevitably secret) agree terms under which Shell will continue to provide fuels and lubricants to Ferrari's road car division as well as its racing operation until the end of 2010.

Shell products were used in the very first Ferrari cars and Shell played a key role in Ferrari's first Formula One appearance in 1950. Since then, Shell has powered Ferrari to eight Formula One Constructors' crowns and 11 Drivers' titles. Since 1996, Shell has pioneered track-side analysis techniques that account in part for Ferrari's phenomenal mechanical reliability record.

Shell benefit from the performance-critical applications, which Ferrari's Formula One and road car operations provide, for monitoring such features as wear resistance, high temperature engine thermal protection systems and reduction of internal abrasion.

Obviously, Ferrari benefits as well; by keeping the power output and fuel efficiency high and by lowering the density of its fuel, Shell was able to provide performance-enhancing weight savings and better fuel consumption during 2004. This year's San Marino GP demonstrated yet again that this is a key part of Ferrari's sucess. Ross Brawn's ability to find Schumacher track space by re-fueling strategy, and Schuey's unrivalled ability to make the most of it when it matters, made all the difference.

Lubricants also play their part - teams can change engine oil blends throughout a weekend to maximise performance. This year, where an engine must last two race weekends, any added protection or horsepower liberated by a change of lubricant viscosity can make a lot of difference to track performance, fuel efficiency and of course reliability. [Wonder if this means thin oil for qualifying and thick oil for the race?]

The money no doubt helps Ferrari as well .....

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