Shell ends trackside sponsor deal to focus on Ferrari

Oil and gas giant Shell has confirmed it is ending its deal with Formula One Management (FOM) for trackside and event sponsorship in favour of strengthening its partnership with the Ferrari team.

The Anglo-Dutch company has been a visible F1 partner with its trackside branding in recent years, most notably in its role as title backer for the Belgian Grand Prix over the past five seasons.

Opting instead to focus on its technical and sponsorship partnership with Ferrari, the move leaves the Spa-Francorchamps race without a title deal from this year.

"Shell has decided not to renew the agreement on advertising at the track or the title sponsorship of the Belgian Grand Prix with Formula One Management," sponsorship chief Kai-Uwe Witterstein told Motorsport-Total.

"This partnership [Ferrari] with the most successful team in the history of the sport, which runs until 2020, shows how much Shell has prescribed F1," Witterstein continued.