Allianz announces team partnership with MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One Team

Allianz announces its new partnership with the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula OneTM Team. The partnership underlines Allianz' commitment to road safety, Formula OneTM and the automotive industry.

"Heightened awareness means safer driving, which means less accidents and finally, less damages," says Joseph K. Gross, Global Head of Group Market Management at Allianz SE. "3,000 people die in traffic accidents worldwide every day and about 30,000 people are seriously injured. As a global insurer for over 50 million cars, Allianz has a vested interest in reducing the frequency and severity of accidents. Allianz, in its Formula One engagement, can create links between the safety of Formula One drivers and the everyday safety of drivers worldwide."

Allianz aims to cooperate with MERCEDES GP PETRONAS on a number of safety issues. Starting from the first pre-season test in Valencia on February 1, the Allianz logo will be on the two main security features: the Head and Neck Support system (HANS for short) and the seatbelts of the cars. In addition, the partners plan to jointly work on an information programme on road safety, which will be broadcast around the world.

Joseph Gross: "Visible commitment to road safety is very important to us also as a signal to our 75 million customers all around the world"

The Official Formula OneTM Safety Car with Allianz logo (GP Japan 2010)

The two brands are already visibly aligned on race tracks worldwide through the Allianz branding of the Official Formula OneTM Safety Car and Medical Car, both of which are provided by Mercedes-Benz.

"No one had branded the Safety and Medical Car before Allianz did," says Gross. "This visible commitment to road safety is very important to us also as a signal to our 75 million customers all around the world."

Allianz' commitment to road safety includes its research center Allianz Center for Technology (AZT), which for over 70 years has been providing successful risk management, as well as accident and damage research to both Allianz and the insurance and automotive industries. "Allianz, much like MERCEDES GP PETRONAS, are interested in all aspects of road safety and see the potential benefit in a reciprocal exchange between the racing team, car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz and car insurer Allianz," says Joe Gross.

"The partnership between Allianz SE and MERCEDES GP PETRONAS underlines Allianz Group's close cooperation with the automotive industry," says Karsten Crede, Head of Global Automotive at Allianz.

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS and Allianz make a perfect fit (GP Japan 2010)

At the end of 2009, Allianz created a new business area, Global Automotive, which specializes in the cooperation with car manufacturers, suppliers and dealers. Around the globe, Allianz has over 25 major partnerships including collaboration with Daimler Insurance Services GmbH.

Ross Brawn, Team Principal of MERCEDES GP PETRONAS, comments: "We are delighted to welcome our new partner Allianz to the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One Team as we begin our pre-season testing programme. Allianz have been involved with Formula One for a number of years and have achieved excellent work in raising the profile of road safety through their marketing campaigns. Safety is absolutely fundamental in our sport, and with every innovation that improves safety in Formula One, there is the possibility of increasing road safety for drivers everywhere."

"We are really looking forward to welcoming Allianz as a new partner for our team", says Norbert Haug, Vice-President of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, and continues: "Since the invention of the automobile 125 years ago, Mercedes-Benz has been above all a pioneer in all aspects of safety in and around the car, and has been decisively pushing progress with regards to safety and will continue to do. This ambition is fitting with Allianz and we want to emphasise this jointly with our partnership in Formula One."

Allianz has been a partner of Formula OneTM since 2000. Most recently, it was partnering with AT&T Williams. This successful partnership ended in 2010.

 
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