Carbonell and HRT Formula 1 Team have signed a collaboration deal through which the leading olive oil brand will have its image present on the drivers’ overalls, whilst also forming a part of the exclusive culinary experience that the team has created alongside Arzak-Bokado.

The squad of Arzak-Bokado chefs travel with the team and have their operational base in the new motorhome hospitality during European races, whereas in overseas races they use the facilities provided by each circuit to maintain the same quality service. They offer a gastronomic experience that meets the different needs of team members and exclusive guests of the team, using fresh national products of the highest quality that characterize the extraordinary and renowned Spanish cuisine, whilst also leaning upon chefs and suppliers at each of the 19 countries visited throughout the season.

Besides the different menus, the gourmet experience also includes gastronomic activities at the circuit such as the “show cooking” or the “lightning pintxo”, which HRT offers every Grand Prix Sunday before the race for team members, guests, international press and organizers who travel the globe covering Formula 1 all to enjoy.

The presence of Carbonell, world leader in olive oil, will provide an extra contribution to that gastronomic experience whilst also enjoying an unbeatable platform for the brand because of the quality and worldwide reach of the team’s activities in a setting such as Formula 1. Carbonell has chosen the pinnacle of motorsport and HRT Formula 1 Team, the first and only team in the history of this competition to have its headquarters in Spain, to begin this unique culinary experience in Formula 1 and will also be the team’s exclusive brand for olive oil, olives and vinegar.

The agreement, which was signed by José María Collantes, Managing Director of Deoleo S.A, and Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal of HRT Formula 1 Team, at the team’s new headquarters in the Caja Mágica in Madrid, is valid until the end of 2012 with an option to extend. With this, Carbonell becomes the first Spanish food brand to be present in the Formula 1 World Championship.

Jose María Collantes, Managing Director Deoleo S.A: “The partnership between HRT, Carbonell and Arzak will enable to strengthen the link between Formula 1 and the gastronomic world thanks to HRT with an exclusive gourmet experience through which Carbonell will take part in every aspect related to the team’s kitchen, as well as all the culinary activities at the Grands Prix. By supporting such a popular sport as Formula 1, Carbonell will have great visibility and will secure its place as an innovative brand in the world of olive oil, vinegar and olives”.

Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal HRT: “It’s a great satisfaction for HRT to begin a partnership with Carbonell, a world renowned Spanish brand in the food sector. This association offers an opportunity to make the most of and strengthen the synergies of both companies on a worldwide base. Besides, Carbonell integrates perfectly with our gastronomic partners, Arzak-Bokado, to offer a gourmet experience made up of Spanish cuisine and fusion in the different countries where we compete. We thank Carbonell for the confidence they have deposited in us and we will continue to work hard to be competitive in an extremely demanding environment. With everyone’s effort we will reach our targets”.

ABOUT CARBONELL

For more than 145 years Carbonell has been present in kitchens and has created its oil taking close care of every step. Today, as a result of that experience and also of an innovation, Carbonell creates its oil following the Exclusive Carbonell Method® through which the best olives are chosen based on the origin, variety and moment of picking and a unique elaboration process is followed with which the essence of the olive is conserved.

Thereby, Carbonell is the brand that transforms dishes, in short, they give them soul, contributing some specific benefits (more nutrition; more pleasure; makes the normal special; turns the experience of eating into something sublime). Carbonell, the soul of your kitchen.

Carbonell belongs to Deoleo S.A., a Spanish food group that lists on the Spanish stock market and that is a worldwide leader in bottled olive oil, and that counts with the leading brands in the areas and markets where it operates, offering top quality products.

The 2012 season has kicked off promisingly, with more overtaking moves recorded in the first two races than in the same exciting period last year.

The finding is significant, given the highly lauded contribution early in 2011 made by the new passing aid ‘DRS’, and new official supplier Pirelli’s heavily-degrading tyres.

Finland’s Turun Sanomat newspaper said 2012 has so far broken even the all-time records of early last season, when there were 63 overtaking moves – excluding the first laps – in Australia and Malaysia 2011.

This year, there were 70 passes in Australia-Malaysia combined.

It bodes well for this weekend’s Chinese grand prix, after last year’s Shanghai race saw no fewer than 63 separate in-race overtakes, including Lewis Hamilton’s winning move on leader Sebastian Vettel.

“China proved to be one of the most fascinating races in our first year, so we have a tough act to follow,” said Pirelli’s Paul Hembery.

“However, the philosophy we have adopted this year actually extends the window of peak performance on the slick tyres, which means that the drivers should be able to race harder and closer,” he added.

Yet another factor at the 2012 Chinese grand prix could be the weather, with F1′s travellers already sampling wet Shanghai roads early this week.

That forecast would suit Malaysia winner Ferrari, with technical director Pat Fry admitting that the Italian team’s 2012 car is almost a second off the pace in the dry.

“Damp, low grip conditions suit our car and flatter some of the issues we have at the moment,” he said.

1980 world champion Alan Jones has backed Caterham’s decision to dump Jarno Trulli.
Despite having extended the Italian veteran’s contract for 2012, the former Lotus team decided at the last minute to sign the well-backed Russian Petrov.

Caterham explained that Petrov brings “fresh impetus” to the team, whilst also admitting that the decision was made “with a realistic eye on the global economic market”.

One French report has calculated the 27-year-old’s sponsorship contributions at EUR 12 million, including money from Russia’s largest petrochemical company Sibur.

But the straight-talking Australian Jones, who won Williams’ first drivers’ title three decades ago, said Caterham was also right to oust Italian Trulli on performance criteria.

Told that Heikki Kovalainen “destroyed” Trulli in 2011, Jones said: “I think he was destroyed by everybody, wasn’t he?”

On Caterham’s decision, he told GMM: “In my opinion Trulli wasn’t doing the job so it would have made it a pretty easy decision to get in this younger guy who is perhaps a bit keener, a big hungrier.

“It’s also a fact that he (Petrov) is bringing in money, so to me it’s a no-brainer,” added Jones.

Vitaly Petrov will be on the formula one grid for years to come, his manager insists.

There has been speculation that, despite his financial contribution and a recent influx of Russian sponsors, the 26-year-old rookie might lose his Renault seat for 2011 on the basis of his performances this season.

“I want to reassure all the fans, Vitaly will remain in formula one next year, and the year after and three years from now,” Petrov’s female manager Oksana Kosachenko told the Rossiya 2 television channel.

Petrov hopes his manager is right, particularly with the news that Sochi is set to be added to the formula one calendar of 2014.

“Almost all the drivers already have a home race so I hope that I can experience the same special feeling of racing at home in a few years’ time,” he said.

F1 rookie Lucas di Grassi has bought into the GP3 arm of the Spanish GP2 outfit Addax.

Now a Virgin driver, the Brazilian has become a minor shareholder of the team that he and Vitaly Petrov drove to the GP2 constructors’ title in 2008, according to multiple Portuguese-language sources.

“We are convinced that with his tremendous seriousness and professionalism, he will make an important contribution to the success we expect to achieve in a short time,” said owner Alejandro Agag.

“After driving for the team, I’m offering my services in the sports area,” Brazilian di Grassi, 26, is quoted by publications including Terra, R7 and UOL.

“I am eager to work on a project that is a genuine platform for young drivers and will try to help them prepare technically and tactically,” he added.

GP3, a feeder series for GP2, was launched in 2010, and also features a team part-owned by Mark Webber.

Bruno Senna is confident he will not fall off the formula one grid after a single season.

Amid a difficult debut campaign with the struggling Spanish team HRT, the Brazilian 26-year-old sat out Silverstone last month but is confident he will now keep his seat until the end of the season.

Whilst visiting his native Sao Paulo during F1′s August break, Senna told the local press that he is also confident about 2011.

But when asked if he has a plan B, he joked: “Selling coconuts on the beach!

“In fact, I hope the chance that I will continue (in F1) is 100 per cent. But unfortunately, it is impossible to say.

“Before the 2009 season, I seemed to have a good chance to race with Honda, but of course it ended up not happening.

“In F1, foresight doesn’t work — the only thing that does is a signed contract. There are always talks but nothing official.

“We will have to see,” added Senna.

He is unable to predict the identity of his employer for 2011.

“Few teams have guarantees that they will be on the grid,” said Senna. “It is not an easy time in F1.

“It’s not so simple, but they (HRT’s bosses) are making plans. The best thing would be if I could simply choose the team, because my goal is to stay for many years, not just now.

“But I do have to work to get assurances that I’ll be in F1 next year, either with this team or with another … it will depend on many things.”

Senna acknowledged that financial limitations have held HRT back in 2010, but says the team has the budget to finish the season.

“Fortunately we made a good contract,” he said, probably referring to his former teammate Karun Chandhok, whose season has been interrupted by the reportedly greater financial contribution of Sakon Yamamoto.

“It’s hard to predict, but with the experience we have during these years of racing, we made a contract that bypasses the complicated situations that can arise.

“But this is not a disappointment,” he insisted. “I have to accept the difficulties. It is a year of opportunity. It is harder and harder to come in (to F1).

“As much as I do not have a competitive car, I’m here,” added Senna. “It has been a great learning experience.”