Two months after partnering with the Red Bull Racing Formula One team, luxury car brand Infiniti has unveiled reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel as a brand ambassador.
The 23-year old German will front Infiniti’s marketing campaign aimed at raising the profile of the brand at Formula One race weekends and selected company events. Details regarding the valuation and duration of the contract have not been released.
Recently identified by SportsPro as the world’s seventh most marketable athlete, Vettel already holds an endorsement deal with watch manufacturer Casio and acts as a brand ambassador for Procter & Gamble’s Head & Shoulders brand of shampoo.
In February 2011, the Nisan-owned brand signed a season-long agreement to back 2010 constructors’ champions Red Bull, in a deal worth US$12 million. Following that partnership, Vettel, and his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, agreed to drive Infiniti cars in public, and at races around the world, with the company’s logo appearing on the RB7 car, team clothing and equipment.
“Since our first contact with Infiniti I liked their cars. A car can impress you in two ways: its looks and its handling. After I had the chance to test some cars in the range I became a big fan,” commented Vettel. “They are comfortable as well as sporty when you ask for it. I am sure we as a team and myself can benefit a lot from the experience of Infiniti and I am very much looking forward to our partnership in the future.”
Simon Sproule, chief vice-president, global marketing communications, Nissan Motor Company, said: "Red Bull Racing have demonstrated over the course of their short history in Formula One that they are a great challenger brand, unafraid of taking their own approach to creating a winning team. At the core of this emergence has been the inspired performance of Sebastian Vettel. As we developed the partnership with the team, so it was a natural progression to also work more closely with Sebastian, and today we formally welcome him to the Infiniti team.”
Vettel, who became the youngest ever Formula One world champion last year, has dominated the field once more at the start of the 2011 season. Having won four of the first five races that have been held, Vettel is already 41 points ahead of his nearest rival in the championship standings. The next race takes place on 29th May at the glamorous street circuit in Monaco..
