Just one day ahead of the first race of this season’s FIA ABB Formula E Championship, VENTURI Formula E Team is delighted to announce luxury Swiss watchmaking brand, RICHARD MILLE, as Official Team Partner for Seasons 5, 6 and 7.
The news comes as the team prepares to jet off to Ad Diriyah, in Saudi Arabia, where the opening round will take place on Saturday 15 December. Over the course of the 2018-2019 season, the Monegasque team will be racing in 12 of the world most iconic cities. From New York to Hong-Kong, via Paris and Rome, VENTURI Formula E Team will be flying the flag for the Principality.
Perfect timing
Synonymous with some of the most prestigious names in global motor racing, RICHARD MILLE boasts a proud heritage of affiliation with Le Mans Classic, Rallye des Légendes, and several prolific Formula 1 teams. The exciting new partnership with VENTURI Formula E team comes as a natural extension to the brand’s ongoing relationship with team driver, Felipe MASSA, who became the brand’s very first sporting brand partner in 2004.
As a continuing RICHARD MILLE partner, MASSA will maintain his representation of the brand during all three seasons, proudly displaying watches he developed with Richard Mille and bearing his name. Fellow driver, Edoardo MORTARA, will also sport the RM 030 Automatic watch, for the duration of Season 5.
Watch and learn
In keeping with RICHARD MILLE’s striking visual racing identity, the infamous RICHARD MILLE logo will be proudly featured on the nose side, nose top and all-new inner halo positions of Felipe MASSA and Edoardo MORTARA’s all-electric VENTURI cars during the three seasons. The RICHARD MILLE livery will also be depicted on driver and team clothing and across factory, garage, digital and non-digital partner channels, alongside the current prolific global partner line up of VENTURI Formula E Team.
With great partners such as RICHARD MILLE on board and a driver lineup of Edoardo MORTARA and Felipe MASSA, plus the two newly recruited reserve and development drivers, Simona DE SILVESTRO and Norman NATO, the VENTURI Formula E Team is fully ready to take on the challenges ahead. Each driver has racked up plenty of laps in the simulator to get to grips with the fast, winding Ad Diriyah circuit. The newly created 2.495 km course includes 21 turns, and leaves no margin for error – preparation is key.
New innovation, new challenges
VENTURI Formula E team and RICHARD MILLE share the same track record of precision engineering and constant innovation in their respective fields. From its establishment in 2001, RICHARD MILLE is credited with numerous world premiere innovations that have dramatically extended the entire field of horologic knowledge and invention, applying techniques and materials usually only found in the most innovative sectors such as Formula 1 racing car development and the aerospace industry to watchmaking, creating extreme timepieces, without compromise or gimmick and with an unparalleled hand-crafted finish.
Naturally, innovation is the name of the game in Formula E and Season 5 promises to be no different. The first race in Ad Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, with lights out at 12:00 GMT this Saturday, 15 December, will also bring teams the inaugural opportunity to use “Attack Mode”, allowing the drivers to activate a power boost in defined zones off the racing line. The boost will provide an additional 25 kW of power, in addition to the 200kW already available, but only for short periods of time that will vary from race to race. Spectators and TV viewers will be able to see when a driver has triggered “Attack Mode” thanks to fluorescent LED lights embedded in the halo above the driver’s head. The precise amount of activations and the duration of each “Attack Mode” will be discovered by the teams on the very day of the race, opening up a whole host of strategies and of course, enhance the racing jeopardy that fans so love. The dynamic halo lights will depict a further, different colour when Fanboost is used, a system that gives a power increase for a limited period to the five drivers who get the most fan votes.
Simona De Silvestro on the track
On Sunday 16 December, as part of her role as development driver, Simona DE SILVESTRO will take part in testing after the opening race. Reserve driver, Norman NATO, will take part in the Rookie Test in Marrakesh on 13 January 2019.
What they say
“It’s impressive to see how far Formula E has evolved in just four short years. The appeal of the series is clear for all to see, with incredible partners like RICHARD MILLE and so many other respected blue chip brands flocking to participate. It’s a new era we’re looking forward to entering on Saturday. A year ago, I started the process of overhauling my team, as I wanted VENTURI Formula E Team to be ready to challenge in a Championship that will be more competitive than ever. After working with HWA and bringing in Felipe MASSA and Susie WOLFF, the task of strengthening and optimising the team structure has continued under Susie and myself. This is now the perfect time for us to welcome new partners such as RICHARD MILLE onboard. Now I can’t wait to see those lights go out at 12:00 GMT on Saturday!”
Gildo PASTOR, VENTURI Formula E Team President
“I’m absolutely delighted to welcome RICHARD MILLE to the family. As the only Monaco based team, it’s an honor to have official partners on board who have a great history and presence in our home. We’ve spent a huge amount of time and energy preparing for the race on Saturday, my job now is to focus on making the very most of all the opportunities available to us at this landmark event.”
Susie WOLFF, VENTURI Formula E Team Principal
“I’m very happy to bring RICHARD MILLE into the VENTURI family, I’ve loved working with them over the years. Their unwavering commitment to retain the beauty of their hand-craftmanship whilst driving future horological innovation without compromise really impresses me. It sets them apart and I’m pleased that we can continue our partnership now into Formula E. I’m sure we will do them proud. I’m really looking forward to getting out on the track in Ad Diriyah, I’ve had over six months with the VENTURI VFE-05, in private testing, official testing and the simulator, but there’s nothing like driving the race itself. The track looks incredible, I know how tough my competition will be, but I have a great team and a strong team mate in place, with great partners on board too, all the pieces of the puzzle are there to put on a high quality show.”
Felipe MASSA – VENTURI Formula E Team driver
“It’s been a year since I was introduced to Formula E and VENTURI. Since then, both have grown hugely. On the one hand, the new Gen2 car represents a big step forward in the history of this championship, and on the other, the VENTURI Formula E team has greatly developed in order to be able to get the best out of this car. We’ve prepared for this first race meticulously, and now I can’t wait to get to grips with the Ad Diriyah circuit.”
Edoardo MORTARA – VENTURI Formula E Team driver
