Puma inks exclusive multi-year licensing deal with Formula 1
The brand will also equip Formula 1 staff at the track and create Formula 1 fanwear that targets the sport’s different audiences with lifestyle and motorsport collections. The contract includes exclusive rights to sell F1 fanwear and fanwear of all 10 teams around the race circuit starting 2024.
From on-track gear to off-track fashion
Puma has a long history in motorsport, developing fireproof overalls, race shoes and other high-performance racing gear for F1 drivers since the mid 80s as well as teamwear, fanwear and lifestyle collections for some of the sport’s most successful teams. Today, Puma is a prominent provider of race gear and lifestyle collections in motorsport with partners such as Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1, Scuderia Ferrari, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake, BMW M Motorsport and Porsche Motorsport.
Formula 1 has seen a sharp rise in popularity in recent years, with its fanbase becoming younger and more diverse. Cumulative TV audiences have also grown to reach 1.5 billion viewers race attendance also reached record levels in 2022, with the sport continuing to grow on social media. The partnership provides Puma with the opportunity to augment its established dominance in the sport by appealing to a broader fan base, tap into more diverse consumer groups and bring the inspiration of on-track gear to off-track fashion.
“The influence of motorsport, and Formula 1 in particular, on sports- and streetwear culture has significantly increased in recent years. Our new partnership with Formula 1 is an exciting opportunity to further explore this blend of motorsports and lifestyle. Puma has always sat at the intersection of sports and fashion, and we feel we are in the perfect position to translate the culture of the sport into relevant streetwear collections and drive brand heat with a young, affluent, and diverse audience,” said Arne Freundt, CEO of Puma.
Fan retail stores
Puma’s subsidiary Stichd, a company for licensed fanwear as well as legwear, bodywear and swimwear, will exclusively operate the fan retail stores during race weekends. These shops will sell Formula 1 licensed products as well as replica teamwear, fanwear and special edition collections from all 10 teams on the Formula 1 grid and F1 legends.
“Selling fanwear at every F1 race is a fun and challenging project because the conditions at every track are different, from the hillsides of Zeltweg and Spa to the city centres of Monaco and Baku,” said Nina Nix, CEO of Stichd. “No matter where the race is held, Stichd will create a truly immersive fan experience that goes well beyond selling fanwear.”
Stichd will operate up to 65 mobile stores at more than 20 races in 19 different countries, equaling more than 4,000m2 sales space. The stores will be designed to be durable and lightweight, so they can be transported efficiently from one event to the next.
Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, said: “As F1 continues to grow around the world, we have been reaching new fans through exciting collaborations and are seeing the sport enter areas of mainstream culture we have not seen before. Puma has a rich history in motorsport, making them the perfect fit for F1 as we take the sport’s apparel to the next level for fans on the street, drivers in the paddock, and everything else in between.”
