F1 hoping for 'another dimension' as key sponsor extends sponsor deal

Formula 1 has announced the extension of MSC Cruises as a sponsor through 2030. 

The announcement took place in the Monaco harbour, on board the Explora l, a €500m vessel, attended by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and Pierfrancesco Vago, the executive chairman of the MSC Group's cruise division.

MSC Cruises expanded its sponsorship ties to F1 ahead of the 2025 season and is the title sponsor of three grands prix this season. These are the Austrian, United States, and Sao Paulo Grands Prix. 

In addition, its partnership interests with F1 also extend to the Alpine F1 Team, with whom the cruise company is a major sponsor. 

"For us, it is incredible and we are really honoured that Pierfrancesco and his family have decided that we were the right partner," Domenicali told media including RacingNews365. 

"On our side, we have the vision of thinking big, and if you want to think big, you need the biggest partners in the world. 

"They are not only the biggest brand with regards to connectivity, logistics, shipping, cruising, and healthcare, but you see all the things they are doing, they are really incredible people.

"This really is the difference always done by the biggest companies and as you can understand from an Italian soul, they are the biggest international in the world. 

"We want to take our sport to a different dimension, we are worldwide, we are international, and that is what is connecting us. 

"Above all, we can offer something to our customers, and they are the best in offering that, and it shows why we are looking ahead to a bright future together."

Vago, speaking on behalf of MSC Cruises, added that he felt the company and F1 shared a lot of values. 

"When I spoke to Stefano, we immediately had the same passion, we share the same vision, and that is really what interests us," he said. 

"We set up new frontiers and technology that helps other industries, so what Formula 1 does for the automobile, we do for others and are really passionate in many ways."