Global Financial Market Review

Dubai’s DP World has signed an agreement to become the become the global logistics partner and title partner of the Renault F1 team.

The agreement, which starts from this season, will see DP World help the French F1 team increase the efficiency of their supply chain. In return, DP will explore some of the tech innovations being used in one of the most technologically intensive sports in the world.

In addition, teams from DP World, Renault Sport Racing and Groupe Renault will leverage the F1 global marketing platform.

"One of our strategic objectives has been to develop innovative logistics solutions for the automotive sector,” said Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, group chairman and chief executive officer, DP World.

“This partnership is a first step in the exploration of ways to make the global automotive supply chain more efficient by lowering costs, increasing speed and transparency, and mitigating the environmental impact."

Jérôme Stoll, Renault Sport Racing chairman described the agreement as “an extremely interesting and exciting collaboration across multiple disciplines”.

“After the ambitions expressed by Formula One to become fully carbon neutral by 2030, we are constantly evaluating ways to reduce our carbon footprint and our turnaround time,” Stoll said.

“We expect that working with DP World will reveal opportunities for tangible solutions to some of the logistical challenges faced by our F1 team's supply chain and by extension, the automotive industry at a larger scale. We also look forward to cross-fertilising our engineering skills through shared innovation."

Renault start the F1 season with a new driver in their line-up, in the form of Esteban Ocon, who replaces Nico Hulkenberg.

Daniel Ricciardo (Australia)

Still ambitious at 30 and after eight full seasons, the Australian faces a new in-team challenge this year in the form of the highly-rated Esteban Ocon. 

Ricciardo's 2018 move from Red Bull, where he had outpaced Sebastian Vettel before the arrival of Max Verstappen, has been followed by only flashes of his dashing best form. Restricted by Renault's under-performance – they have recruited Pat Fry to improve the chassis – Ricciardo has to step up and challenge the top six.

Esteban Ocon (France)

Back after a year's sabbatical 'on the bench' at Mercedes, Ocon will give Ricciardo a serious test this year. Fast, determined, unafraid of tough battles, he proved himself with Manor and Force India and has completed 50 races.

Aged 23, he is hungry for action and success. He was GP3 champion in 2015 and has risen to the top on merit after his garage mechanic father Laurent made huge sacrifices to ignite his karting career. Clever and controlled, he is tipped for the top.