Red Bull’s junior team (RB) has announced a significant shake-up in its sponsorship lineup, parting ways with Polish petroleum giant Orlen ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season. The decision marks the end of a lucrative partnership that had been in place since 2023 and prominently featured Orlen’s branding on the car’s rear wing.
Orlen exits Formula 1 to focus on junior drivers
Orlen, a company valued at over $58 billion, has long been associated with Formula 1, supporting both teams and drivers like former F1 competitor Robert Kubica. However, the Polish company has decided to shift its focus away from F1 sponsorships, redirecting funds to support the development of young drivers in motorsport.
“This marks a new chapter for Orlen as we aim to nurture the next generation of racing talent,” an Orlen representative stated. The move aligns with the company’s broader ambitions to invest in grassroots motorsport programs, which could result in increased opportunities for emerging drivers in junior categories.
Finding new partners: Enter Dynatrace
The departure of Orlen leaves a significant gap in RB’s sponsorship portfolio. However, the team has already announced a new partnership with Dynatrace, a US-based software intelligence platform specializing in AI-driven data analysis.
RB’s CEO, Franz Bayer, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, emphasizing how Dynatrace’s cutting-edge technology would provide the team with actionable insights to enhance performance.
“In F1, every millisecond matters. Having Dynatrace on board gives us an edge by enabling unparalleled insights and analytics that translate into performance gains,” Bayer said. “Their AI expertise and leading observability technology perfectly complement our team’s pursuit of excellence and passion for winning.”
Challenges ahead for RB
RB enters the 2025 season with a renewed lineup of young talent, hoping to bounce back after a turbulent 2024 season marked by mid-season driver changes and inconsistent performance. The loss of Orlen’s financial backing adds pressure on the Faenza-based team to secure additional sponsors while improving results on the track.
With Dynatrace now on board as a key technology partner, RB aims to leverage advanced data analysis to extract maximum performance from its car and drivers.
A pivotal season for Faenza
As the 2025 Formula 1 season looms, RB faces the dual challenge of rebuilding its sponsorship base and delivering a strong start with its promising new driver lineup. While Orlen’s departure represents a financial setback, the team’s partnership with Dynatrace could be the key to unlocking fresh performance gains.
Only time will tell if RB can turn the page and reestablish itself as a competitive force on the F1 grid.
