Formula 1 has signed a multi-year partnership with Flexjet, making the private aviation company its Official Private Aviation Supplier. As the sport continues to expand its global reach, Flexjet’s own international growth has expanded in the last two years. Global CEO Andrew Collins says the company has seen transatlantic flying rise by 60 percent over the past year, while its fleet has grown to more than 340 aircraft, with another 50 new aircraft due to join this year.
Flexjet has made a concerted effort over the last five years to also broaden its name recognition by aligning with luxury brands. It has established relationships with Italian yachting brand the Ferretti Group and fashion titan LVMH, among others. With Formula 1 now racing in more than 20 countries, Collins says the partnership was a natural fit. “F1 is a global platform,” he told Robb Report. “There’s a strong synergy between the groups.”
The agreement was made public over the weekend at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. A number of F1 drivers are already Flexjet clients. Under the terms, the aviation firm will cover the Formula One Group’s executive travel and provide a series of exclusive experiences for Flexjet’s fractional owners. At selected races, those customers will receive access to hospitality that goes beyond the grandstands, including the paddock and starting grid. At Silverstone, they were invited to House 44, the hospitality venue created by Lewis Hamilton, F1 Paddock Club, and Soho House. The venue was just above Ferrari’s race headquarters. “It was a very special way to watch the race,” says Collins. Ferrari’s Hamilton finished third in last weekend’s Grand Prix, behind fellow Prancing Horse driver Charles Leclerc in first and Mercedes’s George Russell in second.
Lewis Hamilton at this year’s British Grand Prix.
Clive Mason/Getty Images
The two companies will also produce a behind-the-scenes digital-content series examining the planning and execution required to run a Formula 1 season and a global private aviation operation. Under the agreement, Formula One Group’s flights with Flexjet will operate using Sustainable Aviation Fuel through the company’s existing sustainability program.
Collins says the partnership won’t be defined by prominent branding. “You won’t see big banners or honking digital signs,” he says. Instead, the emphasis will be on offering access that isn’t generally available, an approach that fits both Formula 1’s growing hospitality business and Flexjet’s focus on experiences for its owners.
Flexjet also sees F1 as a good fit because private fliers are getting younger—the average age has dropped by 10 years since 2020, making it a better fit with more action-focused sports like F1. “Cementing our ties with the world of motor racing allows us to deliver unparalleled, ultra-luxury experiences, both on the ground and in the air,” adds Kenn Ricci, chairman of Flexjet.
Flexjet is positioning itself to be part of the entire experience—from takeoff to the checkered flag.
