Mercedes and Puma have been working together since 2012. Puma, Toto Wolff, Adudas (Via: Imago) is a prominent team in F1. The German brand has been involved in the early years of the championship and has been a significant presence since its return in 2010. Since returning to the grid, Puma has been the main sponsor of the team and the official producer of fan clothing. However, there has been a surprising development as Mercedes is planning to replace Puma with another brand.
Recently, Mercedes and Puma announced their mutual collaboration. The partnership was expected to make a big impact in the fashion industry and among fans. However, their hopes were dashed when reports emerged about the alliance between the two giants coming to an end.
According to Bild, the German manufacturer is planning to sever ties with Puma and form a new partnership with Adidas. This news coincides with Adidas ending its association with the German Football Association DFB. There are also rumors that Adidas has already presented some initial designs for the team merchandise, suggesting that the deal is finalized.
Mercedes is known for its active marketing efforts. On the track, they have made significant progress, as evidenced by their recent victory in Austria. However, Hamilton finished fourth, 23 seconds behind his teammate, raising concerns within the paddock about the performance of the former world champion.
In response to these concerns, team boss Toto Wolff addressed the issue and explained the reason behind Hamilton’s lack of pace. Wolff first mentioned the incident that resulted in Hamilton receiving a penalty during pitlane entry. He also revealed that the 39-year-old driver had damage to the bottom of the car, which caused him to lose about a quarter of a second per lap, explaining his slower pace.
Currently, Hamilton is in eighth place in the drivers’ championship, just one position behind his teammate. However, he has been outperformed by his younger teammate in their internal rivalry so far. The fans will be waiting to see Hamilton catch up to his compatriot in the upcoming races.