The Malaysian media had a special session with Downstream, Petronas Executive Vice President & CEO Datuk Seri Sazali Hamzah and Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Principal & CEO Toto Wolff yesterday (Sept 30, 2026).
It was a great discussion on the Mercedes-AMG and Petronas partnership, technology and innovation of the Advanced Sustainable Fuel and expectations as we enter the tail of the Formula 1 championship.
#TotoWolff #F1 #MercedesAMG #Petronas #SinarDaily
It was a great discussion on the Mercedes-AMG and Petronas partnership, technology and innovation of the Advanced Sustainable Fuel and expectations as we enter the tail of the Formula 1 championship.
#TotoWolff #F1 #MercedesAMG #Petronas #SinarDaily
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome to Petronas
00:03I will not take long on behalf of Petronas
00:07again I would like to welcome
00:09it is a pleasure to have today all of you here
00:12with the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 team
00:15and we are especially delighted to have back
00:19team principal and CEO Peter Toto Wu
00:21you know that last race is 9 years ago
00:26kind of long and good to have Toto and his team back
00:29in Kuala Rumpur
00:30for Petronas Formula 1 is much more than a sponsorship actually
00:35it is a platform for innovation where we develop
00:38test and validate our fleet technology
00:41solution including use, duplicate as well as
00:44other functional clips such as the coolant
00:48our products are subjected to some of most demanding
00:52conditions in motorsport as you know Formula 1
00:54is a very high stress engine being tested
00:58here the lesson we learnt on track
01:00help us improve the quality of our fuel performance as well as the liability
01:05and our product beyond motorsport
01:07benefiting consumer and industry
01:09you may not aware that most of the product that
01:12that happen now in the market is actually developed
01:15from the technology DERA from Formula 1
01:17and this innovation have shaped the wide range of
01:21Petronas products such as Premax 97
01:24I frequently use this and Premax 95 fuel as well as
01:30Synthium lubricant as well as Tutila Transition 3
01:36and they have supported the development of solutions such as
01:40we go further to Iona which is used for EV car
01:45and the recent one also we have developed what we call it Iona Tera
01:50which is for data center cooling medium
01:52so all this technology have been developed from time to time
01:55and our experience together with Formula 1
01:58and this year we have entered an exciting new chapter
02:01more exciting with the introduction of advanced sustainable fuel
02:06what we call it ASL
02:08our advanced sustainable fuel come from renewable oil feedstock
02:12with material and non-food biomass
02:16it is a drop in fuel so it works with existing engine
02:19we don't need modification
02:21it's just like normal fuel you can replace it with normal fossil fuel
02:25so to achieve the performance what we see today
02:29Petronas have been working closely continuously with Mercedes AMG
02:34and I'm glad to have a very close collaboration between Mercedes and Petronas
02:38that we have developed so far since 2010
02:41it's a very long relationship
02:42and including the development of the recent ASL
02:46since 2022 I remember after the Singapore race
02:50in preparation for FIA new recognition which applied this year, 2026
02:55as you were this fuel actually being used in Mercedes car
03:00with this Formula 1 car in this 3026 race onward
03:06the first two Formula 1 race in Australia and China
03:09I still remember during that time I'm quite nervous in Australia
03:12because that's the first time our fuel being tested
03:15I kind of wild imagination
03:17I'm very worried that the car is not moving during that time
03:20but we saw us winning first and second place
03:24it's in the two first places
03:27and it is a testament to what can be achieved when fuel power unit and physical technologies come together as
03:37one integrated package
03:38and it's also demonstrate performance that close collaboration between Mercedes and also Petronas
03:44to deliver performance in the tribe
03:47and one more very important
03:49this fuel has been developed by local nation fuel specialists
03:54and it's actually three main players of this development
03:59and I really proud that they are actually from the home room
04:03the team is so far living at the front of the grid
04:06maintaining a strong position in both the contractor and drivers' championship
04:11and we see that our environment in Formula 1 has an opportunity to push the boundary of innovation with supporting
04:19a more sustainable fuel
04:21as you know that we have win so far 11 out of 15 race that we are in this year
04:27and to make it further as you can see Mercedes engine as well as Petronas fuel have supplied to the
04:34other team
04:36which if we look at the race itself is 13 out of 15 right
04:40so this is a good partnership with Mercedes and Petronas
04:44where actually we are dominating the Formula 1 competition
04:48so congratulations to Mercedes and local Petronas team
04:52so finally at the heart of this effort
04:55our performance, teamwork and innovation
04:57these are values that Petronas uphold
04:59we are proud to continue this journey
05:01and with the world class Mercedes AMC Petronas Formula 1 team
05:06and the talent that we make this success possible
05:09with that, really appreciate your time here
05:12thank you very much
05:13and looking forward to the conversation after me
05:15thank you
05:19Thank you Dr. Sri Salzabi
05:21with that we will now open the floor for media Q&A
05:24please raise your hand if you have a question
05:26and we will bring over the microphone to you
05:28before you begin, kindly state your name and your media outlet
05:31may we have our first question please
05:39Hi, I'm Asila from NST
05:41so I have a question
05:42one is for Dr. Sri
05:44may I know how does Petronas partnership with Mercedes AMC team drive innovation
05:49and how does Petronas measure the business and strategic value of this partnership
05:54and then for Mr. Wol
05:56I have a question
05:57how important is the technical partnership to the team's performance
06:01especially with the use of ASF DC
06:07Ok, I think it was a long journey back in 2010
06:12when we partnered with MSDIF
06:14we see that in Formula 1
06:16we see that there is a lot of opportunity for us to develop and enhance our fuel
06:23and also related application
06:25so we believe that with the innovation and also technology that we developed together with the engine
06:32we put us always at front
06:34and that gives us a lot of opportunity to translate that capability into a daily day use
06:39and the challenge is to make sure that it's affordable
06:43and also give the quality to all the application in the masses
06:48so I think that brings a lot of value
06:50and on top of that we also developed a fuel, future fuel
06:53so before it comes into, for example, sustainability requirement
06:57so we have developed all the specification earlier than other players
07:02so that we are ready when it is available to the market
07:05I hope that I answered the question
07:09Thank you
07:10Thank you
07:10What I want to say first
07:12and it's also responding to your question
07:14is that the partnership that we have amongst ourselves is a testament
07:21a blueprint how good and successful relationships can be
07:28I mentioned Petronas was on board since Mercedes has joined Formula 1 in 2010
07:34if I think about the key stakeholders today in the team and the success
07:42it's Petronas, it's the chassis side of Mercedes
07:46and it's the engine side of Mercedes
07:48these are the key three hardware and IP providers
07:55one cannot without the other
07:57and when we look back at our success
07:59I think about the number a few days ago
08:02we won more than 100 Grand Prix since we've partnered
08:08we have the records and the most consecutive championship in that time
08:13the record for championship overall over those last 20 years
08:19the most poor positions, the most front row lockouts, the most fastest laps
08:25and we are leading the championship this year
08:30with this groundbreaking new sustainable fuels
08:39so this is not that I want to praise ourselves, we are great
08:42I want to praise you
08:46because we always have the advantage on the fuel and loop size
08:52and this year the effort that has gone into the development
08:57into the joint development
08:59the obstacles we had to overcome
09:02the many phone calls we had on a senior level
09:08all of you here
09:09and at the end
09:12we came to Melbourne and we won
09:14and what a relief it was
09:15and also what a reward it was
09:18to have that together
09:20and I cannot reiterate enough
09:22that this can only go in the partnership between Petronas and Mercedes
09:26you can talk a lot about sponsors
09:27and you can talk a lot about other relationships
09:30but this is not a sponsorship relationship
09:31this is a technical partnership
09:33this is an integrated work steel between Petronas and Mercedes
09:37and to come back to your question
09:38sorry for elaborating a little bit more
09:40this is the first time I can talk today
09:42so
09:44it is that
09:46we knew that the sustainable fuel component
09:49is going to make the winning difference this year
09:54and the work that has been done
09:57is literally tremendous
09:59and is so important also for the messaging
10:02into the world
10:04energy transition is happening
10:06whether you like EV
10:08or whether you like hybrid
10:09or whether combustion cars are going to
10:11you know
10:12still have a larger
10:13share in the future
10:16sustainable fuel
10:17is the way forward
10:19you know in Formula One
10:20we are talking about
10:21new engine regulations
10:22and V8s in the future
10:24and a smaller battery
10:25or a smaller turbo
10:27and let's reduce the weight
10:28the sustainable fuel is out of question
10:30that's continuing forever
10:32and this is because we pushed it both so hard
10:34in two organizations
10:36to make it so successful
10:39100% sustainable
10:41sustainable
10:41and the most powerful
10:44fuel and engine combination
10:46ever done in the world
10:48Thank you Dr. Sri Sazalini
10:50may we have our next question please
11:04Hi, I'm Razia Afu Benangwa
11:06Okay, my question is the FIA has a great
11:09changes to the Power Unit framework
11:12for next year and 2028
11:14so what technical lessons from the first session
11:17first season under the 2026 regulation
11:22prompted that revalancing
11:24and what does it mean
11:26for the development of Mercedes
11:27Power Unit and Petronas is ASF
11:30Thanks
11:31Thank you so much Dr. Sri Sazalini
11:32Yeah, as you said
11:34with new regulations
11:38it's always a dynamic development
11:43and at the beginning of the season
11:47we have decided
11:48that we are going to change
11:49the regulations
11:50for next year
11:51in terms of more power
11:54so there's going to be
11:55a higher fuel flow
11:57to generate
12:00more power
12:01this again
12:03doesn't change anything
12:04on the formula
12:05of the fuels we are using today
12:08and we like challenges
12:10if on the engine and fuel side
12:13things need to stretch even more
12:15in order to accommodate
12:17regulate regulatory change
12:19whilst keeping a performance
12:21advantage
12:21that's exactly what we want
12:23was that the response to your question?
12:27Probably add a little bit also
12:29because we are also challenging ourselves
12:31how to make it much economical
12:33and that's also part of the challenge
12:36that we are facing now
12:37that we are
12:38our scientists
12:40focusing
12:40at the option
12:41that we can do
12:42to make it cheaper
12:43but still maintaining the performance
12:45so that's one of the
12:46greater challenges
12:47that we have
12:47but it is fun
12:48to find that challenge
12:51Thank you both
12:51Let's take our next question please
12:57Hi, I'm Tassim from Sinar
12:58in Hawaii
12:59so this is like
13:01going further into ASF
13:03how much time
13:04and after it goes
13:05into developing AFS
13:07and what is it actually made of
13:10what is it actually made of
13:11and how is it different
13:12from previous fuels
13:13before this?
13:15I think we don't have much time
13:18during that time
13:18when we check off
13:19the
13:20when Formula FIA
13:22have introduced
13:22the new regulation
13:23for 2026
13:25I think they are now
13:25somewhere
13:262022
13:27so we have about
13:28four or three and a half years
13:29to prepare for that
13:30and in our experience also
13:32if you start from scratch
13:33into commercial production
13:36that is a very
13:37strong target
13:38however, working closely
13:39with Mercedes
13:40because we developed the engine
13:41and also the fuel together
13:42we kind of also
13:44tweaking the things
13:45along the way
13:46and
13:47Alhamdulillah
13:48by
13:48by 2026 early
13:50I think we made the fuel ready
13:52and it is tested
13:53it's right
13:53and there is a lot of component
13:55behind it
13:55the technologies behind it
13:57and also
13:58even the project management
14:00we bring the best project management
14:02to make sure that
14:03when we build the fuel plant
14:05it's been done
14:06on time
14:07I think that's also
14:08another biggest challenge
14:09that we have
14:09not also
14:10not to forget
14:11the certification
14:12actually the sustainability
14:14fuel certification
14:15is a very tedious process
14:16because we
14:17we need to make sure
14:18every calculation
14:19of GHG being evaluated
14:21so those kind of things
14:23I think we
14:23we go through
14:24but the most important thing
14:26is the knowledge
14:28that you have
14:28from that
14:29so when we test
14:30at the first
14:31the most serious question
14:33and we handle
14:34other options
14:34it is much easier for us
14:36I think that's
14:36the benefit that we'll see
14:37in this process
14:40Thank you ladies and gentlemen
14:41we can take one final question
14:43please
14:52Hello
14:52Hi
14:53I'm Rosanna from Reuters
14:54my questions for Mr. Wolf
14:56just turning to the race
14:57this weekend
14:58does the result
15:00in Azerbaijan
15:01has there been any change
15:03in the dynamics
15:04between
15:05George Russell
15:05and Kimia Tanori
15:07since that race
15:09and you know
15:10has the outcome
15:10changed
15:11how you manage
15:12both drivers
15:13for the remainder of the championship
15:14particularly
15:15if George's
15:16current form continues
15:18thanks
15:19You're putting the finger
15:21right into where
15:22it's starting to get
15:23interesting
15:23for us
15:27Does it change the dynamic?
15:29I think from the overarching
15:30philosophy
15:30standpoint
15:31not
15:31because we want to give
15:33both drivers equal opportunity
15:36and
15:37to go for a championship
15:39but
15:40the team comes first
15:41or that has always been
15:42Mercedes
15:43the Mercedes philosophy
15:45and both of the drivers
15:47have always been
15:48superb team players
15:51and that's something
15:52we appreciate
15:53and
15:54so
15:55did it change
15:56anything
15:57on the dynamic?
15:58With
15:59Josh scoring
16:00big points
16:01obviously
16:02he's made it
16:04he's narrowed down
16:05the gap
16:06to Kimia
16:08and
16:08that means
16:10we have to
16:11properly evaluate
16:13the calls
16:13that we make
16:14on track
16:15of
16:16of
16:17how
16:18we manage
16:19how we manage
16:20the cars
16:21you know
16:21because we need to make sure
16:23that they have both
16:24same opportunity
16:25also when it comes to
16:26the strategic calls
16:27whilst you cannot
16:28you can never get it right
16:30so there is
16:31you can never get it perfect
16:34so
16:34it will be
16:35there is
16:36this additional
16:38consideration
16:39that
16:39it's going to be more
16:40important
16:41the more we come to the end
16:42of the season
16:44the wider we create a gap
16:46to our direct competitors
16:47from other teams
16:48to see
16:49whether
16:50whether
16:52we need to
16:54adjust our thinking
16:55during the race
16:57it's not easy
17:00thank you ladies and gentlemen
17:01that brings us to the end
17:03of our first session
17:04a big thank you to Dr. Trisazali
17:06and Dr. Trisazali
17:06thank you
17:06thank you
17:07may I invite you both to take your seats
17:09in the courtroom as we move on
17:10to our next session
17:11thank you
17:13thank you
17:13thank you