The Secret Edge: How Shell's Custom Oils Power Penske and Ferrari Across North America

Race teams in Formula 1, NASCAR, and IndyCar are all chasing an edge this weekend, but the secret to going faster is often hidden deep within the engine and gearbox. With strict regulations limiting parts, organizations like Team Penske and Scuderia Ferrari are turning to custom fuel and lubricant formulations to extract extra performance.

Why it matters:

In modern motorsport, where aerodynamics and chassis are heavily regulated, the fuel and lubricants offer a crucial area for gaining an advantage. Shell's work with top teams demonstrates how specialized chemistry can translate directly into measurable horsepower gains and improved efficiency, impacting race results across the biggest events in North America.

The details:

• Indy 500: Team Penske technical director David Faustino explains that Shell develops separate gear oil recipes for qualifying and the race. Qualifying oils are optimized for short, cold runs, while race oils must withstand sustained high temperatures.
• Coca-Cola 600: For NASCAR's longest race, durability is paramount. Shell works with Roush Yates Engines to create custom engine oils that maximize performance while ensuring reliability over 600 miles. They use extremely low-viscosity, "water-like" fluids to minimize friction loss.
• F1 Canadian GP: Shell deploys a trackside lab in Montreal, embedding engineers with Ferrari to monitor fuel and oil in real-time. This allows them to adjust power unit parameters between sessions for maximum performance.
  • The sustainable fuel, a four-year development project, required inventing new supply chains and molecules. Shell screened over 2 million formulations using machine learning before selecting a few for engine testing in Maranello.
  • An updated version of the fuel is planned for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix next month.

The big picture:

Shell's approach highlights how the pursuit of marginal gains is a constant, collaborative effort. From the Indy 500's unique demands to the complex regulations of F1, the ability to customize the very fluids that power the cars is a hidden but significant factor in determining who stands on the podium.