Johnnie Walker has announced it has renewed its sponsorship deal with the McLaren-Honda team, despite speculation the Whisky manufacturer could jump ship to rival Force India.
Johnnie Walker, a spirit brand owned by London-based Diageo, has been a long-term partner of McLaren since 2005. However there was rumour that the brand would switch to Force India alongside Diageo's Smirnoff Vodka due to McLaren's poor form.
Friday's announcement that the two companies have signed a "multi-year extension" will be welcome news for McLaren which has lost a number of sponsors recently.
"I am very excited that we have renewed the partnership between Johnnie Walker and the McLaren-Honda Formula 1 team," said global brand director Guy Escolme.
"Both Johnnie Walker and McLaren-Honda are innovative brands that embody pioneering spirit, with a mutually rich heritage and passion for quality while constantly inspiring forward progress.
"We look forward to working with the McLaren-Honda team to inspire a new generation with continued stories of progress, and celebrating every step of the journey."
McLaren chairman Ron Dennis added: "Johnnie Walker’s renewed agreement with McLaren-Honda underlines our belief in, and commitment to, the strength and durability of long-standing commercial partnerships. A partnership that has existed for more than a decade provides each party with greater levels of strength and depth – huge positives in today’s fast-moving consumer society.
"This partnership renewal eloquently and irrefutably underlines the robust and exciting direction in which McLaren-Honda is going, with victory on track the destination."
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