National Lottery operator Allwyn announced as official partner of Formula 1

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Allwyn, who own the National Lottery in the UK, have announced a multi-year deal with Formula 1. 

The National Lottery operator announced the deal on 11 February and will be the racing organisation's official partner. 

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The partnership was announced on the F1 website as being an “opportunity to introduce each other’s brands and audiences to one another, driving growth for both businesses in new markets.” 

Stefano Domenicali, president & CEO of Formula 1, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Allwyn as a new official partner. Our collaboration reflects our shared commitment to innovation and celebrating community. 

“This partnership also provides new opportunities for both our organisations to connect with broader audiences around the world. We look forward to working together to create unique experiences and drive positive change together.”

Karel Komarek, Allwyn board chair and founder, added: “We have ambitious plans for Allwyn to continue on its successful path of international growth, and this is a significant milestone on that journey.

“This investment marks a major moment in Allwyn’s evolution, as we transform awareness of Allwyn on the global stage and underline the power of our lotteries to do good in the world.”

This isn’t Komarek’s first-venture into the world of motorsport. As he, and former F1 race winner David Coulthard, are co-founders of ‘More Than Equal’ - an organisation seeking to inspire F1’s first female champion. 

That’s an angle Allwyn’s CEO Robert Chvatal highlighted as being key to the partnership. Chvatal claimed: “We take pride as a lottery operator that roughly we reflect the population. Our player base is almost 50-50 men and women. 

“Women are now more than 40% of the fans who follow Formula 1 and it all happened in the last four years thanks to, among other things, the Netflix series Drive to Survive. And I have to say that this is something which also determined why we decided to partner with Formula 1 as a series.”

As part of the multi-year deal, community projects will be at the heart of everything, something Allwyn are proud to be doing already. 

“Formula 1 is synonymous with excellence, high performance and innovation – principles at the heart of Allwyn’s business,” Chvatal added. 

“We’re excited to begin this official partnership with Formula 1 to engage the sport’s platform of a hugely passionate global fanbase and to champion positive community impact.” 

Allwyn operates some of the world’s most recognisable lottery brands, including the UK National Lottery. The company claims to have over 130 million customers across its markets and prioritises social responsibility as one of its main aims. 

Last season was a record season for the Formula 1 calendar, with over 6.5 million people attending races across the calendar. A number that has continually grown over the past few years.