Brand history, from 1960 and facts today

We have been engineered to power succes

Some Clue Events of the Brand

1967

ELF's story began in France, 1967, as a government-owned corporation. We first caught the world's attention when we plastered our huge 'red circles' on Union Générale des Pétroles' networks' oil tanks and petrol stations. That was the beginning of ELF's rise to become a global leader in lubricant technology. At the start, we were powered by the mere simple idea of producing quality lubricants for vehicles. Over the years, we recognized our potential to revolutionize the quality of drives forever, and our ambition grew.

1994

Initially, ELF was owned by the French Government until 1994 when its ownership was transferred to a privately owned corporation.

2000

In 2000, ELF merged with lubricant powerhouse Total, the fourth largest energy company in the world, which has expanded our operations to across the globe.

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ELF - A Brand of Passion

Racing is in our DNA

ELF has been at the heart of motorsport success since 1968.

Similar to the sport, we revel in the thrill of pushing boundaries and breaking limits.
Our involvement in motorsport competitions over the years has rooted us as key players in lubricant technology. ELF's many victories over 50 years in motorsport fuel our ambition to produce the most exceptional products and services. Together with our partners, we continue to develop more enduring, fuel-saving, and cleaner solutions.

We collaborate with top international manufacturers who share our love for racing, such as Renault, Nissan, Kawasaki and Dacia. We play a critical role in our partnership with the Alpine A470, which we have taken to the FIA World Endurance Championship and the Alpine ELF Europa Cup.

Racing, a test of endurance, requires lubricants of the highest caliber and latest standards. We test our lubricants against these harsh racing conditions to perfect them. Our customers can have confidence that ELF lubricants will awaken the full passion, adrenaline, and sensations of motorsport, in any vehicle on any road.

ELF Lubricants of Champions

François Cevert offre à l'Elf 2 sa Victoire

The ELF brand, a French oil company, has played a significant role in the history of Formula 1, particularly in terms of technical support and sponsorship of teams and drivers. Here's how ELF contributed to the victories mentioned:

Jackie Stewart

1969, 1971, 1973

Matra and Tyrrell

ELF was a key partner, providing high-performance lubricants and fuels. This partnership was crucial for the technical development of the cars, contributing to Stewart's successes.

Alain Prost

1985

Renault and McLaren

Although Alain Prost won his 1985 title with McLaren, it's important to note that his relationship with Renault (and by extension with ELF as a fuel and lubricant supplier) during his earlier years at Renault laid the groundwork for his future successes. With McLaren, Prost benefited from TAG-Porsche engine technology, but his experience with ELF products at Renault certainly contributed to his approach to engine management and performance.

Nigel Mansell

1992

Williams F1 Team

Similarly, ELF's partnership with Williams was pivotal during Nigel Mansell's victorious campaign. The high-performance ELF lubricants and fuels were key to enhancing the reliability and efficiency of Mansell's Williams-Renault car.

Michael Schumacher

1994, 1995

Benetton-Renault

Although the collaboration between Benetton and ELF was not as publicized as that of Renault, ELF also provided petroleum products to the Benetton team during Schumacher's winning years. The quality of ELF lubricants and fuels contributed to the performance of the Renault engines used by Benetton.

Damon Hill

1996

Williams F1 Team

ELF was a long-term partner of Williams during Damon Hill's championship year. The company's products played a crucial role in the performance of the Renault engines, giving Hill's Williams car a significant competitive advantage.

Fernando Alonso

2005, 2006

Renault F1 Team

The relationship between Renault and ELF is one of the most iconic collaborations in Formula 1. ELF supplied Renault with specially formulated fuels and lubricants designed to maximize engine performance. This collaboration was essential for Alonso's successes in 2005 and 2006, where engine reliability and performance played a crucial role in winning the titles.

The role of ELF in the history of motorsport, especially in Formula 1, has been pivotal, reflecting its ongoing commitment to technical excellence.

Through its contribution to the successes of teams and drivers, the brand has earned a reputation for excellence through its innovative capacity. The improved reliability and performance of engines, essential for winning world championship titles, are directly attributable to this collaboration. The repeated successes on Formula 1 circuits testify to the superiority of the products developed by ELF.

The expertise of these R&D teams and the technological advancements made in racing fuels and lubricants have undoubtedly contributed to advancing mechanical sport.

Elf has become a key player in the world of competition as a partner of its greatest victories

Our Standout wins include :

1968

Matra-Ford MS10

Matra-Ford MS10

ELF sponsors Matra-Ford MS10 on the Dutch circuit, Zandvoort, at the F1 World Championship. Emerges as victor.

World Champion Constructors

1969

World Champion Contructors

ELF clinches tiles of F1 'World Champion' and F1 'World Champion Constructors' titles.

1970

Collaboration with Renault

Collaboration with Renault

ELF enters competition with Renault. The two brands sign a contract to develop a high-performance engine.

Monte Carlo Rally Win

1971

Monte Carlo Rally Win

Renault and ELF win the Monte-Carlo rally, the French Championship and the International Rally Championship.

1974

6-wheeled Ford Tyrrell P34

6-wheeled Ford Tyrrell P34

ELF sponsors the legendary 6-wheeled Ford Tyrrell P34 at Swedish Grand Prix.

Renault Alpine V6

1978

Renault Alpine V6

ELF sponsors the Renault Alpine V6, fashioned in ELF's brand colours, at 24 Hours of Le Mans. Emerges as victor.

1985

F1 Grand Prix

F1 Grand Prix

ELF stands on the podium at the F1 Grand Prix.

Renault enters F1

1989

Renault enters F1

Renault enters F1 again with Williams, accompanied by ELF.

1992

Renault-Williams-ELF Win

Renault-Williams-ELF Win

The Renault-Williams-ELF trio wins the 'World Champion' and "World Champion Constructors' titles.

Signatech-Alpine-ELF Partnership

2020

Signatech-Alpine-ELF Partnership

ELF starts the Signatech-Alpine-ELF Partnership.

ELF Values

Creating Exceptional Drive Exhilarates Us

ELF has found success globally because we have stayed true to our core values. We lead every project with Passion, Expertise, and Premium, with the goal of making every drive a real moment of pleasure.

PASSION

Drawing from our passion for motorsport, we want to integrate the same excellence, adventure, and athleticism into every drive to give customers heightened experiences that stir emotions and create sensations typically telt only on a racetrack.

EXPERTISE

Fundamentally inspired by R&D, we strive to be specialists in our field by constantly anticipating, exploring, innovating, and daring to be different.

PREMIUM

We are strongly anchored in the public consciousness in many markets as a brand of status, prestige, and elegance. Our dignified and restrained approach to developing high-value products has attracted a community of driving enthusiasts.