Bad Bunny Partners with Adidas Originals & Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS to Bring Formula 1 Racing to Puerto Rico

Bad Bunny has a new formula to promote his native land…

The 31-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar, Adidas Originals and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team are joining up to bring Formula 1 racing to Puerto Rico for the first time on Saturday, August 2.

Bad BunnyTo celebrate the three-way collaboration bringing F1 to Puerto Rico, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 have also announced that Bad Bunny is officially joining the team as its newest member.

The press release did not specify what duties this will entail.

Open to the public and free of charge, this showcase — which kicks off at 9:00 am local time — will be the “first time in history that a Formula 1 car has touched Puerto Rican soil,” according to the press release.

At the heart of this spectacle is a demo run featuring a Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 car driven by Mexican motorsports star Esteban Gutiérrez that will race across the Puente Dos Hermanos bridge, which was built in 1910.

Following the demo run, attendees will get the opportunity to immerse themselves in racing history. A curated exhibit at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico (aka El Choli) will showcase Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 race suits, gloves, boots and other archival gear, honoring decades of motorsport excellence.

As Bad Bunny continues his 30-show sold-out residency at El Choli, the partnership continues to “reflect the aim of Adidas, the artist, and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 to spotlight Puerto Rico on a global stage,” the press release notes, as it also aims to “energize the team’s serious competitive perspective through Bad Bunny’s trailblazing identity as a generational force and Originals’ unrelenting aesthetic innovation.”

Gutierrez Confirmed as Haas Second Formula One Driver

Esteban Gutierrez will be getting behind the wheel for Haas next year.

The American outfit has confirmed the 24-year-old Mexican racing driver as its second driver for the team’s debut Formula One season in 2016.

Esteban Gutierrez

It has been widely known Gutierrez would be unveiled by Haas for some time, with North American heritage and a role as Ferrari reserve driver making him an obvious candidate.

Ferrari is supplying Haas with a power unit for 2016, while the American outfit is also accepting as many components from Maranello as are allowed in the regulations.

Gutierrez, who drove for Sauber in 2013 and 2014, will partner current Lotus driver Romain Grosjean, who was unveiled at Haas’ North Kannapolis base in late September.

The announcement was made in Mexico City after the first day of practice at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodrigeuz ahead of this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix.

“I got to know Esteban through our relationship with Ferrari, and after looking at the success he’s had to earn his role there, it became clear he was an excellent choice for our race team,” said team boss Gene Haas. “He’s young and hungry, but not inexperienced. His two years running a full F1 schedule has given him some very good race experience, and having spent this season at Ferrari as their third driver allowed him to see first hand the methodology that makes Ferrari such a power in Formula One.”

“We’re very happy to have Esteban as a part of our race team. Between him and Romain, we have a strong driver lineup that will help us develop our car and, ultimately, score some points in our inaugural season.”

Gutierrez won the GP3 Series in 2010 before spending two years in GP2, where he finished third in 2012. Two seasons followed at Sauber but he only finished in the points once, at 2013 Japanese Grand Prix where he finished sixth.