(Motorsports news) In addition to Las Vegas, the multi-year agreement includes Austin, Miami, Montreal, Mexico City, and Interlagos events. Amex will also back the female-only F1 Academy series. The agreement is the financial services firm’s first new sports sponsorship program in a decade, following long involvements in basketball, golf, tennis, and football.

Members of the American Express card will receive special privileges such as pre-sale access to tickets and additional on-site benefits at races. F1’s growing fanbase, according to the company’s chief marketing officer Elizabeth Rutledge, was what drew her in. “The F1 fan base and viewership has grown exponentially over the past several years,” she went on to say.

“As a result, we are thrilled to provide our card members and racing fans with the exclusive access and one-of-a-kind experiences that American Express is known for. The addition of F1 to our global portfolio of partnerships helps us continue to create meaningful value for our customers, in the areas they’re most passionate about.”

Jonny Haworth, F1’s head of commercial partnerships, indicated that it was a two-way street, with the sport benefiting from the visibility that Amex can bring. “As we expand our presence in the United States, we believe American Express will introduce a new generation of fans to the sport by providing premium once-in-a-lifetime experiences to their card members, and we will support F1 in our efforts to further enhance and elevate the fan experience in this critical market.”

“It’s also fantastic to see a global brand like American Express supporting F1 Academy and the work the series is doing to drive lasting change in our sport. It’s critical that we partner with brands that enhance the overall guest experience and exceed their expectations,” said Emily Prazer, chief commercial officer for the Las Vegas event.

“American Express continues to bring new and exciting opportunities for sports fans around the world, and we look forward to working together to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences for their card members.” Mastercard’s brief affiliation with the short-lived Lola team in 1997 is possibly the best-remembered example of a credit card company’s involvement with F1.

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