Siemens Extends Partnership with F1

German company Siemens AG has extended its deal with Formula One Management - FOM - and has now become a "global partner" of the Formula One World Championship.

"We're delighted at being able to continue our many years' successful partnership with Formula One Management," said Rudi Lamprecht, board member of Siemens AG. "Formula One is a valuable part of our marketing activities on account of its global platform, the high level of public interest it attracts, and the fact that the racing calendar is featuring new Grand Prix races in emerging countries such as China that are of major importance to our business."

Apart from having extensive advertising rights on the race tracks and during TV broadcasts, telecommunications giant Siemens will be the sole mobile phone manufacturer entitled to market the "Official Mobile Phone" that will publicly be premiered at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Siemens will offer a limited special edition of mobile phones with the official F1 logo. The German company said all the sales revenue generated during the European races will be donated to UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund.

Siemens has partnered Formula One since 1998, and it's also a technology partner of the McLaren team.