Bucket Style: PUMA x F1

PUMA and Formula 1 have signed an agreement which will make PUMA the official supplier at Formula 1 races, granting the brand the right to produce F1 branded apparel, footwear and accessories.

PUMA will also equip Formula 1 staff and at track and create Formula 1 fanwear that targets the sport’s different audiences with exciting lifestyle and motorsport collections. The contract includes exclusive rights to sell F1 fanwear and fanwear of all ten teams around the race circuit starting 2024.

PUMA has a long and successful history in motorsport, developing fireproof overalls, race shoes and other high-performance racing gear for F1 drivers since the mid 80s as well as teamwear, fanwear and lifestyle collections for some of the sport’s most successful teams. Today, PUMA is one of the leading providers of race gear and lifestyle collections in Motorsport with partners such as Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1, Scuderia Ferrari, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake, BMW M Motorsport and Porsche Motorsport.

The partnership provides PUMA with the opportunity to augment its established dominance in the sport by appealing to a broader fan base, tap into more diverse consumer groups and bring the inspiration of on-track gear to off-track fashion.

PUMA’s subsidiary stichd, a company for licensed fanwear as well as legwear, bodywear and swimwear, will exclusively operate the fan retail stores during race weekends. These shops will sell Formula 1 licensed products as well as replica teamwear, fanwear, and special edition collections from all ten teams on the Formula 1 grid and F1 legends. stichd will operate up to 65 mobile stores at more than 20 races in 19 different countries.

Bucket Style: Puma Running with Mercedes AMG Petronas F1

Sports company PUMA and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 have teamed up to create PUMA’s fastest, lightest and most propulsive Track & Field spike to date. Together with Mercedes AMG Petronas F1, PUMA applied engineering insights from the world of Formula 1 and automotive to design the EVOSPEED TOKYO FUTURE FASTER+ and the EVOSPEED TOKYO FUTURE NITRO FASTER+ for its athletes, including Karsten Warholm, Norwegian hurdler, World Record holder, World Champion and European Champion, and André De Grasse, Canadian sprinter and Olympic silver medalist. 

“To make the best spikes for our athletes, that comply with the regulations, we connected the engineers of Mercedes AGM Petronas F1 with our best footwear people,” said PUMA CEO Bjørn Gulden. “With the input from our athletes and their coaches, the team developed the best spikes PUMA has ever made.” 

Learnings and technological advances from the FASTER+ program were also passed down and integrated into other track and field spikes for athletes such as Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Swedish pole vaulter Armand “Mondo” Duplantis and Swiss sprinter Ajla Del Ponte

 “The FASTER+ program is about creating elite products for our elite athletes to help them excel in their sport” said Erin Longin, Global Director Run/Train at PUMA. “We believe that together with Mercedes AMG Petronas, we have created unique, innovation-led Track and Field spikes that will help our athletes run faster, jump farther and soar higher.”

“This collaboration with PUMA has been a natural alignment – track spikes need to run fast, and racing cars need to drive fast,” said Toto Wolff, CEO of Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport Formula One Team. “Whether you’re designing a great racing car or the perfect track spike, it comes down to engineering and putting as much performance as possible into the product. We have drawn on our experience and expertise in carbon fibre with the design, and along the way we learned that making an innovative track spike involves the same kind of complexity as a Formula One car – and it has been an exciting challenge to tackle together. Working closely with a trusted partner like PUMA, I believe this FASTER+ track and field spike is just the beginning of the collaboration between the two companies when it comes to innovation.”

The EVOSPEED TOKYO FUTURE FASTER+ was designed with 400m hurdles World Record holder Karsten Warholm and his coach. The spike’s upper is infused with carbon fiber threads and its sole has a carbon plate, engineered by Mercedes AMG Petronas, with permanent titanium pins. It weighs 135 grams. 

“What’s important for me is that I run very much on my forefoot,“ said Karsten. “This is why you want the carbon fiber plate to push you in the right direction, so when you land you want the plate to bend in the right way and return the energy. When you sprint, you have a very short amount of contact time with the ground, only 1 second, so you want the plate to answer very quickly. Therefore, I want the carbon to be stiff enough that I get the return before I leave the ground. That helps me run even faster.”

To respond to the needs of Canadian 100m and 200m sprinter Andre De Grasse, the EVOSPEED TOKYO FUTURE NITRO FASTER+ includes PUMA’s proprietary NITRO Foam in addition to the Mercedes AMG Petronas engineered carbon plate for added rebound. It weighs 199 grams.

“I believe that the partnership between PUMA and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 is excellent for the brand. It’s pretty cool that I actually have the carbon fiber in my spikes that’s going into the F1 cars that Lewis Hamilton races in," said Andre. "The stiffness of the plate is just amazing because I’m able to get off the ground as quickly as possible. Having this propulsion forward at the start of the race and being able to rebound and get off the ground as quickly as possible make these spikes just perfect for my 100m race."

PUMA’s FASTER+ program applies engineering insights from every corner of sport culture to our PUMA sports products. Benefits are focused on helping our athletes excel in their sport by looking beyond their typical field of play to make them better, faster, stronger.

“What I feel is very unique about this project is that it combines the best of all the worlds,” added Karsten. “It combines what PUMA knows about how to make a shoe that’s comfortable and fits your foot. It combines what Mercedes knows about carbon fiber through their Formula 1 work and it combines what my coach and I know about running and the biomechanics for running. This is very unique and it has given us the perfect product for us to work on the track - a spike that is really aggressive, with a really good forward propulsion, and it gives me all the tools I need to be the best version of myself.”

FASTER+ is part of PUMA’s Only See Great’ campaign – launched in the spring of 2021 - to convey a spirit of optimism, hope and self-belief – following a difficult year and leading up to major sports moments.

Bucket Style: Adidas Predator Mutator

DEMONSKIN is a new breakthrough technology for adidas Football, made up of a textured spike layer on the Predator 20 Mutator upper. Informed by years of data-based research and testing, DEMONSKIN is the result of a computer algorithm being used to create an entirely new interface between boot and ball. DEMONSKIN spikes have been deliberately crafted to wrap the front and side of the boot in a formation that aligns to key contact points with the ball, combining to give players enhanced control and touch on the ball, whilst also promoting spin when striking.

Since its inception, the design of Predator has been informed by nature’s most dangerous creatures - symbolic of the powerful and dynamic tendencies that the boot instils in the wearer to give them an advantage over opponents. Taking cues from the extremes of nature, Predator 20 Mutator sees the boot’s iconic shape re-imagined further, with a striking silhouette centering on a high collar and low-cut front creating a sharp and streamlined design mutation. 

The new Predator 20 Mutator has been designed with maximum movement in mind. The silo features new outsole enhancing control zones, whilst the addition of high-performance polyamide-injected layers help stabilise movement further.

The boot offers a two-plate stud configuration that reduces weight and allows a 360 design where the upper material wraps under the foot. This construction, together with the Sockfit collar that locks down and adjusts to the unique contours of the wearer’s foot, ensures anatomical fit for support. The inclusion of Hybrid studs further amplifies the boot’s level of rotation and traction.

Ben Herath, adidas Football Design Director said, “When we launched the first Predator in 1994, it changed the game. Since then, we’ve been relentless in pushing the boundaries of innovation in its design, ensuring it remains at the forefront of football boot technology. Predator is more than just a boot. It is synonymous with iconic football moments, worn by greats of the game that in their own way have become mythological figures of the sport.

“For 2020 we wanted to unleash Predator to a new generation. We knew we had to create something completely different, go beyond evolution and deliver a new innovation, something that would intimidate opponents. DEMONSKIN is at the heart of this. It truly is a breakthrough innovation for us at adidas Football - something brand-new with tangible benefits to gameplay. This was evidenced in player testing, where many spoke of the immediate difference they felt with the ball at their feet.”

Made iconic by greats of the game like David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Steven Gerrard, the legacy continues with a new generation of players making their mark. The all-new Predator 20 Mutator will be worn by Paul Pogba, Becky Sauerbrunn, Dele Alli, Marc-André ter Stegen and Tessa Wullaert.

DEMONSKIN will debut on Predator 20 Mutator and is also set to feature on goalkeeper gloves; empowering players with increased control and enhanced power on punched clearances. 

Day of the Dead with Daniel Ricciardo

F1 moves to Mexico this weekend and as the cars line up to take on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, the guys down at RedBull Racing decided to have some fun first. With the race weekend coinciding with the popular "Day Of The Dead" celebrations in Mexico, Daniel Ricciardo decided to join in on the festivities. On Wednesday night, the Red Bull Racing driver entertained a thousand people in a stunning celebration of the The Day of the Dead in Mexico City. The Australian switched the asphalt racing track for a big metallic dome with dancing skeletons and symbolic elements to fly through the air, challenging Death to complete the original altar.

F1 returns to Mexico for the second year running after a long absence in the sports and PUMA threw a huge party in a unique Red Bull Racing style. Daniel was joined by some special guests and symbolically set an offering through four big moments. The talented Mariana Echeverria personified as "The Catrina", hosted the even that included the versatile warrior Uriel del Toro, a flight through the air spreading Cempazuchitl flower petals by the beautiful model Gabi Graff, and some skeletons riding motorcycles. In the final act, the F1 driver lit up the fire inside the Offrendome, after defeating Death in a thrilling battle. 

Have thrilled the crowds in something other than a racing car, Daniel had this to say about his experience, "I love the day of the dead celebrations here in Mexico City and the way everyone is dressed up in skulls, it feels like we're in a movie. The Mexicans passion for life and their passion for remembering those who are no longer with us is also fascinating. It was a great event today and it was cool being a part of it. I want to thank PUMA for making it happen."

In closing, head of PUMA Mexico, Mario Olvera gave Daniel a skull lithography made by a Mexican artist as a gesture of appreciation for being part of the celebration of the The of the Dead with all the united talent, and as a homage for his bravery.

Puma BMW X-CAT-Disc

Starting today we're launching a new feature on the blog, under the label "STYLE", this will focus on some of the latest men casual fashion garments and footwear to hit the stores and what a great product we have for you today! Today we feature a new shoe from Puma, the company has been changing the game since 1948 and continues to do so with their great product range.

I'm a MASSIVE fan of the German clothing and footwear brand with all of my sneakers in my ever growing collection being Puma's. Not only are they're comfortable but for me I think they're leading the pack in terms of style, range and affordability. It's a big bonus that Puma's Motorsport range includes some of my favourite motoring brands, that is, BMW Motorsport, AMG Petronas and Ferrari. 

Today Puma launches their new ultra modern BMW X-CAT DISC inspired by the BMW Gina Light visionary concept. The shoe forms part of the DISC footwear franchise which is a futuristic looking but instead of laces or straps, the shoe has a disc system which when rotated, it pulls internal wires that tighten to adjust the fit. Puma says the reinvented DISC Technology provides ultimate comfort and a snug fit. It was originally launched in 1991 and since then has had vasts improvements which has made it lighter and smaller with only five parts. It is quicker to turn and the smoother internal wire system that wraps and secures the upper is faster to tighten. 

The shoe itself looks great, it's striking design and colour with a futuristic metallic silver which was designed in conjunction with Designworks, a BMW Group subsidiary. Puma developed special fabric which they applied over the metal chassis of the BMW Concept car Gina which main talking point was it's visionary light fabric skin. Through this collaboration, Designworks led the design process for ultramodern Puma X-CAR concept show inspired from the revolutionary concept car with seamless material outer shell. 

The outer of the shoe features a silver stretch fabric, resembling the metallic material used on the car and modified for footwear use. Finishing touches to the show include a laser cut upper across the front of the shoe, inspired by the gill like texture that appears on the car when its doors open. Puma's iconic formstripe runs on the outer of each shoe in reflactive print and BMW's logo features on the DISC.

You can find the BMW X-CAT DISC at Cross Trainer stores and selected retailers around the country with the recommenced retail price of R 2 699.