Racecar drivers are like rock stars, by the way. The legendary Michael Schumacher of team Ferrari comes across like a brawny Teutonic rocker, what with all those, uh, hits (85 wins and 65 pole positions for the German). Other racecar rockers are Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault), Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren Mercedes), Fernando Alonso (Renault), Juan Pablo Montoya (McLaren Mercedes), and two rising stars from the WilliamsF1 team – Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg.
"They have fire in their blood," I overheard one woman gush at the Sepang International Circuit as she observed the race-car drivers during the F1 practice runs. We were at the posh Paddock Club at the circuit itself with a clear view of the F1 cars, as well as the pit-stop hubbub. A great view, indeed. Drivers going ballistic over engine glitches. Pit-stop hands so intense you’d think they were playing chess. Lollypop men, chicanes, grooves, unfurled flags, the whole 56 laps. We even took a lovely pit lane stroll and had a lively chat with Williams F1 director of engineering Patrick Head.
Philips Shavers recently invited Asian journalists to preview the 2006 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and to announce its partnership with the Williams F1 team.
"There is synergy between the Williams F1 team (headed by Sir Frank Williams) and Philips Shavers, the leader in male shaving innovation," said Rajah Kumar, chairman and CEO of the Philips Group of Companies, Malaysia. "We’re not just entering a marketing partnership. This is a strategic partnership."
The inventor of rotary shaving, Philips has always been at the forefront of innovation, leading the way with "revolutionary design, cutting-edge technology and consumer-centric vision." Both Williams F1 and Philips are well known for setting new standards.
"We also share a passion to win," stressed Lenze Boonstra, Philips DAP Asia Pacific marketing communication director. "(Our goal at Philips) is to further build the Philips Shavers market leadership position by bringing emotional excitement in the electric shaving category. This is one of the core reasons why we partnered with an F1 team. We also want to reach and excite our consumers – who are diehard F1 fans – in a (unique) way."
Why Williams, you may ask. Founder Sir Frank answered: "Both passionately believe if something can be made better, it should be. We never look back at what we’ve done, only how we can do it better. When just the width of a hair can make the difference between coming in first or second, you live to find the smallest difference that will make all the difference."
Factoid of the day: The Williams F1 team has won nine constructor’s titles, seven driver championships, and 16 world championship titles since starting in 1975.
As one observer puts it, motor sport is not merely about speed, it has been the avenue for the development and testing of new technologies. True, true. Thus, the operative phrase for Philips and Williams F1 is "meaningful technology."
Boonstra added, "We have this continuous drive for innovation. If something could be made better, then it should be." If Williams F1 is gearing up to win a Grand Prix in the future, Philips is all about using meaningful technology to make a difference in the life of the consumer.
"Precision determines the winner," mused Boonstra. "The knowledge that the smallest details can make the difference. (Like what Sir Frank said) it’s a hair’s breadth that separates the first from the second place in a Grand Prix, or the best shave from merely a good shave."
Philips is promoting its SmartTouch shaver, touted as the "world’s most advanced shaver."
Dig the features: The SmartTouch has three Speed-XL shaving heads with three shaving rings. It is designed to shave more hair with each stroke, so the user doesn’t have to go over the same area again and again to get a really clean, smooth shave. The SmartTouch is the only shaver with the unique SmartTouch Contour Following System, which allows the entire shaving head "to pivot and tilt, hugging the contours of one’s face more closely, allowing him to reach even the most difficult areas of the neck and jaw."
"Just like a Williams F1 car being able to follow the contours of the track," offered Boonstra by way of an analogy.
"We used the best materials in an F1 car in our shavers, like carbon fiber," he added. "That’s why our shavers are tough, durable and lightweight."
Mark Webber would agree. The Aussie race-car driver said, "The Philips SmartTouch-XL gets the job done in a matter of minutes, which is very important to me. As a driver, you like to push a car to the limit and you expect the same from your shaver, so hairline precision is vital for both. Both Williams and Philips strive for precision, designing cars and fantastically good shavers. Both share the same spirit – they want to be the best in their fields."
He added that the last thing he wants is irritation from shaving, especially while sitting in those infernal race-car cockpits in the Bahrain and Kuala Lumpur courses, which are like ovens on wheels. That’s now a thing of the past with the SmartTouch shavers.
The 20-year-old German firebrand Nico Rosberg never shaved in the morning before until he came across the SmartTouch-XL. "It has a Personal Comfort Control feature that allows you to adapt the shaver to your personal skin type, and that’s a great way of reducing irritation," Rosberg explained. "The SmartTouch-XL is especially good because it has a Jet Clean System, which automatically cleans, renews and charges your shaver – and that saves time, too."
Nico Rosberg became the youngest person to drive a Formula 1 car in 2002. This season is his first in the F1 competition. The more experienced Mark Webber has driven in over 50 Grand Prix races. He is admired for his no-nonsense racing style. Both Williams F1 racecar drivers are passionate about excelling in the future, Boonstra said.
"The same way that Philips Shavers has shown passion for meaningful technology."