Adidas has acknowledged that it required expert assistance to enter the world of Formula 1 racewear.
Mercedes' newly signed major sponsor, the globally recognised German sportswear giant, is making its first real foray into Formula 1.
In an official statement, Adidas highlighted the "race day wear" it will supply to George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for the 2025 season, describing the gear as being "sport-first, performance cuts."
However, Michael Bach, Adidas Motorsport's global vice president, admitted at Thursday's unveiling that external expertise was necessary to develop the new racing overalls adorned with the brand's signature three stripes.
"We have a history of working with shoes and kits, but we have never partnered with a Formula 1 team like this," he told Soy Motor.
"It is a very specific sector because you don't just design the team's clothing, but also the racing clothing."
To manufacture the Mercedes F1 race overalls, Bach revealed that Adidas enlisted the help of experienced racewear supplier OMP.
"We have partnered with a suit supplier because we have had very little time and the homologation process takes months or even years," he said.
"We want to start working with a great suit and for this we have a great supplier. We are going to work with them on important points such as breathability, obviously in safety, but also in movements and materials.
It is something very specific and you need a lot of knowledge," Bach explained.
Despite the challenges, he believes this is the ideal moment for Adidas to enter Formula 1, given the sport's skyrocketing popularity and increasingly diverse audience.
"It's attractive how everything has changed - it's becoming a bit of pop culture, and that's what we understand. Sport and culture.
"The management in Formula 1 are doing something right, because as a brand we have been attracted. We want to become a reputable brand in the world of motorsport."
Meanwhile, teenage rookie Kimi Antonelli expressed his enthusiasm for sporting Adidas gear in 2025 instead of Puma and Tommy Hilfiger, which the team used in 2024 as the Lewis Hamilton era came to a close.
"It's a big improvement on the things we've had in recent years," the young Italian told Bild newspaper.
"I have already replaced my entire wardrobe. My mother is completely desperate because she doesn't know where she will find space for all the new things."
