Brands
F1 and Heineken shift gears with turbocharged partnership
MUMBAI: When beer meets the roar of engines, magic happens. Formula 1 and Heineken have renewed and expanded their global partnership, continuing a nearly decade-long collaboration that’s been as smooth as a perfectly poured pint.
First teaming up in 2016, the partnership has delivered unforgettable fan moments both on and off the track, from high-octane hospitality experiences to Heineken’s signature pop-up bars. Now, the new multi-year deal takes the alliance into overdrive with fresh activations, bold fan engagement, and a unique twist for motorsport lovers.
The F1 fan zone, now presented by Heineken 0.0, will bring immersive experiences to race weekends, alongside vivid branding and innovative in-person installations. The brewer will also enjoy naming rights for three Grands Prix each season.
Adding an extra shot of excitement, Heineken has launched the ‘Star Fans’ campaign, celebrating the most passionate F1 supporters through exclusive online content, competitions, and awards. But the real showstopper is the world’s first F1 season ticket, a carbon fibre-crafted pass that grants one lucky fan and a friend access to every race on the calendar, complete with travel and accommodation.
Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali hailed the partnership, saying, “Heineken has stood alongside Formula 1 for nearly a decade with a shared passion for delivering an unrivalled spectacle. Together, we’ll continue to push boundaries and bring fans closer to the action.”
Echoing the excitement, Heineken CEO and chairman Dolf van den Brink added, “This partnership is about more than sponsorship. It’s about connecting fans, creating experiences, and celebrating the incredible energy of F1 – all with a cold Heineken 0.0 in hand.”
As the two global powerhouses toast to their next chapter, one thing’s clear, this partnership is still firmly on pole position.
Brands
Jio Financial Services posts Rs 1,560 crore FY26 profit
Revenue rises to Rs 3,513 crore as investments and lending scale up.
MUMBAI: If money makes the world go round, Jio Financial Services Limited is quietly spinning a much bigger wheel. The Reliance-backed financial arm reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 1,560.9 crore for FY26, slightly lower than Rs 1,612.6 crore in FY25, even as revenue growth gathered pace.
Total revenue from operations rose sharply to Rs 3,513.3 crore in FY26 from Rs 2,042.9 crore a year earlier, driven largely by a surge in interest income, which more than doubled to Rs 1,901.9 crore from Rs 852.5 crore. Fee and commission income also saw a significant jump to Rs 597 crore, compared to Rs 155.2 crore in FY25, reflecting expanding financial services activity.
For the March quarter, profit stood at Rs 272.2 crore, broadly flat compared to Rs 269 crore in the same period last year. Quarterly revenue from operations climbed to Rs 1,018.5 crore, up from Rs 493.2 crore year-on-year, signalling steady momentum in core income streams.
Expenses, however, moved in tandem with growth. Total costs nearly quadrupled to Rs 1,982.9 crore in FY26 from Rs 524.8 crore in FY25, with finance costs alone rising to Rs 745.1 crore from just Rs 7.7 crore a year earlier, reflecting increased borrowing and scale of operations. Employee expenses also grew to Rs 387.3 crore, while other expenses expanded to Rs 755 crore.
Profit before tax stood at Rs 1,911.7 crore for the year, slightly below Rs 1,946.9 crore in FY25. After accounting for a total tax outgo of Rs 350.8 crore, the company reported its final net profit figure.
Beyond the income statement, the balance sheet tells a story of rapid expansion. Total assets surged to Rs 1,63,497 crore as of March 31, 2026, up from Rs 1,33,510 crore a year earlier. Investments alone stood at Rs 1,33,088.7 crore, underscoring the company’s strong focus on treasury and financial asset growth.
However, the year also saw sharp volatility in other comprehensive income, which swung to a loss of Rs 16,028.3 crore, largely driven by fair value changes in equity instruments. This dragged total comprehensive income for FY26 to a negative Rs 15,756.1 crore, compared to a positive Rs 14,870 crore in FY25.
On the capital front, the company’s paid-up equity share capital remained steady at Rs 6,353.1 crore, with other equity rising to Rs 1,27,500.5 crore.
The numbers reflect a business in transition scaling rapidly across lending, investments and fee-based services, but also navigating the volatility that comes with mark-to-market movements in financial assets. In other words, while the top line is accelerating, the fine print still carries a few swings.
