Formula One champion Red Bull has teamed up with Nissan's Infiniti brand in a deal reversing the recent exodus of Japanese manufacturers from the sport.

The two-year marketing agreement will see Infiniti's branding on the front, side and rear of the Red Bull car as well as the overalls of German world champion Sebastian Vettel and Australian Mark Webber. The deal is likely to cover at least the team's annual engine costs of around 8 million euros (US$11.03 million).

Infiniti senior vice-president Andy Palmer said it was the biggest sponsorship activity that Nissan Group had ever done while Red Bull principal Christian Horner hailed a "very important and strategic partnership".

"As manufacturers have been leaving in their droves over the last few years, for a Japanese manufacturer to be coming back in is I think great news," Horner said.