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- Agreement also covers McLaren’s Extreme E team
- British racing outfit to have access to various Google products, including 5G-enabled devices
Formula One team McLaren Racing have inked a multi-year partnership with technology giant Google.
The deal, which also includes the British motorsport outfit’s Extreme E team, will see Google introduce its various products to McLaren to provide a more seamless technology experience across devices.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
For the upcoming 2022 season, McLaren will use 5G-enabled Android devices and the Chrome web browser across its operations during practice sessions, qualifying and races to support the drivers and team, with the goal of improving on-track performance.
In addition, Android and Chrome branding will be visible on the engine cover and wheel covers of the MCL36 Formula One race cars, and on the helmets and race suits of drivers Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo.
Google branding will also be visible on the McLaren Extreme E race car, as well as on the race suits of drivers Emma Gilmour and Tanner Foust from the 2022 Island X Prix, which takes place from 7th to 8th May.
“Google is a global leader in technology and has been a ground-breaking innovator in connecting people around the world,” said Zak Brown, chief executive of McLaren Racing.
“By integrating platforms like Android and Chrome across our operations, our team will be better supported to focus on driving performance. We’re looking forward to an exciting partnership that spans across Formula 1 and Extreme E.”
Nicholas Drake, Google’s vice president of marketing, added: “McLaren Racing represents the very best of what’s possible on a racetrack across performance, inclusion and sustainability, and those are values we share at Google.
“We’re bringing more innovation to platforms, like Android and Chrome, and seamlessly connecting them to other Google services to optimise McLaren’s race day performance.”
The pact further bolsters McLaren’s list of partners ahead of the 2022 Formula One campaign, which gets underway with the Bahrain Grand Prix on 20th March. Since Brown was appointed chief executive in 2018, McLaren have quadrupled their annual sponsorship income to well over UK£100 million (US$132 million), according to Sky News.
Under Brown’s leadership, McClaren have struck deals with the likes of Dell Technologies, Cisco, Coca-Cola, Unilever and Stanley Black & Decker.
McLaren, however, terminated their sponsorship agreement with cryptocurrency firm Bitci last month after less than a year.
