{"id":1701,"date":"2022-03-17T14:38:48","date_gmt":"2022-03-17T14:38:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/03\/17\/googles-mclaren-sponsorship-puts-the-android-robot-and-chrome-wheels-on-its-2022-f1-car\/"},"modified":"2022-03-17T14:38:50","modified_gmt":"2022-03-17T14:38:50","slug":"googles-mclaren-sponsorship-puts-the-android-robot-and-chrome-wheels-on-its-2022-f1-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/03\/17\/googles-mclaren-sponsorship-puts-the-android-robot-and-chrome-wheels-on-its-2022-f1-car\/","title":{"rendered":"Google’s McLaren sponsorship puts the Android robot and Chrome wheels on its 2022 F1 car"},"content":{"rendered":"

Source: https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2022\/3\/16\/22981140\/mclaren-f1-android-chrome-google-mcl36-sponsor-2022<\/a>
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Season five of Formula 1: Drive to Survive<\/em> could potentially include scenes of McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown smashing a Chromebook or Android tablet, Tom Brady-style<\/a>, thanks to a new arrangement between the team and Google<\/a>. <\/p>\n

In 2020, McLaren exited its deal with OnePlus<\/a> that produced several powerfully-specced black and orange Android phones<\/a>, but there\u2019s no indication of a similar branding exercise coming to the Pixel series anytime soon.<\/p>\n

Instead, the new \u201cmulti-year\u201d agreement between Google and McLaren is putting branding on the MCL36 driven by Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo (who is now available to drive in this weekend\u2019s season-opening Bahrain GP after multiple negative tests<\/a> following a case of COVID-19), their race suits and helmets, and on McLaren\u2019s Number 58 McLaren MX Extreme E race car drivers and team. <\/p>\n

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Image: McLaren<\/cite><\/p>\n

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You can spot the Android logo peeking along the engine cover in these pictures (thanks, Benjamin Cartwright<\/a>) while the familiar colors of Google Chrome are clearly visible on the covers of the 18-inch wheel rims. <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not familiar with these branded wheels in F1, it\u2019s an opportunity arising as wheel covers are being reintroduced for the first time since 2009. As noted by Formula1.com<\/a>, the covers are a mandatory addition to all cars this season, and while they have a simpler design than the ones seen on some cars in the mid-00s, they\u2019re part of the changes instituted to lower turbulence created by each car to enable closer following and, ideally, more passing opportunities. Motorsport.com<\/a> has more information on the history of wheel covers in F1, why they were banned prior to the 2010 season, and why they\u2019re back now, including a not that the dished design is supposed to make them easier for mechanics to handle during pit stops.<\/p>\n

They also say that McLaren will use \u201c5G-enabled Android devices and Chrome browser across its operations during practice sessions, qualifying and races to support the drivers and team, with the goal of improving on-track performance.\u201d In a statement, Brown said \u201cBy integrating platforms like Android and Chrome across our operations, our team will be better supported to focus on driving performance. We\u2019re looking forward to an exciting partnership that spans across Formula 1 and Extreme E.\u201d<\/p>\n