The new wheels in F1 in 2022 have allowed McLaren to go for a unique arrangement with Google – but how is the team running with the web giant on its car?
Creative bunch, are those who work in Formula 1.
It’s not just in their capability to look at a rulebook and come up with 10 different ways of building a racing car to the same regulations, but also in their marketing.
The all-new wheel design for 2022 has allowed the McLaren team to do something a little unique (for now) with its wheels in F1.
But how has the new design helped McLaren stick Google on its wheels in F1?
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New design that channels an icon
In 2022, the wheels and tyres used in F1 have undergone rather big changes – well, the whole car has, but anyway.
Previously, the wheels themselves were 13 inches across – that’s just over one foot or 33cm in diameter.
However, for 2022, they’ve got bigger – and now clock in at 18 inches – one-and-a-half foot or 45cm.
Due to the bigger wheel design, teams have been allowed to re-adopt wheel covers.
The general idea is that if the wake thrown off the wheel and tyre is disrupted, it will create less turbulence – and in theory, make it easier to follow and get close to the car ahead.
Easier to follow = closer racing = more overtaking = happy drivers and fans.
Wheel covers are not new to F1 – and were most famously seen on the Brawn GP 001 that carried Jenson Button to the 2009 world championship.
However, say you have a marketing genius as your CEO who introduced brands such as Coca-Cola to F1, those wheel covers can become prime advertising space…
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McLaren F1 wheels
Zak Brown is such a marketing genius and spotting an opportunity, he’s taken it.
McLaren announced this week a long-term deal with Google that will see the web giant also sponsor the McLaren Extreme E effort.
Not only will Google be on the wheel covers on the McLaren MCL36 design, but Android stickers will also be stuck onto the side of it.
For added exposure, drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris are also sporting Chrome and Android decals on their race suits and helmets.
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