McLaren signs multi-year major partnership with Google

©McLaren

McLaren Racing has announced a major multi-year partnership with US tech giant Google for its Formula 1 and McLaren MX Extreme T Team.

Silicon Valley's interest in Formula 1 shows no signs of relenting, with Google joining the likes of Oracle, Amazon Web Services, AMD, Cognizant and Dell Technologies on Grand Prix racing's grid.

McLaren says its new partnership with Google – a company currently worth $1.7 trillion – will allow the latter's Android and Chrome products to deliver a seamless technology experience across all the team's operations and help improve its performance.

"We are absolutely delighted and proud to welcome Google to the McLaren Racing family," commented McLaren racing boss Zak Brown.

"Google is a global leader in technology and has been a ground-breaking innovator in connecting people around the world.

"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."

Read also: Red Bull signs US tech giant Oracle as title sponsor

Android and Chrome branding will appear on the engine cover and wheel covers of McLaren's MCL36 and on the helmets and race suits of Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo from this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.

"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," added Nicholas Drake, VP of Marketing for Google.

"We’re bringing more innovation to platforms, like Android and Chrome, and seamlessly connecting them to other Google services to optimize McLaren's race day performance."

Google branding will also appear also on the Number 58 McLaren MX Extreme E race car, and on the race suits of McLaren MX Extreme E drivers Emma Gilmour and Tanner Foust from the 2022 Island X Prix.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.