Microsoft has been a partner of the Lotus F1 team for a while now, more specifically Microsoft Dynamics. But, that's changed a little this season with the more familiar Microsoft logo taking pride of place on the car. As the cars have rolled out for the British Grand Prix practice sessions at Silverstone, look what's there this weekend?
Looking good there, Lumia!
OK, it's not the only phone logo on the car, but it's the one that stands out the most. BlackBerry may get itself on the podium more often by virtue of sponsoring the best car on the grid, but with a Mercedes engine in the Lotus, maybe we'll see some Microsoft branding start hitting the higher reaches.
So, who are you shouting for this weekend?!
Thanks WPit for the tip!
Reader comments
Microsoft Lumia looking good on the Lotus F1 car at Silverstone
Unbelievable! Didn't even manage to get to second turn unharmed!
Classic Nadella move: Crash with team mates and advance competition. Perhaps stipulated by partnership deal..
Sad news. Both Lotus cars off on the first lap of the British Grand Prix. Sponosrship derailed. Lotus are having so many problems with fund raising, the sponsorship was probably quite cheap. And Microsoft Lumia did look so good on the Lotus car sides. Perhaps next time sponsor a team that is nearer the front of the grid?
Lumias crashed with each other on lap 1 ;)
Sam: 2 years ago, Alonso was at the helm of a Ferrari. Now?
Also, 2 years ago, Grosjean's major accomplishment was the incident at T1 at Spa.
All the best to Kimi and I hope he beats all the Mercs _and_ Vettel, but in the new-reg era, I think Lotus is doing quite well sans Finnish talent.
Now, if we can just get a nice Lotus wallpaper for W10 RTM build...
Yeah and Blackberry get way more exposure than Lumia still.
Go ask BlackBerry how many phones they're selling. You think it's bad for Windows Phone try talking to those guys.
They're making an Android phone apparently. Sounds like they gave up.
It took them long enough!!!!
This should have happened about 2 years ago when Lotus was running at the front with Kimi at the wheel.
Oh well better late than never.
More Lumia promotion for the UK. Windows Phone growing here. Seeing more and more people with them all the time.
Ps. Can't wait to go to Silverstone again on Sunday. Should be fun.
I love F1 racing. I miss Schumacher.
So much for the rumour saying Microsoft will ditch Mobile.Muhahaha.
If At&T is powering them, they won't get their updates fast enough. Unless they drive in the "inner circle"
Wen in Force India.
Looks promising for Kimi.
If it crashes, I hope it will go through the car or wall it hits and not gain serious damage
Cheering for Hamilton but would be nice to see a top five finish for Grosjean.
I'm for the underdog; in the last few years my cheer is "ABV" (anyone but Vettel) now it's "ABH' or more precisely "ABM(ercedes)."
Formula E is the future!
Formula E is Lumia 430 of Formula series.
I agree, formula E is still way too far from being exciting, but who knows, in a few years things may change, for now the roaring of a petrol engine is a lot more staggering
Formula E is crippled by this obscure 2-car, maximum power stuff, just as F1 is crippled by max fuel rate. Next year, manufacturer differentiation instead of spec cars. Woot!
Lumia stuck in sand. Red flag!
More viewing time on TV, brilliant!
With Maldonado behind the wheel of one of the Lotus' you can guarantee there will be at least one of the cars in the wars xD
So much for the death of Windows "Phone" that some of the yahoo tech bloggers have been claiming. Idiots.
Nice too see MS expanding the sponsorship. Last year it was Microsoft dynamics, then in Monaco this year it was Microsoft, now Microsoft Lumia.
Awesome
Or rotation of that spot that MS owns.
That spot said Lotus at the last race. This is an extra spot MS has bought.
Its flagship lol....
Nice! I'm at Silverstone on Sunday and will be rocking my 930, but unfortunately will be a guest of Mercedes Petronas, so will have to hide the Lumia as it's Blackberry that sponsor them :(
Pffft!
Have fun!
You're lucky to even be there mate
Have fun!
Nico has Finnish roots so if you show your Nokia to him that may be ok.
I'm there too but I ain't anyone's guest :( still hoping to see a win from Lewis! #TeamLH
Enjoy yourself but whatever you do, do not hide your Lumia 930! You have to show it off. It looks too good to stay in your pocket the entire time.
I LOVE LOTUS...... ILOVE LUMIA FIRST......RACEON
I don't understand, if MS, according to WPC forum commenters, is selling its phones (used to be all its hardware) division, why investing time and money to promote it ?
That's was made up by the media...
Who will lead Microsoft Mobile Ltd? Or is the plan to dismantle the subsidiary?
You can shut down Microsoft Mobile and still retain the brand. What Microsoft will likely do is shut down MM and the "Microsoft Lumia" brand moves to the same roof as the Surface and Microsoft Bands. A brand for Microsoft reference devices instead of a mobile OEM brand.
Shutting down is pretty expensive. I would suppose they at least try to 'sell' it. Perhaps LG or some Chinese would be interested to take it. One problem is that licenses MS has from Nokia are not transferable.
1. Kimi
+920
+1520
Ham for the win.
Microsoft should partner with Williams F1 instead of Lotus.
Tifosi for life!!!
Lewis. Lewis. Only Lewis Hamilton forever
#LH44FTW
Lewis for the win this weekend
@The Poppies:
Doesn't look like that after practice 1...
Yeah because practice one is as good as the race...
He must be a NASCAR fan
Isn't it Lewis for a win every weekend now? Rosberg doesn't turn up most of the time, the Ferraris just aren't quick enough and everyone else is awful.
Everyone isn't awful. The Williams is decent too. The main problem is Mercedes are just so damn good!
I would prefer to see it on the Ferrari ;)
+730
+920
Displace BlackBerry from the Mercs and then we will be talking
Think that deal is up end of this year.
The possibilities
#TeamLH
Oh that's Will Farrell in the picture! It's Talladega Nights all over again lol
With Rickey Bobby on their team, there is no way they can lose. If you ain't first, your last.
Shake and bake baby!
Ricky Bobby and El Diablo.
Lumia power to the car.
Perfect choice by Microsoft. A driver like Maldonaldo should be given a Lumia for his reckless driving. Only a Lumia can survive a crash.
Lumia 920's for everyone!
930 would be better
Lol
Lol!!
@PBV7:
I would've preferred them going with Mercdes-AMG though. But Blackberry beat them to it.
Although judging by the state of the Lumia line-up (only entry-level devices currently), going with a team that races outside the top 10 is (sadly) quite adequate...
LMAO. You made my day
Has anybody checked House low since he last crashed? House safe are our roads? www.hasmaldonadocrashedtoday.com
Seems not faster. Perhaps next year.
No, no. F1 cars are always fast. And a Lumia ad on it makes it faster.
+1
+930
Only make it seems faster tho, not actually faster.
Only about a second quicker than GP2 cars....and around 6 seconds slower than the cars of the early 2000's!
So yes, they are fast....but as Alonso and others have testified, they aren't so fast as to leave the drivers mentally and physically exhausted at the end of a race.
F1 needs a shake up. Remove the tech...go back to proper gear shifts like in the Senna days.
Here we come 2017
You think the Mercedes is only a second quicker than a GP2 car? Increased fuel limits soon will see the cars going flat out nearly race long. It'll be much quicker again soon enough.
It will always be Nokia Lumia for me
Sometimes, you have to learn to let go and accept the reality! Go, Microsoft, Go!
Moving on! Let's go Microsoft Lumia!!
Same here
Microsoft Lumia FTW