Following the controversial end to the Formula 1 2021 Driver’s Championship, we’re itching for the new season of the sport to start up again and Netflix’s recap of the year in Drive to Survive.
In this downtime between seasons however, there are car reveals and sponsorship announcements aplenty to keep fans occupied.
One announcement we found curious comes from Kaspersky. The announcement we found curious isn’t that Kaspersky will continue its partnership contract with Scuderia Ferrari but rather that the firm will be joining the line up of drivers for the Ferrari Esports FDA team competing in the world Esports Series.
We find this odd because Kaspersky seems like the perfect sponsor for an esports series and we had assumed the F1 partnership extended to the esports teams as well. You learn something new every day we suppose.
As part of the sponsorship of the Scuderia Ferrari team, Kaspersky’s logo will appear on the drivers’ helmets and in a new position on the car itself. The logo will now be located on the front wing of the team’s cars. In the past this area was relatively small but the 2022 iteration of Formula 1 cars increases the area available for sponsorship, especially on the front wing. Of course, the design change was made for aerodynamics and not for advertising.
“I’m very happy we’re continuing our long-standing partnership with Scuderia Ferrari racing team, which over the years has developed far beyond being just sponsorship. Our cooperation has evolved into a technical partnership: we provide the team’s data protection, thus contributing to its safety and success – unnoticed in the background. I’m also excited that we’re expanding our partnership with Ferrari to extend to eGaming, one of the fastest growing online industries today,” said chief executive officer of Kaspersky, Eugene Kaspersky.
As regards the esports partnership, Kaspersky’s logo will appear on team drivers’ apparel and in-game where it will placed on the cars.
“We’re pleased to renew our partnership with Kaspersky as well as increase its scope. We have much in common, such as a policy of striving for technological excellence and a culture of teamwork. For over a decade, Kaspersky has played a key role in Scuderia Ferrari’s success, protecting our data both at the track and in Maranello. It is important that we can count on a reliable partner when it comes to such a delicate aspect within our team. We are also happy that our collaboration has been extended into the world of esports, which is growing fast and is vital when it comes to promoting motorsport to a wider and younger audience,” says Mattia Binotto, Team Principal at Scuderia Ferrari.
The first race of the F1 2022 season kicks off on 18th March at the Bahrain Grand Prix 2022.
