F1 drivers have a long-standing tradition of bestowing a kiss upon their hard-earned trophy following a victorious race. Normally, these trophies remain unmoved by the gesture. However, at the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, this routine act took an electrifying turn, as the kiss from the winning driver triggered a dazzling light show, causing the trophy, skillfully crafted by Lenovo, to radiate with brilliance.
In contrast to sports like hockey, where the iconic Stanley Cup remains a constant, Formula One racers have the opportunity to claim a distinct trophy at each Grand Prix event. These trophies boast unique designs that pay homage to the host city and nation, and for the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, Lenovo was entrusted with infusing a dose of high-tech sophistication into the trophy’s design.
Primarily, this venture served as a branding opportunity, with Lenovo collaborating alongside design agency Pininfarina to seamlessly incorporate elements of the company’s logo and elements inspired by Formula One race cars, including the prominent air intakes found atop these vehicles.
Where Lenovo ventured into uncharted territory was the integration of color-changing LEDs concealed beneath the trophy’s surface. These LEDs would illuminate in the colors corresponding to the winning driver’s home country’s flag, all initiated by the planting of a kiss upon the trophy’s most enigmatic feature: a micro-switch activated by this affectionate act.
Lenovo remains discreet about the intricate workings of this kiss-activated switch, leaving questions unanswered about whether it responds solely to the touch of lips or how it discerns the appropriate flag colors to display.
At the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, it was Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing who emerged victorious, and as he kissed the trophy, it burst to life in the vibrant hues of the Dutch flag.
But Lenovo’s innovation didn’t halt there.
Lenovo has recently revealed an exciting partnership with Formula 1 aimed at enhancing the fan experience through the captivating realm of virtual reality (VR). Fans now have the opportunity to immerse themselves in an exclusive VR F1 mini-game at select F1 events, using the cutting-edge ThinkReality VRX all-in-one headset.
This immersive experience was first introduced at the Formula 1 Lenovo Japanese Grand Prix 2023 and will once again be available at the Formula 1 Lenovo United States Grand Prix 2023, scheduled for October 22, 2023. Additionally, the ThinkReality VRX VR F1 mini-game will make its appearance at Lenovo’s Tech World 2023, taking place on October 23-24 in Austin, Texas.
Lenovo emphasizes that this racing game serves as a platform to showcase the potential and value of VR experiences, allowing users to assume the role of an F1 driver navigating a replica of either the Suzuka International Racing Course or the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). The ThinkReality VRX controller’s buttons enable players to control the car’s speed as they maneuver through the course, offering various perspectives, including a tabletop view. In fact, the experience bears a striking resemblance to traditional tabletop electric track cars, granting drivers the freedom to drift around corners, yet also risk veering off the track or even toppling from the table.
Earlier this year at AWE USA 2023, Lenovo introduced its revolutionary ThinkReality VRX all-in-one VR headset engineered for enterprise applications. This 6DoF (six-degrees-of-freedom) VR device harnesses the power of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 1 processor and delivers full-color, high-resolution pass-through capabilities for mixed reality applications.
The ThinkReality VRX comes complete with an extensive suite of end-to-end services designed for organizations, including flexible device management through the ThinkReality cloud software platform and ThinkReality xR Services, which encompasses consulting, content creation, and deployment support. In line with Lenovo’s established tradition, the ThinkReality VRX enjoys the backing of Lenovo’s Integrated Solution Support (LISS) for round-the-clock global customer service, as well as Device as a Service (DaaS) financing through Lenovo TruScale.
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