At the end of 2023, Mercedes welcomed a brand new sponsor. WhatsApp partnered with the Silver Arrows in a historic first-time deal for the Meta-owned online messaging platform. It has been understood that this collaboration also comes along with exclusive team content and in-race updates through the ‘Channels’ feature of WhatsApp, per Associated Press.
In the buildup to 2024, Mercedes and WhatsApp have pulled off a marketing masterstroke. In the launch day tweets on their official X (formerly Twitter) handle, they revealed an interesting addition on the W15’s 2024 steering wheel. It will consist of a WhatsApp button, which amazed a huge chunk of the F1 community. But what is the button for?
| The W15 comes with Whatsapp installed!
One of the most insane innovations I’ve ever seen in my time watching F1. It is truly groundbreaking and benefits will be huge, don’t need a wind tunnel to see that. Advantage locked in for years? pic.twitter.com/VKURjmnKs4
— deni (@fiagirly) February 18, 2024
While Lewis Hamilton and George Russell won’t be able to ‘WhatsApp’ their colleagues on the pitwall, the button has actually replaced the radio button. A neat little innovation. However, as soon as it was revealed, fans on social media started producing meme-worthy reactions.
Mercedes and WhatsApp’s W15 collaboration takes the internet by storm
As soon as the pictures of the W15 steering wheel sporting the WhatsApp logo went viral, fans rushed to X, to share their reactions. Whilst many were commending the marketing genius behind the move, many fans also took the opportunity to light-heartedly troll the team.
Fans took to social media to repost this innovative radio button. However, they started referencing potential radio moments and other tidbits to craft really hilarious memes.
The WhatsApp message https://t.co/jSVb9dmXmI pic.twitter.com/5950j42Hme
— emilia (@allezlando) February 18, 2024
— Eren da Aston Martin (@ErenAMR) February 17, 2024
bros are going to whatsapp call instead of using the radio??? https://t.co/xj5J2sUXsY
— bia (@LNFOURS) February 18, 2024
Jokes aside, for the last two years, Mercedes has suffered a terrible dip in form. The Silver Arrows have only been able to muster a single win in the last two years, and going into 2024 it is a make or break season for their championship hopes.
What’s more, despite this rejuvenating entry of WhatsApp into the team as partners, the Silver Arrows have confirmed that they are going to lose Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari in 2025. Given how important Hamilton was to Mercedes’ own popularity and fanbase, this is going to be a hefty blow to deal with.
