For the twenty second spherical of the Formulation 1 season in Las Vegas, AlphaTauri, the crew to which Yuki Tsunoda belongs, has entered right into a one-race partnership with Bandai Namco Leisure America Inc. It has been revealed the AlphaTauri F1 automotive will function decals of the RX-78-2 Gundam and the XVX-016 Gundam Aerial.
It’s an unlikely collaboration between Japan’s legendary ‘Cellular Swimsuit’ Gundam and the AlphaTauri F1 crew, which is making outstanding progress due to the efforts of Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo, albeit only for one race, the Las Vegas GP.
At this race, not solely will Gundam decals be utilized to the headrest of the AlphaTauri AT04, however a 10-foot Gundam statue will likely be positioned close to the crew space, and a promotional video that includes Yuki Tsunoda sporting overalls impressed by Gundam will likely be launched. Moreover, a plastic mannequin of the RX-78-2 Gundam carrying the colors of the AlphaTauri will likely be displayed. Paintings that includes Tsunoda and the AlphaTauri-inspired RX-78-2 can even be produced.
Karim Farghaly, senior vice-president of enterprise improvement at Bandai Namco Leisure America, commented: “Gundam, which is without doubt one of the longest-running science-fiction sequence on this planet, is a fictional reflection of the real-life challenges confronted by F1 drivers in every race, and we now have at all times been ready to hook up with followers around the globe with the themes of heroism, dealing with adversity and overcoming unimaginable odds.
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“Our partnership with Scuderia AlphaTauri relies on their imaginative and prescient and efforts to create one thing significant and memorable for each F1 followers and Gundam followers by bringing Gundam to the inaugural Las Vegas GP.”
Fabian Wrabetz, AlphaTauri’s director of selling and communications, additionally commented: “Gundam is recognised globally and cherished by enthusiastic followers all around the globe. We embrace the spirit of Gundam and we’re delighted to welcome them as companions for the 2023 Las Vegas GP.
“This collaboration will likely be a memorable one, that includes activations each on- and off-track that may encourage fan participation in a enjoyable and thrilling method.”
AlphaTauri is coming off a run of three successive races of scoring factors. Its efficiency is unquestionably bettering. The query of whether or not there be additional progress on the Las Vegas GP, the place the tie-up with Gundam is happening, will certainly be one thing that pulls consideration not solely from F1 followers, however from all around the world.
To get a greater understanding of Gundam’s tie-up with AlphaTauri, we caught up with Antonio Herbst, Head of Model Growth at Bandai Namco Leisure America Inc. Herbst defined how Gundam and AlphaTauri are the proper match, with the hype surrounding the Las Vegas GP offering an important alternative to advertise their new partnership.
Q: What sort of picture do you have got for F1?
F1 is without doubt one of the most unusual sports activities on the planet – a small group of extraordinarily gifted drivers are tasked with driving extremely quick race vehicles made by a number of the greatest engineers and designers on earth throughout advanced circuits around the globe 23 occasions a 12 months, give or take just a few. It has a wealthy historical past with legends in each period, and continues to develop as an increasing number of followers become involved with the game. It’s additionally one of many greatest sports activities manufacturers on this planet, and the ambition of Formulation 1 to develop its attain throughout the globe is second to none. Personally, it’s a sport I’ve adopted since I used to be very younger, and had the pleasure of witnessing unimaginable legends being made, together with Ayrton Senna.
Q: Why did you determine to collaborate with F1?
We consider GUNDAM has an excellent thematic match with the game. GUNDAM is about heroism, standing as much as adversity, overcoming large odds, and different components which are just like a number of the challenges F1 drivers encounter each race. The GUNDAM sequence began as an anime however has grown to a world model with movie, animated sequence, toys and collectibles, mannequin kits, video games, amusement and extra, permitting us to attach with followers in a number of methods. GUNDAM is rising now greater than ever, partly attributable to renewed efforts to develop consciousness of it throughout the globe. It’s the proper time, and collaborating with Scuderia AlphaTauri permits everybody, together with the followers to take advantage of out of this chance.
Q: Among the many many F1 groups/drivers, why did you determine to collaborate with AlphaTauri and Yuki Tsunoda?
GUNDAM strives to attach with followers on a number of touchpoints by using Bandai Namco’s energy in coordinating each bodily and digital, with a variety of services and products because the outlet. With that in thoughts, the match with Scuderia AlphaTauri was nice instantly. The crew was very open to our artistic concepts and went past customary co-branding, working collectively to create one thing experiential and layered. From including a number of GUNDAM components to the storage to working with us on creating an SAT-branded GUNDAM mannequin equipment and brainstorming how one can use it, they’ve been a tremendous associate. The crew itself is one in all nice legacy, having formed a number of the greatest drivers whereas making its personal method by way of the sector of groups competing in F1. Yuki Tsunoda is nice, completely actual together with his ardour and character. Working with him permits us to actually join with followers in each Americas and Japan, and this bond goes deeper: we’re watching Yuki going by way of his improvement and success journey in Formulation 1, like a GUNDAM pilot would!
Q: What do you anticipate from Mr. Tsunoda and the crew that carries the picture of GUNDAM?
To begin with, there may be extra to come back, and we hope to proceed to work intently along with Scuderia AlphaTauri to shock and delight followers as we get nearer the race. We’re cheering for the most effective final result as at all times, and a few factors can be superior. We predict for them to proceed doing what they’re at the moment excelling at: connecting with followers in genuine and fascinating methods.
Q: Please inform us why you determined to collaborate on the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Like many others, we’ve taken discover of how Formulation 1 has grown because the “Drive to Survive” sequence debuted. The inaugural Miami race final 12 months proved that American F1 Grand Prixes are presenting more and more fascinating new alternatives for us as entrepreneurs to pursue. As the game makes positive factors right here, we’ve seen the groups creating extra touchpoints with the followers, and for us Las Vegas made essentially the most sense because the place to kick off this partnership, particularly once we discovered the best crew to collaborate with. Scuderia AlphaTauri was invaluable on this half when it got here to brainstorming concepts, and we now have loads of non-traditional issues deliberate for the LVGP, from placing a number of 2-meter GUNDAM statues within the SAT storage to having pop-up GUNDAM Base shops round Las Vegas in the course of the race weekend.
Q: What sort of advantages or impact do you hope from this collaboration?
We went out of our consolation zone to search out the best option to acknowledge and have a good time racing, anime and GUNDAM followers, as we believed the overlap can be sufficiently big to justify the dangers. Happily, by all appearances, that appears to be the case. We needed to provide present followers of both GUNDAM, Scuderia AlphaTauri or Formulation 1 one thing to be enthusiastic about. We additionally have a look at this as a progress alternative for GUNDAM, with learnings to assist us higher present video games, animation and collectibles to attach with followers sooner or later. In an effort to have GUNDAM be acknowledged extra within the Americas, bringing Scuderia AlphaTauri and racing followers into the fold has been a very promising step. Whether or not it’s watching the newest exhibits or reliving the sooner sequence from the 80s, 90s, or 00s, we would like folks to know that it’s a good time to be a GUNDAM fan anyplace on this planet.