Video game company Bandai Namco Entertainment America will bring the popular Gundam franchise to the Formula 1 grid in partnership with Scuderia AlphaTauri for the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix, which takes place on November 18th.
As the Scuderia AlphaTauri AT04s race for points around the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, they’ll drive with the spirit of Gundam, with decals of the iconic RX-78-2 Gundam and the cutting-edge XVX-016 Gundam Aerial on the headrests, flanking the drivers’ helmets.
Transcending the boundaries of conventional Formula 1 partnership, the collaboration between Bandai Namco’s Gundam brand and the Scuderia AlphaTauri racing team extends beyond mere sponsorship and embraces an array of activations at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Gundam takes centre stage
Karim Farghaly, senior vice president of corporate development at Bandai Namco Entertainment America says, “One of the longest running Sci-Fi franchises in the world, Gundam has always been able to connect with fans all around the globe with its featured themes of heroism, standing up to adversity, and overcoming tremendous odds, mirroring in fiction the real-life challenges Formula 1 drivers face each and every race.
“We partnered with Scuderia AlphaTauri because of their vision and cooperation to help bring Gundam to the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix in a way that will be memorable and meaningful to both Formula 1 fans and Gundam fans alike,” added Farghaly.
This immersive experience features towering seven-foot-tall Gundam statues, eye-catching livery decals adorning the AT04s and an electrifying promotional video starring driver Yuki Tsunoda in an iconic Gundam-inspired racing suit.
Fabian Wrabetz, director of marketing and communication at Scuderia AlphaTauri said, “Gundam is a globally recognised and beloved media franchise with passionate fans in every corner of the world. We immediately embraced the Gundam spirit and are delighted to welcome them as a partner of Scuderia AlphaTauri for the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix. This will be a collaboration to remember with multiple on and off-track activations that will push the limits of fan engagement in a fun and exciting way.”
In celebration of the collaboration, there’s a special custom-designed model of the Mobile Suit RX-78-2 Gundam, featuring exclusive Scuderia AlphaTauri decals and colours (for display only). Also, there are new Gundam features including RX-78-2 and Yuki Tsunoda’s artwork inspired by Scuderia AlphaTauri, which have been designed for this event.
Isa Muhammad is a writer and video game journalist covering many aspects of entertainment media including the film industry. He's steadily writing his way to the sharp end of journalism and enjoys staying informed. If he's not reading, playing video games or catching up on his favourite TV series, then he's probably writing about them.
