Ground Effect wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 08:47
Jackles-UK wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 03:31
I’ve said before that I’m staggered that more mobile phone manufacturers or service providers (Vodafone, AT&T, Telefónica etc.) aren’t getting involved with F1 at the moment. With 5G coming on board around the world and the 2020 cars likely to be the fastest cars in history, the marketing almost writes itself.
I didn’t realise that it was the drinks arm of RoKit that sponsored Williams though (or even that there was a drinks arm of RoKit!) and given that McLaren already have deals with Huski & Coca Cola in place I can’t see them finding a space for them (particularly seeing as Coca Cola have just launched their own energy drink derivative). I’d much rather keep Coca Cola happy and on board than having a potential Rich Energy v2.0!
AT&T have been with a Red Bull for a number of years now, I don’t know how big or small. From the reports I’ve seen, the initial Rokit deal with Williams for the 2019 season was with the telecoms branch. When a new contract was drawn up and extended till 2023, the drinks arm was brought on. So it remains to be seen if McLaren find Rokit credible and attractive enough to want them on board, though in this climate, every paying sponsor will probably look credible and attractive. Claire once said that Sir Frank and Ron had an agreement not to poach each other’s sponsors. Those days seem to be long gone, if at all they ever existed.
Great point on the telecoms folk coming back into F1. I heard the rumour that Alonso would be bringing back Telefonica into F1 as part of his sponsor package if he lands the Renault drive. I can see ROKiT going into a team like Haas of Sauber now, maybe Sauber would be a better fit.
However, i do know that McLaren have a sportswear manufacturer lined up to manufacture their team wear, travel wear and such. That sponsor is Castore, a Liverpool based manufacturer more noted for supplying Andy Murray in tennis, and as of next year Rangers Football Club in Scotland. They are rumoured to also be taking more sports teams on as sponsorship, but only the elite or one of the elite ones in every nation and in as many different sectors of sport as they can. Mclaren would be a ideal fit for them as they are the McLaren of sportswear as their gear is top quality.
The Piraña Club is well and truly open, as sponsors air flipping between teams as if it is going out of fashion.