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Google Adds McLaren F1 Car Icon to Maps Navigation

The new navigation avatar celebrates upcoming Formula 1 races in the United States and Las Vegas.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Motorsports

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a Formula 1 racing car in papaya orange and blue, rendered with dynamic motion blur.
Google has partnered with McLaren Racing to introduce a custom Formula 1 navigation avatar on Google Maps for upcoming US-based races. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Google has introduced a McLaren F1 car navigation icon that replaces the standard blue arrow in Google Maps. The custom avatar is currently rolling out to users worldwide via a server-side update.

Why it matters

This update stems from a partnership between Google and McLaren Racing that began in 2025. The move serves to celebrate the United States Grand Prix and the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The McLaren F1 navigation icon is available on smartphone screens and through Android Auto or Apple CarPlay displays. Users can enable the feature by navigating to Settings and selecting Driving avatar under Your vehicles.

The players

Google

Google is a global technology company that provides the popular mapping platform used for navigation and Street View imagery.

McLaren Racing

McLaren Racing is a professional motorsports organization that competes in the Formula 1 World Championship.

The details

In addition to the vehicle icon, Google released a Street View tour of the McLaren Technology Center in Surrey, England. The feature will remain available for users to access until November 23, 2026.

Timeline

  1. October 22-25, 2026: The United States Grand Prix.

  2. October 25, 2026: US Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas.

  3. November 21-22, 2026: The Las Vegas Grand Prix.

  4. November 23, 2026: The McLaren F1 avatar availability ends.

Season Trajectory

This integration follows a pattern of increasing virtual access to private corporate facilities like the McLaren Technology Center. The digital initiative extends the Formula 1 team's brand presence directly into the navigation tools of casual commuters throughout the season.

Users can enable the McLaren F1 car by navigating to Settings and selecting Driving avatar within the Your vehicles menu. The change persists across smartphone screens and projected displays like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

The takeaway

Fans can personalize their navigation experience to show support for the McLaren team during the upcoming American race weekends. The avatar update will automatically conclude after the Las Vegas event in late November.

Further reading

For more updates on current racing technology and partnerships, visit Motorsports.

Source note: This article includes information reported by NDTV.

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Do you prefer personalized navigation icons like sports cars in your mapping applications?