Scuderia AlphaTauri has revealed a unique collaboration with Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., introducing a special one-off event partnership that brings the GUNDAM franchise to the Formula 1® grid for the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix. Throughout the week, Gundam decals of the RX-78-2 GUNDAM and XVX-016 GUNDAM Aerial will adorn the headrests of the AT04 as Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo navigate the Las Vegas Strip Circuit ™ in pursuit of victory.
This collaboration transcends conventional Formula 1® sponsorships, promising fans thrilling activations at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. In addition to the eye-catching decals on the racing cars, enthusiasts can marvel at nearly ten-foot tall GUNDAM statues strategically placed around the team’s facilities. Furthermore, a promotional video featuring driver Yuki Tsunoda donning an iconic GUNDAM-inspired racing suit will captivate the audience. Commemorating the partnership is a unique, custom-designed Perfect-Grade Unleashed model of the Mobile Suit RX-78-2 GUNDAM, exclusively adorned with Scuderia AlphaTauri decals and colors (for display only). All-new GUNDAM features for the Las Vegas event, including RX-78-2 and Yuki Tsunoda artwork inspired by Scuderia AlphaTauri, have been meticulously crafted.
The race weekend will also witness the presence of two GUNDAM BASE POP-UP Stores, strategically located at Elara by Hilton and The Park by MGM, adding an extra layer of excitement around the Las Vegas Strip Circuit™ area.
Karim Farghaly, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “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 F1 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 F1 fans and GUNDAM fans alike.”
The GUNDAM franchise, which debuted in 1979, revolves around skilled pilots commanding technologically advanced machines. This mirrors the same technological vision that the Bandai Namco GUNDAM team sees in Formula 1® racing. Spanning a diverse range of toys and collectibles, animated series, feature-length films, and video games, the GUNDAM franchise continues to captivate audiences worldwide.