Fresh from switching on the famed Empire State Building lights, Lewis said: “I’ve always felt a special connection with the United States. I remember going to New York as a kid and dreaming about living in the city and I’ve been fortunate to spend a lot of time here since then.
"I’ve had many incredible experiences and connected with many amazing people in New York, but to drive an F1 car down Fifth Avenue and light up the Empire State Building is incredibly special. It’s something I never thought would be possible and it’s been even better to do it in partnership with WhatsApp, an app that keeps my connection to the US alive by making it easy to stay in touch with so many people stateside.”
Toto added: “In recent years, our sport and WhatsApp have both been on an impressive growth journey in the United States. The partnership between ourselves as a team and WhatsApp, our official messaging partner, is therefore a natural fit. We rely daily on WhatsApp for the privacy and security it affords in our communications, which is vital in F1.
“We are also both passionate about connecting people through shared experiences, committed to telling incredible stories, and setting the benchmark in our respective fields. As we prepare for the first stateside Grand Prix this year, it is fantastic to celebrate our collaboration with several iconic moments and activations in New York City that are certain to get people talking.”
Will added: “Year after year WhatsApp is gaining solid ground in the US because people want a private and secure way to communicate across platforms. WhatsApp is not only the best way to chat about a race with friends around the world, but also within the US too, and we’re excited to celebrate this growth together with Mercedes and the Empire State Building.”
Visitors to the Empire State Building this week will be able to enjoy a show car and memorabilia display, plus interactive pit stop and garage exhibit.