WhatsApp Everyone! New York City Takeover Launches New Race Car Emoji

Famous skyline turns green as we celebrate in style with WhatsApp.

New York. The city that never sleeps. We plan on keeping it that way!

How?

Well, what about lighting up the top of the Empire State Building? Projecting a dynamic light show on its façade? Or even a first-ever demonstration of an F1 car down Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue?

Why not all the above? And we’ve got good reason to! Our Official Messaging Partner WhatsApp has launched a new race car emoji as they celebrate double digit growth in the US!

The iconic black, silver, and PETRONAS green liveried icon means you can talk about upcoming races, discuss all the latest news, and share your love for all things Mercedes-AMG in the most innovative way.

Cool, right?!

The emoji will be rolling out to all two billion WhatsApp users and available to use immediately in your chats, all in time for the upcoming Miami Grand Prix.

Lewis and Toto kicked off a multi-day series of celebrations with the world’s most popular private messaging service in ‘The Big Apple’ on Monday evening. Along with Head of WhatsApp Will Cathcart, they flipped the Empire State Building’s famous light switch and turned the building’s tower lights a bright WhatsApp green.

We weren’t done there though! That was followed by a dynamic light show takeover featuring an animated projection of the new emoji racing through the city’s famous streets. Toto and Lewis flipped that particular switch at a special viewing party attended by VIP guests including Rauw Alejandro, Cynthia Erivo, Spike Lee, Julius Randle and more.

And tomorrow? Lewis will get behind-the-wheel of an F1 car for a barely believable demo run down Fifth Avenue… accompanied by a life-sized replica of the emoji race car.

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.

Lewis

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.

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