McLaren’s Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo sat down with Cointelegraph throughout the Token2049 convention in Singapore, discussing his latest involvement in crypto forward of the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix.
Alongside OKX CMO Haider Rafique, the duo delved into a brand new partnership between McLaren Racing and the crypto trade, exploring quite a lot of entertaining advertising and marketing strikes between the 2 manufacturers.
Ricciardo featured in a brand new OKX advert launched earlier this yr standing alongside the McLaren MCL36 F1 racing automotive whereas his “spirit animal” honey badger sat within the cockpit of the automobile. The tongue-in-cheek advert highlights the comparatively unknown standing of the cryptocurrency world, which continues to hunt avenues to drive wider adoption of the house.
This was a enjoyable one with @okx. I needed to take dwelling the honey badger pic.twitter.com/pToUqgiBgK
— Daniel Ricciardo (@danielricciardo) September 28, 2022
As the primary level of order, Ricciardo admitted that he’d first explored the world of cryptocurrencies in 2021 and informed Cointelegraph that associates had first piqued his curiosity.
“Final yr I first received concerned, I received my OKX pockets and it was actually by way of a variety of curiosity. Plenty of my associates had been into it after which by way of the connection with the staff I received on board and I’m studying each day,” he defined.
System 1 drivers are identified for his or her propensity to push the boundaries in numerous points of their life and Ricciardo joked that his foray into crypto accelerated pretty shortly. The 33-year-old mentioned he was attempting to extend his data of the house and noticed the worth of diversification that cryptocurrency markets provide.
“I used to be really beginning to get fairly concerned to a degree the place just a few individuals on my staff had been like ‘alright you spending a bit an excessive amount of time on right here.’ It’s nice and I’m actually curious by way of diversification and attempting to know extra concerning the house.”
OKX in the meantime has explored artistic advertising and marketing efforts by way of the multi-year partnership with McLaren, asserting a livery takeover for the subsequent two stops on the F1 calendar. Daring, orange OKX branding is entrance and heart for the Singapore and Japan Grand Prix races and Ricciardo believes the efforts will draw extra followers into the world of cryptocurrencies.
Behold the MCL36 in #FutureMode.
To have fun our partnership with @OKX we’ll be racing on the #SingaporeGP and the #JapaneseGP in a bespoke livery.
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) September 27, 2022
Ricciardo mentioned the brand new livery in Singapore and Japan is about “fan engagement” and bringing them on board.
“OKX is on the forefront, like we’re with System 1, attempting to innovate and be forward-thinking. It’s cool, I believe this it’s the primary time this has been carried out with a livery takeover,” he mentioned
Rafique highlighted synergies between the cryptocurrency trade and System 1, with the “velocity of innovation” from the game in parallel with the velocity at which the blockchain and cryptocurrency ecosystem has continued to develop:
“Finally the enjoyable that we’re all having comes from being artistic collectively. Simply with this livery the 2 design groups labored actually intently collectively and we’re simply so excited we started working with the McLaren F1 staff, with Daniel and now we have now this wonderful design that we’re excited for the world to see.”
System 1 marks its return to the Singapore avenue circuit for the primary time since 2019. The build-up to the race has coincided with the Token2049 convention, with the road circuit slowly being pieced collectively till full street closures took impact on Sept. 29.
Earlier than Covid-19, Ricciardo had loved success on the observe and hopes to emulate his earlier podium finishes within the metropolis:
“It’s good to be again, 2019 was the final time and I’ve all the time liked avenue circuits and earlier than it is all up you’re on the observe attempting to determine all of it out as a result of it does look totally different when it’s not all put collectively. I’m actually completely satisfied to be again, I’ve had some podiums right here previously so let’s simply say I’m coming in scorching.”
System 1 continues to draw advertising and marketing and promoting offers with the largest companies on this planet of cryptocurrencies. OKX was the most recent cryptocurrency trade and buying and selling platform to pen a cope with a serious staff, signing up as the first accomplice of McLaren in Could 2022.
