Lenovo creates the F1 trophy that shines when you kiss it
Technology,
Almost every prestigious sports trophy has been kissed by an athlete, but this athlete blushes when kissed.
It is a tradition for F1 drivers to kiss their trophy after winning a race. Most trophies wouldn't even blush at the gesture, but during the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, the winning driver's kiss triggered a light show that made the Lenovo-designed trophy glow
Unlike sports like hockey, where the only prize is the iconic Stanley Cup, Formula 1 drivers have the opportunity to win different trophies at each Grand Prix. Each trophy has a unique design that reflects the city and country where the race takes place. For the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, Lenovo was tasked with giving the trophy a high-tech upgrade.
Of course, this is primarily a branding opportunity, and Lenovo worked with design agency Pininfarina to ensure the trophy design featured signature elements of the company logo, while also incorporating details of Formula 1 cars, including large air intakes at the front of the car.
Lenovo's difference is the addition of color-changing LED lights hidden below the outer surface of the trophy. These LEDs light up in the colors of the winning racer's national flag, but only after placing a large LED on the trophy's most special feature: a kiss-activated microswitch.
Lenovo doesn't go into detail about how this kiss-trigger switch actually works, including whether it only reacts to lips or how it knows which flag color to display.