Japanese GP winner to receive unique ‘kiss-activated’ trophy

Thomas Maher 23 Sep 2023 6:57 AM

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll rendered as Japanese GP winner with kiss-activated trophy.

Whichever driver wins this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix will be presented with a very unusual ‘kiss-activated’ trophy to bring it to life…

Chinese electronics company Lenovo are the title sponsor for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, as well as next month’s United States Grand Prix, and were tasked with creating the winning trophy for both races.

To that end, and embracing the fact that they are an electronics company, the trophy unveiled for the race at Suzuka will be ‘kiss-activated’, meaning a little show will start when the celebrations from the driver begin.

Japanese GP ‘kiss-activated’ trophy unveiled

Lenovo revealed the trophy in the run-up to the Japanese Grand Prix, explaining that the trophy will illuminate from its core when it is kissed by the winning driver on the podium. The trophy will light up in the colours of the winning driver’s national flag, meaning its final appearance will be determined based on each driver.

“As a leading technology company, we challenged ourselves to find a way to embed smarter technology into the trophies in a way that’s never been done before to elevate the podium experience,” says Philip Marchington from Lenovo.

“Dreamed up by Lenovo and fashioned by iconic design firm Pininfarina, the trophy’s striking shape mirrors the air intake on F1 cars and features a parametric pattern that echoes the proportions of the Lenovo logo.”

With Pininfarina overseeing the cosmetic design aspect of the project, Paolo Trevisan, who is VP of Design for Pininfarina America, explained the thought process that went into the trophy design.

“For Pininfarina, with its unparalleled heritage rooted in the automotive tradition, it’s an honor to be a part of Formula 1’s history with this innovative tech-driven trophy, created for a partner like Lenovo, which shares our deep passion,” he said.

“Formula 1 represents the pinnacle of automotive competition, where design plays a pivotal role. Just as each car on the track stands as a testament to human dedication to innovation, our trophy embodies the essence of craftsmanship and forward-thinking aesthetics. It serves not only as a symbol of victory but also as a reflection of our rich legacy and our values of elegance, purity, and innovation.”

Unusual designs are the name of the game this weekend at Suzuka, with plenty of drivers showing up with unique helmets for the Japanese Grand Prix. Perhaps most interesting of the lot is Lewis Hamilton’s helmet, which featured a Daft Punk-esque light-up strip on the visor.