Lewis Hamilton Uses Blackberry Storm to Guide F1 Car

While preparing for the upcoming 2009 season – and struggling to get their new MP4-24 on top of the time charts – McLaren Mercedes have taken the leading role in a Vodafone advertisement. The team's leading sponsor Vodafone have proceeded to advertising their Blackberry Storm through a viral campaign having world champion Lewis Hamilton in the main part.

As reported by GMM news agency, some media publications were tipped off by McLaren Mercedes' head of communications Matt Bishop to the aforementioned campaign. The main idea of the advertisement is Hamilton using a Blackberry Storm to control a driver-less McLaren MP4-24 out of the pit box and down the pit lane.

“Vodafone tech is pretty mega. I wouldn't say it replaces the need for Lewis Hamilton, because he's pretty mega too. It's amazing what can be done with a Blackberry Storm and that's all I'm prepared to say about it at the moment!” were the only comments from Bishop on the matter.

Vodafone decided to use Hamilton in their advertisement as he was the very first user of the aforementioned smart phone. Following the postage of the new video on youtube.com, most of the viewers were so impressed with the idea of having a driver-less F1 car running down a circuit that they've wondered if the footage was the real deal or simply digital-effect manufactured. Both McLaren's and Vodafone's lips were sealed.

The idea of putting an F1 car on the circuit with no driver attached to it is no news, as it was rumored that a Williams Renault car had lapped at Silverstone driver-less a few years ago. We can't possible be sure about that, but, as far as Vodafone – McLaren's campaign is concerned, you can check it for yourself at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiLoANg6nNY.