GOOGLE PIXEL TAKES OVER THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN WITH OSCAR PIASTRI’S "DEADPAN" CAMPAIGN
Oscar Piastri brings his signature dry humour to Google Pixel 10. Discover the hidden F1 Easter eggs and "Papaya" references here.
Google Pixel teamed up with the creative agency Emotive for a new national campaign featuring Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri making the switch to the Google Pixel 10.
The idea’s simple: most people get attached to their phones and don’t even consider there might be something better out there. This campaign, aimed at millennials, wants to shake up that thinking. It shows that sometimes, switching things up really does pay off.
Oscar Piastri gets it. He’s made some gutsy moves in his racing career to get ahead, so the campaign puts that same attitude to work—this time, with his phone. He ditches his old device and grabs a Google Pixel, refusing to settle for anything less than the best.
Oscar’s known for that calm, almost poker-faced personality, and the campaign leans into that. The main film plays with the gap between his cool, collected outside and the buzz he feels inside—whether he’s crossing the finish line or trying out his new Pixel.
Isaac Lock from Somesuch directed the film—he’s worked with big names like Dua Lipa and Victoria Beckham. The campaign kicks off alongside the Australian Open, one of the country’s biggest sporting events. Google Pixel, as the tournament’s official smartphone, is everywhere—on TV, on the ground, and across social media, PR, and sponsorships. Basically, they’re everywhere, encouraging Aussies to make the switch.
If you watch closely, you’ll spot little nods to Piastri’s own F1 team switch, a detail that’ll get fans talking. The whole campaign rolls out across Australian Open broadcasts, live events, influencers, PR, and plenty of social content—really going all in to get the message out.
Gavin McLeod, Emotive’s chief creative officer, summed it up: “This campaign calls out complacency. Oscar knows that progress means being willing to switch. He’s lived it, so he’s the perfect guy to nudge Australians out of autopilot and get them expecting more from their phones. And, honestly, Oscar’s never flashy about it—he lets the Pixel do the talking.”
Julia Davis, Google’s director of devices marketing, added, “This campaign joins a string of global Google Pixel ads featuring icons like Stephen Curry and Sol Campbell making the switch for something better. Working with Oscar, and tapping into his signature deadpan humour, made for a campaign that’s fun, different, and sticks with you.”
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
