WhatsApp signs first sports sponsorship with Mercedes F1 team

WhatsApp has chosen the Mercedes F1 team for its first sports sponsorship, a multiyear agreement that will give fans "exclusive team content and in-race updates through the Meta-owned private messaging service," according to Jenna Fryer of the AP. The deal announced Thursday is the "first of its kind for WhatsApp" and will "highlight the new WhatsApp Channels broadcast feature," which Mercedes began using in September. The broadcast feature enables Mercedes to "share behind-the-scenes experiences and insights, in-race updates and content that highlights drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell that cannot be found elsewhere." The team's WhatsApp Channel amassed 656,000 followers ahead of Saturday night’s Las Vegas Grand Prix and as of this morning was up to over 850,000 (AP, 11/17).