Google Maps has introduced a limited-time McLaren Formula 1 driving avatar that replaces its familiar blue navigation arrow with a miniature orange race car. Available on Android and iPhone, the feature is scheduled to remain selectable until November 23, 2026.
The new option arrived in early October as part of Google’s partnership with the McLaren Formula 1 team. Inspired by the team’s 2026 MCL40 race car, the three-dimensional avatar follows your route just like the standard navigation marker, adding a distinctive automotive touch without changing how Google Maps provides directions.
For American drivers, the timing is particularly relevant. The feature celebrates the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, scheduled for October 25, and works with Google Maps on smartphones as well as compatible Android Auto and Apple CarPlay displays. However, availability is being rolled out gradually, so the McLaren may not appear immediately for every user.
How to Get the McLaren F1 Car in Google Maps
Google Maps already allows drivers to personalize their navigation marker with different vehicle designs and colors. The McLaren joins that existing selection as a temporary special edition rather than introducing a separate navigation mode.
According to 9to5Google’s October 5 report, activating the new avatar requires only a few steps:
- Open Google Maps on your Android phone or iPhone.
- Tap your profile picture and open Settings.
- Select Your vehicles, followed by Driving avatar.
- Find the orange McLaren Formula 1 car among the available options.
- Select it to use the race car during driving navigation.
There is also a quicker method while navigating. Start a driving route and tap the blue arrow or vehicle icon representing your position. Google Maps displays its available vehicle avatars, allowing you to choose the McLaren directly from the map.
Once selected, the miniature race car replaces the normal position indicator. It retains the recognizable proportions of a modern open-wheel Formula 1 machine, including its pointed nose, exposed tires and McLaren’s signature papaya-orange coloring.
The feature is purely visual. It does not change the route calculation, driving directions, estimated arrival time or the vehicle you’re actually driving.
The McLaren Avatar Also Works With Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The McLaren icon is not limited to a phone screen. Reports from Android Central and 9to5Google confirm that the avatar can also appear when Google Maps is displayed through Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
That makes the addition particularly accessible to drivers who normally keep their phones connected to their vehicles while navigating. Instead of seeing the conventional arrow on the dashboard display, they can follow their journey using the small McLaren race car.
There is one important limitation: Google is distributing the option through a server-side rollout. Android Central reported that the icon appeared on some iPhones before becoming available on certain Android devices, even when both were running current versions of Google Maps.
If the McLaren is missing from your avatar selection, it does not necessarily mean your phone or vehicle is incompatible. Checking the menu again later may be sufficient as the rollout continues.
Why the McLaren Icon Disappears After November 23
The temporary avatar is connected to Google’s relationship with McLaren and the 2026 United States Grand Prix. The selection message inside Google Maps identifies the special team avatar as a celebration of the American event and specifies November 23, 2026, as its availability deadline.
The date extends beyond the Austin race weekend, giving drivers several additional weeks to select the special icon.
As Sport Auto reported on October 12, the design takes inspiration from the McLaren MCL40, including the team’s orange livery and its association with Google’s technology brands.
What happens after November 23 is less certain. The stated deadline confirms the limited selection window, but Google has not clearly explained whether users who activate the avatar beforehand will retain it afterward or whether it will disappear from existing selections as well.
For now, the McLaren is an optional visual customization rather than a new Google Maps capability. Drivers who want to see the Formula 1-inspired car on their phone or dashboard can find it in the existing Driving avatar menu while the promotion remains active.
