Google Maps has added a McLaren Formula 1 car to its driving avatar collection, allowing users to replace the familiar blue navigation arrow with a miniature orange race car. The new option is available for a limited time, with November 23, 2026, listed as its expiration date.
The feature appeared in early October as part of a collaboration between Google and the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team. Inspired by McLaren’s 2026 MCL40 race car, the digital avatar brings the team’s recognizable papaya-orange appearance to everyday navigation. It is a cosmetic addition rather than a new navigation feature, but it also works with compatible in-car displays.
For American drivers, the timing is particularly relevant. The promotion celebrates the United States Grand Prix, scheduled for October 25 in Austin, Texas. Unlike a new vehicle feature requiring specific hardware or a subscription, this customization takes place inside the Google Maps application, although its gradual rollout means not everyone will see it immediately.
McLaren’s MCL40 Replaces the Familiar Google Maps Arrow
Google Maps has offered alternative navigation icons for years. Instead of following the traditional blue arrow, drivers can select a small vehicle that moves along their route as they travel. The McLaren addition extends that existing customization system with a recognizable Formula 1-inspired design.
The new avatar resembles McLaren’s 2026 MCL40, featuring the team’s signature orange color, an elongated nose and the wide stance of an open-wheel racing car. The miniature vehicle appears on the map where the blue arrow would normally indicate the driver’s position.
The design also reflects the relationship between Google and McLaren. Google’s Android and Chrome branding appears on the team’s real racing machinery, making the virtual car a natural extension of that sponsorship.
Importantly, this is not a separate driving mode, a racing simulation or a new route-planning system. The McLaren simply changes how the driver’s location is represented on the map. Directions and the underlying navigation experience remain the same.
The addition was independently reported by 9to5Google on October 5, ahead of the October 12 report published by French automotive outlet Sport Auto.
How to Activate the McLaren F1 Icon on Android and iPhone
Drivers do not need a McLaren vehicle to use the new avatar. The option belongs to Google Maps itself and can be selected on compatible Android phones and iPhones once it becomes available to the account.
There are two ways to find the McLaren driving icon. The first uses the application’s settings:
- Open Google Maps on your smartphone.
- Tap your profile picture and open Settings.
- Find Your vehicles, then Driving avatar.
- Scroll through the available vehicle designs.
- Select the orange McLaren Formula 1 car if it appears.
Alternatively, drivers can change their avatar directly while navigating. Start a route, tap the blue arrow or current vehicle icon, and swipe through the available designs until the McLaren appears.
This second method follows Google’s official instructions for changing driving avatars. Google also explains that users can return to the standard blue arrow whenever they prefer.
The McLaren design is reported to work with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, meaning drivers using Google Maps through a compatible vehicle display can see the racing car on their dashboard screen as well as their smartphone.
Why Some Drivers May Not See the McLaren Yet
The feature is being introduced through a server-side rollout rather than becoming available to every user simultaneously. As a result, two people running Google Maps on similar smartphones may not immediately have access to the same avatar collection.
Android Central has reported that the McLaren icon has appeared on some iOS devices while remaining unavailable on certain Android phones. This means updating the application alone does not necessarily guarantee that the option will appear.
Drivers who cannot find the car can check the avatar menu again later. The available reporting does not establish a complete country-by-country rollout schedule or guarantee that every Google Maps account will receive the promotional design.
There is also an important distinction between the phone application and the vehicle’s built-in software. Reports specifically identify Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility; they do not establish universal support for every factory-installed Google-based navigation system.
The McLaren Avatar Is Scheduled to Expire November 23
The unusual part of this Google Maps customization is its limited availability. According to the promotional message reproduced by 9to5Google, the official McLaren team avatar is available until November 23, 2026.
That gives users a relatively short window to select the design. The promotion is associated with the United States Grand Prix, although the availability period extends beyond the Austin event.
What happens to an avatar already selected after November 23 has not been clearly established. The stated deadline confirms the promotional availability window, but it does not independently establish whether existing selections will immediately revert to another icon or remain visible temporarily.
For drivers who prefer a conventional display, Google’s standard navigation arrow and other vehicle avatars remain alternatives. The McLaren is simply another visual choice, with no reported additional charge and no need to change the vehicle being driven.
