Cars, and cash for startups: Airwallex gets into the F1 spirit

Airwallex put the pedal to the metal for its ‘Shifted Perspectives’ campaign at the launch of the Formula 1 season in Melbourne this week, handing out startup grants and chatting to homegrown McLaren driver Oscar Piastri.

The fintech sponsors the UK F1 team McLaren, originally founded in 1965 by Kiwi engineer, innovator, entrepreneur and driver Bruce McLaren.

In the lead up to this Sunday’s Melbourne Grand Prix, Airwallex and McLaren enlisted Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie to jazz up the duco on a $465,000 hybrid supercar, the McLaren Arturo, with the theme shifting perspectives.

Rennie uses camouflage and graphic diamond patterns to cover the car – the diamond shape is one of his most utilised motifs and pays homage to his Kamilaroi heritage in a form similar to a family crest. The hand-drawn symbols and repetitive patterning are used to subvert romantic ideologies of Aboriginal identity.

It’s not the first car the Indigenous artist has given a makeover too. He painted a ’73 Rolls-Royce Corniche, took it out into the desert country of his grandmother, and did donuts in the red earth, turning it into an 8-minute video installation, OA_RR, which plays behind the bar of Melbourne restaurant Di Stasio Citta.

The $465,000 McLaren Arturo hybrid supercar featuring Indigenous artist Reko Rennie’s duco design.

Rennie also recently designed the new kit for Football Australia’s national teams.

Airwallex marketing VP Jon Stona said the McLaren project was one of the many ways the fintech looks to push boundaries and create unexpected moments

“Seeing Reko’s design come to life on the McLaren Artura was a truly special moment,” he said.

“Just like McLaren challenges conventions on the track, and Oscar Piastri takes on the world’s best in F1, we want to encourage Australian businesses to shift their perspectives, take bold steps, and scale globally.”

Rennie’s McLaren Artura is now on public display at Queensbridge Square from 7am-7pm daily March until Sunday, March 16, if you’re keen to see it.

The artist said: “As a lover of both art and sport, the crowd reaction affirmed how art and sport can intersect to create something truly unique. At the core, this collaboration is a celebration of innovation, heritage and pushing boundaries, which is what I try to embody in my work, and Airwallex and McLaren represent.”

The unveiling also saw Airwallex hand out $35,000 worth of prizes, including three business grants worth $25,000 in total, plus a VIP race week experience.

The Airwallex business grant winners: Drone-Hand’s Edward Barraclough, Antler’s Leila Oliviera and Chocolate on Purpose’s Fiona Harrison. Photo: Gazi Photography

The winners were:

$10K Business Acceleration Grant: Edward Barraclough of Drone-Hand for pushing boundaries, scaling to new heights and shifting perspectives. Barraclough shifted his perspective when he pivoted from award-winning aerial photo-videographer to AgTech pioneer. He uses drone technology to respond to an increasing need for safer and more efficient farm management in the face of extreme climate events.

$10K First Nations Business Grant: Fiona Harrison of Chocolate on Purpose, for its determination to infuse a love of chocolate with profound social impact, as well as her investment in innovation to grow her business and support of Indigenous growers of native edibles.

$5K Professional Acceleration Grant: Leila Oliviera of Antler, who is looking to supercharge her career through learning and development. Oliviera shifted her perspective to uncover untapped founder talent from underrepresented groups that often get overlooked. By positioning herself as an approachable investor, she has helped to drive inclusivity in the venture capital space.

More than 452,000 fans are expected at the Melbourne Grand Prix this weekend, breaking last year’s record crowd. And this year’s race will see Jack Doohan, son of motorsport legend Mick Doohan, debut on the track alongside hometown hero Oscar Piastri, a two-time winner.