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Launch of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 team

Lisbon, 16 January 2007 – Vodafone McLaren Mercedes race drivers Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton yesterday unveiled in Valencia the cars they will be driving in this year’s Formula 1 World Championship. The event deepened Vodafone’s involvement in motor sport by becoming Title Sponsor and Official Mobile Partner of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team.

World champion Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, who form one of the youngest driver pairings in the history of F1, will conduct a shakedown test at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, Valencia, on Wednesday 17 January. The intensive pre-season testing programme will then commence on Wednesday 24th January at the same track.

Coinciding with the official launch of the new team, Vodafone Portugal announced a new exclusive Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Sharp 770 3G consumer handset. The phone is priced at 219.90 euros including trade-in of the customer’s old handset.

This extremely elegant clamshell model is an exclusive design mirroring the team identity and car design, featuring a chrome silver cover with highlights in the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team grey, red and black colours. The handset features images of the F1 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 2007 racing car and includes video clips and special ringtones. It also offers access to exclusive images and latest news throughout the Formula 1 season via the Vodafone live! portal.