Google Maps Lets You Drive as a McLaren F1 Car Temporarily

Google Maps has introduced a new customization option for users, allowing them to replace their standard driving avatar with a McLaren F1 car. This feature is part of a collaboration to celebrate the United States Grand Prix and will be available until November 23, 2026.

To access the new avatar, users can navigate to their profile icon in the Google Maps app, then go to Settings > Your vehicles > Driving avatar. The McLaren F1 car will be listed among the available options, offering a sleek and dynamic alternative to the traditional blue arrow.

The new icon closely resembles the actual McLaren F1 car and will appear during turn-by-turn navigation, replacing the usual vehicle icon as users move around the map. This feature is currently being rolled out server-side, meaning it may not be immediately visible to all users, even those with the latest version of the app.

While the feature is live on some devices, such as the iPhone Air, it has not yet appeared on others, like the Pixel 11 Pro. Users who do not see the McLaren F1 car option right away are encouraged to check back later as Google continues to expand the rollout.