Google’s Formula 1 Sphere advertisement

Advertising on the Sphere typically costs upwards of $500,000 on a regular day. So, what's the rationale behind Google Chrome — a browser commanding a 60% market share — choosing to invest even more for a spot during the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix?

📱 Hedging their partner reliance bets: Google Chrome's absence as the default browser on iOS systems results in partnership costs with Apple of $18 billion annually to be the default search engine.

💯 60% ain't 100%: They don't want most, they want it all. You know who else used to have the most? Internet Explorer.

🎩 Monopoly and perception: Echoing Peter Thiel's words, “Anyone that has a monopoly will pretend that they're in incredible competition."

📺 Big brands back big moments: Sometimes, companies back big events under the guise of “branding” when, in fact, they just like to sponsor prestigious moments.

💪 Strengthening brand image: It's crucial for Google Chrome to reinforce its brand and remain at the forefront of consumers' minds.

📢 Appealing to non-user stakeholders: For large corporations like Google, advertising efforts often target investors, executives, and employees, not just users.