Hyderabad — It wasn’t just another day at the office for Cognizant associates. The roar of Formula One spirit echoed through the GAR campus as Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team driver Lance Stroll and driver ambassador Pedro de la Rosa made a high-octane pit stop at Cognizant’s Hyderabad campus. The visit was part of ‘Celebrating Cognizant’, a six-month fiesta of sporting and cultural activities uniting associates around shared values, achievements, and—on this day—sheer F1 excitement.
🔥 From Circuits to Circuits (of the Digital Kind)
As the Aston Martin duo met Cognizant’s leadership and hundreds of associates, the spotlight was firmly on how Cognizant’s digital expertise powers innovation behind the team’s green machines. With the 2026 Formula 1 regulations on the horizon, the conversations revved around cutting-edge tech, speed, and strategy—minus the tyre wear.
“It was a pleasure to visit the Cognizant offices in Hyderabad and meet so many of the team. Hearing first-hand about Cognizant’s technology and services was valuable, and we felt incredibly welcomed by everyone we met,” said Lance Stroll, probably grateful he didn’t need to wear a race helmet for this meet-and-greet.
💬 Fireside Chat: More Sparks, Less Pit Stops
One of the highlights was an engaging fireside chat featuring Lance, Pedro, and Rajesh Varrier, President – Global Operations and CMD, Cognizant India. Together, they explored how technology is transforming F1—from data analytics to digital avatars—while taking spirited questions from an equally spirited audience. No blue flags were required; the associates were in full throttle.
“Today’s celebration with Lance is a proud moment for our associates and a powerful reminder of how far we have come in shaping the future of the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team through innovation,” said Rajesh Varrier. “I’m inspired by what we’ve achieved together—and by how fast Lance can answer Q&A!”
💻 Hackathons Meet Horsepower
To add even more turbo to the festivities, Cognizant ran a virtual multi-week hackathon with participants from Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (Basar), Vizag Volunteers Association, and Kalam Dream Labs. The challenge? Create innovative low-code or code-based solutions to evolve Ai.lonso, Aston Martin’s digital avatar, into a more emotionally engaging digital companion for fans.
🏆 Team Ask Alonso (Vizag Volunteers Association) and Team Infinity Loopers (Kalam Dream Labs) emerged as the top two, earning cash prizes, seats at the fireside chat, and photo ops with Lance and Pedro — because who wouldn’t want a selfie with an F1 driver?
🏁 A Partnership That Keeps Accelerating
Since 2021, Cognizant has been the digital transformation partner for Aston Martin’s F1 comeback, fortifying the team’s IT backbone and streamlining operations. While Lance usually races at 300 km/h, this visit was a reminder that the true race happens both on the track and in the cloud.
