The Little Mole is now an official partner of Alfa Romeo

First outer space, now Formula 1: the Little Mole has had quite an adventure in the 21st century.

Alfa Romeo Racing fans were in for a surprise when the F1 team revealed their newest official partner this morning via Facebook: none other than Czech animator Zdeněk Miler’s beloved creation.

“There is a lot of focus on bringing new audiences to Formula One and Little Mole, with its big follower base all over the world, can help us capture the imagination of hundreds of thousands of children and get them closer to our sport,” Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal Alfa Romeo Racing and CEO Sauber Motorsport AG, stated in a press release.

“Little Mole is a plucky, adventurous little animal who uses its ingenuity and curiosity to explore the world. It’s that ingenuity that fosters the creativity our sport needs.”

For the rest of the current F1 season, the Little Mole’s image will be seen on all Alfa Romeo Racing vehicles. Fans of the character – especially those from the Czech Republic – were delighted to see the Little Mole alongside top ranked drivers Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi:

Created in 1956 by animator Zdeněk Miler, the Little Mole has since become not only the Czech Republic’s most beloved animated icon, but has also delighted legions of fans across the globe.

This isn’t the first time Krtek has gotten behind the wheel. He previously took to the streets in the 1963 short Krtek a autíčko: