Microsoft are listed as a "partner" on the Renault Sport site [1], which may be a synonym for sponsor (even if that's simply providing free/reduced-price services). So yes, I would expect them to mention + promote MS services in their posts.
In the UK, there are thousands of local sports clubs that have links to their sponsors. You can buy these links for small sums of money. This is the same as your apache example in theory but the intention is different, it's a clear attempt to manipulate rankings while the apache links are just a side benefit. I doubt microsoft and such would care either way?
It 100% is. A mention is nothing less of an advertisement. Giving someone a mention somewhere in return for a sponsorship is simply selling an online ad.
Otherwise every company in the world could legally evade tax by calling their sales "sponsorships" and offered services as a "favour".
I made this comment purely from my impressions of the team's major sponsors and the ones that I've noticed. Realising that I'm rather advertising blind these days (like all of us, I figure), I thought I should actually dig up a list and have more of a think about this idea.
They also sponsored the Miami GP and have a larger sponsorship with Formula 1 and other sporting events. Not to mention the tv commercials with Matt Damon.
They have easily spent billions of dollars in marketing this year alone.
I once remarked to an editor (reporter) for a tech news site
(appearing occasionally on HN) that a specific channel there listed itself as specifically sponsored.
Their response: I'm glad to hear we're <doing it for money> and not <giving it away for free>.
(Using words beginning with 'W' and 'S' respectively for each concept.)
The piece itself has nothing to do with BMW and there's nothing BMW being sold under the pretence of a journalistic piece (that I could see), there's an article, and BMW sponsors the series so here's their logo.
[1] https://www.renaultsport.com/-formule-1-partners-.html
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