Being an F1 driver is a dream job.
But the 99.9% of us who don’t make it can comfort ourselves with the knowledge that there are downsides to it.
Here are ten reasons why you don’t really want to be an F1 driver.
Training
The importance of fitness in motor racing has never been greater. Ever noticed how often drivers on Twitter tell us they’ve just been training?
Most former drivers will tell you laps in the car and not cross country skiing to the Arctic is the key to race fitness. But modern testing restrictions mean drivers just don’t get the cockpit time they used to.
Jet lag
Australia, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, India, Bahrain (maybe), China, Canada and Brazil are a long way from home in Switzerland or Monaco. At least they can stay in touch with new film releases.
Team speak
It must be so frustrating to have to describe youy ‘good working relationship’ with your team mate who you really wish was on holiday in Tripoli.
That said, some drivers are happy to buck the PR trend – take a bow, Mark Webber, who’s not afraid to tell it like it is.
Fans
Who wouldn’t want to bask in the loyal support of thousands?
The problem is, there’s never enough time to meet and sign caps for all of them. Eventually, some of those who’ve been waiting hours to see you have to go home disappointed.
Sponsors’ stunts
Lewis Hamilton has done some particularly excruciating appearances for McLaren – who can forget him being dangled above a stage playing the part of the Greek God Apollo in some ill-conceived stunt for Vodafone?
But some of them can be fun. Hamilton would be forgiven for feeling somewhat miffed that the same company that put him through that nonsense four years ago had Jenson Button lapping Bathurst in an F1 car last week.
Actually, F1 drivers have to spend far less time with sponsors than drivers in most other categories, but it can be a pain trying to explain to the daughter of Spain’s largest shoe manufacturer why cars are better than ponies five minutes before the start of the race.
The press
“So Mark your treatment by Red Bull reminds me of the Kennedy assassination, what do you feel about that?” “My sources in the paddock tell me you support Partick Thistle, is that true?” and other such gems are likely to come your way.
Shopping trollies
Jenson Button had it in 2007. Fernando Alonso had it in 2009. And Timo Glock’s going through it right now.
That sinking feeling when you turn the first few laps in a new car and realise it’s trying to go in three directions at once, the engine’s got no power, and it’s going to be a long, point-less season.
Pasta and vitamin drinks
A healthy diet is fine and important, but they must be craving a takeaway by mid-season.
While the motorhome is filled with the delicious aroma of bacon rolls in the morning, it’s porridge for the drivers.
No ‘out of hours’ fun
Following Robert Kubica’s rally crash, Juan Pablo Montoya’s ‘tennis’ accident, and Alexandre Premat’s dismissal from Audi for running a marathon, drivers may be allowed no further than their couch or gym in the near future.
If you race in F1 you are more than likely an adrenaline or fitness junkie. So spending the off-season watching Glee re-runs doesn’t come naturally.
Crashes
Not something to be taken for granted even in these days when every corner is bordered by acres of tarmac, and helmets are so strong you can park a 55-tonne tank on them.
Even if you don’t get hurt, a crash is not a pleasant thing. What must have been going through Sebastien Buemi’s mind when both his front wheels came off at 200mph during practice at Shanghai last year?
This is a guest article by Ben Evans. If you want to write a guest article for F1 Fanatic you can find all the information you need here.
F1 top tens
- Ranked: Sergio Perez’s 10 best drives in Formula 1
- Hamilton called his last race ‘one of his worst’ – but is it among his 10 poorest?
- Top ten fake and fictional racing drivers from gaming history
- The great go-slows: 10 times F1 drivers threw out the anchor – for different reasons
- F1’s 10 longest-running teams – and why most of them have been lost
- Your top 10 F1 tracks of the last 10 seasons
- Goodbye open cockpits, hello Halo: F1’s ten great watershed moments
- It’s not over yet: Top ten ‘dead rubbers’ that rocked
- In pictures: McLaren’s ten greatest ‘MP4’ cars
- Overtaking is overrated: F1’s top ten ‘processions’
Read more top tens
Image © Sauber F1 Team, Force India F1 Team, Red Bull/Getty images
Ben Everard
31st March 2011, 10:35
“Even if you don’t get hurt, a crash is not a pleasant thing. What must have been going through Sebastien Buemi’s mind when both his front wheels came off”
1) Steer into the skid (*****)
2) Empty bowels
Scary Terry (@hatebreeder)
31st March 2011, 14:14
“oooh i did tat in burnout once!” the driver who thinks that while crashing must be like the awesomest or the stupidest driver.
anyway, nice article Ben.
ming mong
31st March 2011, 21:53
What a joke… Yeah real hard life. Id give up both my testicles to to even have one days private test in the car let alone a full racing career. Harden up!
PeriSoft
1st April 2011, 1:56
My dad raced for 25 years or so – not at a pro level (though sometimes in pro races) but in everything from Formula Ford to GT1 / Trans Am.
In his experience, the things going through a driver’s head as a crash unfolds (and this includes the incident in which he had time to consider things as his Formula Ford sailed twenty feet into the air) are:
a) This is going to be f**king expensive.
b) My race is shot.
c) It’s going to take a long time to fix the car.
d) This is going to be f**king expensive.
If you’re a driver, you’re not considering danger in the first place – if you are, you shouldn’t be (and probably won’t be, or won’t be for long) a driver.
In the absence of concern for your personal fate, the obvious remaining factor is how this turn of events will affect your current and future race results.
There are likely some exceptions, however.
Herr Schumacher probably thinks, “Honestly, with more weight to the rear and more wing on the front, I think this could have been avoided.”
And Raikkonen probably thinks, “Think so race is over. F**king car. Wine or liquor? Think so both.” Then he takes a nap while he waits for the crash to finish.
RacingForIndia
1st April 2011, 6:58
Good one mate!
The only road accident I had, I saw my life flash in front of my eyes, and the impact came sooner than expected. All thoughts vanish once the pain hits :-)
ante
1st April 2011, 10:33
In 2008 I won a contest and drove both a formula Renault, and a F1 car (Prost) on Magny Cours (Small track next to M-C.) I am a complete amateur. I crashed the renault car as I missed the braking point on the hair pin and went sideways on the grass for about 100 meters. Million thoughts went trough my head, one was, this is expensive, other was, You idiot! I let everything go and I was just waiting for the thing to start rolling. By the grace of God it hasn’t. But I know how the driver feels when he makes a mistake. ( the tires were cold. LOL) F1 car is something crazy, with so much G force that I was having trouble breathing after 5 laps. It is so fast, brakes so fast that from then in I admire every driver for his courage, even if he’s the worst of the lot.
Steven Lyne
27th January 2013, 14:16
He actually couldn’t steer into the slide, he had no front wheels ha
Stephen Jones (@aus_steve)
31st March 2011, 10:36
very funny! especially the shopping trollie part.. never thought of it that way!
Icthyes (@icthyes)
31st March 2011, 10:37
“Shopping trolley” will now be my new synonym for “dog of a car”.
Hilarious article at the same time as making a good point.
RIISE (@riise)
31st March 2011, 10:43
Have you ever tried speeding out of the Drinks aisle with 2 litre bottles of Pepsi at the front end of the Shopping trolley? The understeer is unbearable….
Stephen Jones (@aus_steve)
31st March 2011, 10:50
i do enjoy drifting through the freezer aisle
RIISE (@riise)
31st March 2011, 10:51
Aren’t your tryes cold? How do you get the grip?
Henry
31st March 2011, 11:22
studded tyres, obviously! ;)
RIISE (@riise)
31st March 2011, 10:53
*tyres….
SoerenKaae (@soerenkaae)
31st March 2011, 14:48
I always find myself racing through the supermarket when I have a shopping trolley on my hands. Always trying to take the ideal line through all corners whilst have to overtake slower trolleys etc.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
31st March 2011, 15:19
I tend to do rallying with trolleys, flicking the back end out whilst pivoting around the front. On my bicycle I behave more like a circuit racer ;)
RIISE (@riise)
31st March 2011, 18:45
Aha Icythes, Scandinavian flick mastered in vegetable section huh?
frankus28 (@frankus28)
31st March 2011, 12:01
If this year’s Virgin car is a shopping trolley then the HRT must be the one with the wonky wheel that pulls to one side no matter what you do.
RIISE (@riise)
31st March 2011, 12:08
You also need to put £1 in the HRT.
UKfanatic (@)
31st March 2011, 12:13
nice one
Craig Woollard (@craig-o)
31st March 2011, 14:15
Can’t I get away with one of those £1 shaped coins so it saves me that extra quid I will need to buy some pasta?
Icthyes (@icthyes)
31st March 2011, 15:20
Waste of money, it only lasts 2 minutes and then it stops!
Gwenouille
31st March 2011, 12:11
Yes, that is so funny ! I loved it.
Pedal to the Vettel (@pedal-to-the-vettel)
31st March 2011, 13:16
@Riise
You think that’s bad? I keep getting pay drivers coming to get my seat, while I’m in the stationary F1 car outside of Sainsbury…
No respect for the older drivers anymore, having these kids bring all their mums and loose change…
Adam Tate (@adam-tate)
31st March 2011, 17:38
Haha, so glad to know I’m not the only one who goes shopping cart racing. In fact I like to get a good push start once I’m out the store and headed to my car, I pretend I am pushing a bobsled like in Cool Runnings :)
Pink Peril
1st April 2011, 3:46
I like to spread my shopping-slash-ballast evenly around the trolley for even weight distribution. But it sure plays havoc with my lap times…
Icthyes (@icthyes)
31st March 2011, 10:36
:D
Tim
31st March 2011, 12:16
No, Stenhousemuir.
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
31st March 2011, 13:01
I had to ‘Google’ Patrick Thistle to understand the joke; I thought Patrick Thistle would be a person! :P OK, now can someone explain the joke?
BasCB (@bascb)
31st March 2011, 13:21
LOL, I suppose its something you have to regularly watch BBC for your entertainment.
Not sure though, I only just put it through the search engine!
Very nice acticle by Ben though.
bananarama (@bananarama)
31st March 2011, 13:26
When I was a kid I thought they were called ‘Partick Thistle Nil’ .. or how was that line? :-P
Calum (@calum)
31st March 2011, 17:52
Partick Thistle is a Scottish First Division league team from Glasgow, If you’re going to support a Scottish team it has to be Dundee United! ;)
Icthyes (@icthyes)
31st March 2011, 15:22
Queen of the South, surely?
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders)
31st March 2011, 18:30
On the subject of Scottish lower league teams, this is perhaps the only time I will ever get the chance to point out the amazing (but sadly fictional) scoreline:
East Fife 4 – Forfar 5
:D
Ratboy
31st March 2011, 18:41
If only it was
East Fife 5 – Forfar 4 :P
Todfod (@todfod)
31st March 2011, 10:40
I guess driving the fastest cars in the world, and getting paid millions for it, more than makes up for those 10 reasons.
Although the ‘jet lag’ and no ‘out of hours’ fun sounds kind of painful.
marsianwalrus (@einariliyev)
31st March 2011, 11:53
Training at least 4 hours a day or so sounds even more painful…
Adam Tate (@adam-tate)
31st March 2011, 17:44
Eh I used to train a lot like that for cross country and track, once you get used to it it’s not that bad, I already have the build of a driver as well.
I’d just need to get training and learn to give up all my favorite foods :(
Mark Hitchcock (@mark-hitchcock)
31st March 2011, 19:03
I’ve got the build of a driver as well.
A lorry driver that is.
David-A (@david-a)
31st March 2011, 21:28
Should be fit enough for NASCAR then :)
Adrian J (@adrian-j)
1st April 2011, 12:38
At least you don’t have to fit it around a full-time job.
I was going to train for a 10k and then half-marathon this year, until I tried to work out a training plan and just couldn’t fit it around my other commitments.
phildick (@phildick)
31st March 2011, 14:31
And the diet and presumably ban on too big amounts of red wine… No, I’m not really interested ;)
dyslexicbunny
31st March 2011, 17:51
You’re doing it wrong. Pound the booze and simply train harder.
PeriSoft
1st April 2011, 1:59
Worked for Kimi…
RIISE (@riise)
31st March 2011, 10:41
Who the hell wants Sutil’s signature? =P
F1iLike
31st March 2011, 10:44
lol =D
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
31st March 2011, 11:10
The insurance underwriter.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
31st March 2011, 11:14
Actually, it reminds me of an exchange between James Bond and Q in Tomorrow Never Dies. I envision it would go something like this:
VIJAY MALLYA: If you’ll just sign here, Mr. Sutil?
ADRIAN SUTIL: What’s this?
MALLYA: It’s the insurance waiver for your beautiful new car. Will you need collison coverage?
SUTIL: Yes.
MALLYA: Fire?
SUTIL: Probably.
MALLYA: Property destruction?
SUTIL: Definately.
MALLYA: Personal injury?
SUTIL: I hope not, but accidents do happen.
MALLYA: They frequently do with you!
It was probably the best exchange in a rather mediocre film.
Last Pope Eye
31st March 2011, 11:59
Hahaha nice one. made me laugh… :)funny sutil thing…
F1iLike
31st March 2011, 12:27
hahaha! It’s funny cuss it’s true! ;)
phildick (@phildick)
31st March 2011, 14:32
Great you recalled that :) I love it.
Adam Tate (@adam-tate)
31st March 2011, 17:45
COTD!!! And thought it wasn’t another Goldeneye, it was an alright film :)
BBQ2
31st March 2011, 11:15
Lolz PM, your sarcasm brightens my day ;)
GeeMac (@geemac)
31st March 2011, 11:29
That’s why there are so many of them left over…
Alianora La Canta
31st March 2011, 12:49
Me, please!
Adrian J (@adrian-j)
1st April 2011, 12:39
I quite like having a driver called Adrian in F1…
…not sure I’d want his autograph though…
joe
31st March 2011, 10:42
The PR stuff I think is the worst part.
Hats of to the drivers who speak multiple languages, it is very impressive
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
31st March 2011, 10:43
Couldn’t agree more on the languages thing.
Tango
31st March 2011, 11:02
It would be interesting to have a collaborative subject on who can speak wich language
Adam Tate (@adam-tate)
31st March 2011, 17:47
Well I know my copy of F1 2010 can speak German! My room mate is taking German so he changed the language setting to it on his Xbox, we didn’t think it would work on any of the games, but I cranked up F1 last night and sure enough it was in German!
I had no idea what my race engineer was saying to me!
US_Peter (@us_peter)
1st April 2011, 5:36
Yeah, I’d love to see a breakdown of languages. I’m pretty sure Nico is fluent in quite a few, the obvious ones being German, Finnish, and English, but I thought I remembered reading that he speaks French, and maybe Italian or Spanish?
Tango
1st April 2011, 8:08
He speaks good French. (really good actually). And so do quite a lot of drivers up and down the pit lane (admittedly, less and less so)
Henry
31st March 2011, 11:24
Apparently Nico ‘Britney’ Rosberg speaks about 5 languages well enough to get by in PR situations. (German, English, Spanish, French, can’t remember the last one…bloody impressive.)
Gucha
31st March 2011, 11:48
Finnish, man, Finnish. You’re forgetting his father Keke. =)
sato113 (@sato113)
31st March 2011, 12:04
nope he can’t actually speak finnish! i read it somewhere recently.
IceMan
31st March 2011, 12:22
Yes. me too read it somewhere he can’t speak finnish.
PeriSoft
1st April 2011, 2:02
Yes. me too read it somewhere he can’t speak finnish.
As far as I can tell, neither can Finns.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
31st March 2011, 15:24
It has only just occurred to me that his father is Finnish, but Nico races as a German…
bananarama (@bananarama)
31st March 2011, 17:43
Because he is German. Born in Wiesbaden (thats around the corner from my place .. its funny, Glock lives in my city, Vettel comes from a small town nearby and Rosberg was born 30km from here and there is a policeman here with the name Michael Schumacher :-P)
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders)
31st March 2011, 18:32
But hasn’t he lived most of his life in Monaco?
Icthyes (@icthyes)
31st March 2011, 19:51
Can I move in with you, bananarama?
bananarama (@bananarama)
31st March 2011, 21:00
Sure, the more the merrier :-P
alejandro
31st March 2011, 11:51
erm… finnish?
Last Pope Eye
31st March 2011, 12:02
yes penniss
Jelle van der Meer (@)
31st March 2011, 12:20
Strange as he on occassion does not seem to know the word “Finish” like in Melbourne or Korea
Toro Stevo (@toro-stevo)
31st March 2011, 12:25
Italian I believe. The five big western European languages (in terms of speakers in Europe anyway).
Alianora La Canta
31st March 2011, 12:50
The other one he speaks is Italian. Apart from Spanish, he uses all the languages he’s fluent in communicating in Monaco, so he also gets lots of practise to keep his vocabulary broad.
BasCB (@bascb)
31st March 2011, 13:13
I guess the Finnish gets overlooked sometimes. I think he gets by on Italian pretty fine as well.
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
1st April 2011, 0:57
In a recent issue of F1Racing magazine, he said he cannot speak Finnish! :P
F1iLike
31st March 2011, 10:44
Ten reasons why I don’t? 100 million reasons I want to! ( no 100 million doesn’t refer to the money ;) the money is not even half a reason )
Adrian J (@adrian-j)
1st April 2011, 12:42
I agree, in fact I’d quite happily be a racing driver in return for a salary £30k salary + guaranteed pension once I retire from the sport and all my travel expenses paid for me.
I’d also be an MP for the same conditions – though of course there’s less work but more PR as an MP!!
consi (@consi)
31st March 2011, 10:52
And not forgetting the years of dedication before getting to F1. Karting, lower formulae, living out of a van/tent/caravan/motorhome – depending on your budget – come rain or shine. It’s something that must take over their lives from a very early age.
Henry
31st March 2011, 11:27
I think for all sportsmen there is that sense of dedication of their lives from an early age to one path…and of course if you make it fo F1 you have made it, great. But just take a minute to think about the hundreds of damn fast drivers who only make it to GP2, or Formula 3…or not even that far. Imagine the fear of failure: from the age of 10 to 21 dedicated to racing, aiming for F1, then get there, get handed a ‘trolly’ instead of a car, get chucked out…
I want to see Grosjean given a second chance. (completely off topic, but I thought he deserved better.
graigchq (@graigchq)
31st March 2011, 14:11
yep, off topic, but i agree. His recent foray into GT1 (winning his first race) and subsequently GP2 (winning races after joining mid-season) surely shows he is worth another shot and Briatore was wrong.
come to think of it, briatore is wrong about lots of things. Didn’t he say yesterday that after just one race of the new season, Ferrari should forget about 2011 and concentrate on 2012? This is coming from a man who thought it was a good idea to cheat to win races. his view surely counts for nothing at all and Grosjean should be given another shot.
Adam Tate (@adam-tate)
31st March 2011, 17:52
Briatore is the biggest idiot F1 has seen in years. He thought he could run a team like a decadent mob boss and he finally got his comeuppance for it.
I am so glad he is gone. Though it makes me sad he still manages Webber and Webber is loyal to him, I would think an outspoken, awesome guy like Webber would ditch that old creep.
ajokay (@)
31st March 2011, 10:57
Yes, I do… so much so that I’ve unfollowed many F1 drivers, most notable Janson Button, because all they ever tweet is how far they’ve (and their girlfriend, and best mate) just run. Well done.
ajokay (@)
31st March 2011, 10:58
*Jenson Button, too.
eternalsunshine
31st March 2011, 12:12
I thought of them as motivators. And if his lanky girlfriend can do a marathon, so could I. Haha.
BasCB (@bascb)
31st March 2011, 13:14
Not true at all. Jenson keeps doing cycling lately :p
Steph (@)
31st March 2011, 13:33
Lol I can barely be bothered to read their tweets either nevermind do even a fifth of the training they do.
bosyber
31st March 2011, 17:08
Maybe that’s the idea – in a year hardly anyone will be following him and he can just write whatever he wants!
karan01 (@karan01)
31st March 2011, 11:03
Top 3 reasons you want to be an F1 driver:
– Women
– Money
– Women
Damon (@damon)
31st March 2011, 13:19
And women! Don’t forget women!
Merk
31st March 2011, 14:05
I think its funny becuase you can’t get the the women, without the training and the PR stunts.
HounslowBusGarage (@hounslowbusgarage)
31st March 2011, 14:39
James Hunt did!
Merk
31st March 2011, 20:01
touché
Adrian J (@adrian-j)
1st April 2011, 12:44
Depends on what kind of woman you want – there are plenty who would simply flock to the money…
Charlie
31st March 2011, 11:11
Surely the worst thing about the press is (a) having to say the same thing one hundred times to endless different national media companies about how you won the race (the guys at the factory did a great job) or why you didn’t win the race (Couldn’t get enough heat into the tyres) and (b) being misquoted so the media can find something exciting to write about and having your words twisted out of all recognition. Recent examples: Hamilton: Red Bull is just a drinks company and I am like Senna.
Ben
31st March 2011, 11:16
Or doing the premiership footballer thing of giving a candid interview to the foreign press and then saying you’ve been misquoted in the translation
Icthyes (@icthyes)
31st March 2011, 15:27
Always reminds me of the beginning of this interview. Wise words indeed!
Adam Tate (@adam-tate)
31st March 2011, 17:56
What F1 needs is a real comedian. Someone who will ham it up and poke fun at all the silly and endless Sponsor and Media stuff. I think the fans would love it, and the paddock, especially the drivers embrace it as it would lighten the usually serious and somber mood.
:)
Sometimes I feel all of us can use a reminder that this is all originally about having fun, about that primal, indispensable joy of going fast.
dyslexicbunny
31st March 2011, 18:30
Sorry. Chad Johnson is currently on the reserve team for Sporting Kansas City in MLS.
For those that aren’t in the States, he’s an American football player that pokes fun at all sorts of things. He tried to bribe an official with $1 to change a call. He has been fined for excessive touchdown celebrations as well. He changed his name to “Ocho Cinco”.
As for why he’s on a soccer team, the NFL is likely not happening in 2011. They actually say he’s got good potential as a soccer player because of his athleticism and ease to coach. But I don’t know if he’d be a good enough driver for F1. I think it’s the attitude you want though.
Jay_au (@jay)
1st April 2011, 10:57
I thought Seb showed signs of this at first, but once he got a taste of success (& a few mechanical failures) he went from jovial to super serious.
snafuracer
31st March 2011, 11:19
I can sacrifice those 10 against for the millions reason for :) Being participant of a crash is not a good feeling, I agree.
Henry
31st March 2011, 11:29
love Webber’s comment after his mid-air flip last year – ‘this is Formula one, these things happen!’ So casual about flipping a car at 200mph!
Dan Newton
31st March 2011, 11:20
I’d just hate the media, probably give a few Kimi inspired answers. Plus the fact that I like a drink, a smoke and a take away and my neck would snap after one lap- I don’t think its the career for me.
sato113 (@sato113)
31st March 2011, 12:07
looooooool
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
31st March 2011, 11:20
I have no idea.
But I like to think it was this.
Stephen Jones (@aus_steve)
31st March 2011, 11:55
my braaaain
RIISE (@riise)
31st March 2011, 12:46
Actually I think Buemi was thinking “I can counter steer this”.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
31st March 2011, 15:29
Surely it was more like this?
Or perhaps “Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!”
RIISE (@riise)
31st March 2011, 15:34
Good lord..
PieLighter (@pielighter)
31st March 2011, 16:39
Please Icthyes, don’t ever do that again.
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders)
31st March 2011, 18:34
I knew what that was going to be before I even clicked it. You’re a repeat offender :)
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
1st April 2011, 1:00
Thanks for the ‘heads-up’ Ned. I now know not to click Icthyes’ links. :P
Eggry (@eggry)
31st March 2011, 11:26
Kennedy assassination! lol
Stefanauss (@stefanauss)
31st March 2011, 11:30
Could someone explain to me the whole Montoya tennis thing that keeps popping up in what i read from time to time?
Thanks in advance!
Ben
31st March 2011, 11:35
Allegedly the ‘tennis’ incident occurred while he was riding a motocross bike. The truth has never been officially confirmed.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
31st March 2011, 13:25
That sounds like one hell of a sport!
Shrieker (@shrieker)
1st April 2011, 22:12
Hahaha lol. Motor Polo :D
Stefanauss (@stefanauss)
31st March 2011, 11:37
The problem in my case is that i don’t recall the background/context/time of the story, let alone separate rumours vs truth.
Red Andy (@red-andy)
31st March 2011, 11:39
Montoya missed two races near the start of 2005 due to injury. He claimed that he had hurt his shoulder playing tennis.
However, rumours at the time circulated that he had actually fallen off a motocross bike, but withheld this information from McLaren because Ron Dennis wouldn’t have been best pleased at what JP had been up to in his spare time.
Stefanauss (@stefanauss)
31st March 2011, 11:44
It was when De La Rosa stepped in to race for McLaren for the first time, was it?
Thanks a lot, i remember now.
RBAlonso
31st March 2011, 13:50
Great article Ben!
Playing Devils advocate do you think Montoya could have stayed with McLaren had the injury not happened?
Also, where would that leave Lewis?
I know the reasons he left were because he was arguing with the team, but this really started it and was followed up by races in Turkey, Belgium and Japan which would not please Ron! lol
Slightly off topic, but got me thinking
Ben
31st March 2011, 14:28
I think its unlikely that JPM would have stayed with McLaren long, he was far better suited tempramentally to racing in the US. I met him a few times pre-F1 and he was a really nice guy, and you could see how much his temper shortened while he was in F1. Now in NASCAR he seems to have recovered some of his relaxed demenour.
As for Lewis, I think it had been anticipated for a long, long time that he would graduate to F1 with McLaren. I remember his first F3 race at Brands in 2003, and that was a big story then, and that was coming off a lot of hype from two years in F Renault. The only real wobble was probably in 2004 when his first season in F3 Euroseries wasn’t as dominant as expected.
DaveW
31st March 2011, 15:51
The 05 car was not that great either. Further, it apparently had a very understeery basic character that favored Kimi. He was not disposed to developing a car designed for Raikkonen, and riding in the midfield in the process.
But if you only saw Montoya literally drifting his car through the short-chute at Indy, you would know that one of the possibly greatest talents ever in a race car did not fulfill his potential.
Adam Tate (@adam-tate)
31st March 2011, 18:02
The loss of Montoya to Nascar is one of the worst things to happen to F1 in the past decade. In no way did he fulfill his potential and instead of trying to find a way to accommodate one of the most talented and exciting drivers in years Ron Dennis just argued him out of F1.
When you look at all the drivers McLaren had around the middle of the decade you wonder how on earth they didn’t win more championships. I mean they had DC (in his good days) Kimi, Montoya, Alonso, Hamilton and all they had to show for it was a WDC with Hamilton.
RBAlonso
31st March 2011, 23:42
I agree Adam and for some part at least Newey!
box this lap (@sebashuis)
31st March 2011, 11:45
Imagine when you are Liuzzi. Last weekend he experienced everything in the article and wasn’t even allowed to race.
McGregski (@mcgregski)
31st March 2011, 11:52
LMAO :D
Add to that being kicked out of your seat for a rookie to fill it!!
Must be a hard life
BasCB (@bascb)
31st March 2011, 13:17
Just imagine bringing 10 Million EUr with you for the luxury of doing that as well (like his teammate Narain)!
VXR
31st March 2011, 12:05
“What must have been going through Sebastien Buemi’s mind when both his front wheels came off at 200mph during practice at Shanghai last year?”
“Why am I still trying to steer the car even though the wheels have come off ?”
Klon (@)
31st March 2011, 12:06
Had to check the address first – thought I was on cracked.com. :-D
No, honestly, a very amusing article and shows everything in life has its disadvantages. Something else about the fans – if somebody of us would become a F1 driver we’d still visit fansites. Wouldn’t seem so nice if some posters would deride us at any given opportunity.
Admittedly though, I would bet that was just an excuse to release him, Prémat was pretty bad in his DTM effort of 2010, (even) worse than Ralf Schumacher over the year.
semirossi (@semirossi)
31st March 2011, 12:14
I’d take 100 more reasons to turn me off.
alonsodz
31st March 2011, 13:13
F1 driver :idea
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
31st March 2011, 13:24
A holiday in Triploi? Nice ;)
Good article! Night and light-hearted. I did wonder what Vettel was up to last week when he was sheering Sheep. I would imagine the millions of $ you’re paid more than makes up for looking a complete idiot.
Alex Bkk
31st March 2011, 13:24
My Top Ten
1. Can’t drink and drive.
2. Press conferences where I can’t tell the media
what I really think.
3. Don’t want to exercise for 3 hours a day.
4. Weekend work.
5. Constant telephone calls from people who want to
know me or suck up to me..
6. Politics and back stabbing are things I’m used
too, but would rather avoid.
7. Some bank’s or insurance company’s logo on the side
of my car.
8. That driving over Joe Seward’s toes would been viewed
seen as a bad thing.
9. Steve Slater commenting on anything I do.
10. Not being able to read Hare’s comments during
a race.
wasiF1
31st March 2011, 17:48
Where country you are from as you are getting Steve Slater Feed?
Alex Bkk
1st April 2011, 11:28
Thailand
Ben
1st April 2011, 14:45
For someone who is commentating in a different continent to where most of the races are happening I think he does a pretty good job
Adam Tate (@adam-tate)
31st March 2011, 18:03
Please tell me you did not just list your top reason for not being in an F1 driver is because you couldn’t drink and drive.
That’s horrible man.
Alex Bkk
1st April 2011, 11:27
Meaning you have to be sober to do it… then again, there was James Hunt.
Personally, I prefer to spend my Sundays having a pint.
I hope that clears things up :)
Steph (@)
31st March 2011, 13:28
Brilliant, brilliant article. I think all the PR days would kill my soul and would by far be the worst part of the job. Horrible PR stunts, the same old questions day after day and the fear that saying one wrong thing could end up with awful headlines everywhere and your boss having a go. That would be torture.
I couldn’t cope with an F1 driver’s diet either they’re pretty much skin and bones or having a fat neck because of all the G-forces. I read an article where Barrichello had stacks of telemetry to go through from previous years so he could try to get his laps and set up perfect too. Actually, I feel really lucky I’m talentless behind the wheel. As much fun as driving an F1 car for a weekend would be the amount of commitment and work away from the track would be mind numbing. Thanks Ben!
Alex Bkk
31st March 2011, 13:32
I’m with ya on that!
Alex Bkk
31st March 2011, 13:34
Thanks Ben!
JamoduF1
31st March 2011, 13:43
Haha! Brilliant article. More from Ben Evans please :)
davey (@djdaveyp87)
31st March 2011, 13:44
Nice light-hearted article! Cheers Ben!
BasCB (@bascb)
31st March 2011, 13:46
I just read one of the comments on Kimi going Nascar as it has less of pretty much every negative point you mention here Ben, except for the weekend working hours and the crazy sponsorship acts, I suppose.
You might be onto something there.
a4p (@a4p)
31st March 2011, 14:00
I think that the toughest thing of all is DRIVING A BAD CAR. Every F1 driver has won something in his past career and yet most of them drivers have to struggle for years, before having a winning car (see Raikkonen or Button).
It must be even more frustrating when you are aware that you are a great champion (Alonso driving for Renault in 2008-2009).
PeriSoft
1st April 2011, 2:26
Every F1 driver is aware that he either has been or will be a great champion. You don’t get to that level without believing it.
Chalky (@chalky)
31st March 2011, 14:21
I think you should say “Modern” F1 driver.
My dreams of making it always had me as James Hunt. :)
Alex Bkk
1st April 2011, 11:29
You’re a man after my own heart Chalky. :)
HounslowBusGarage (@hounslowbusgarage)
31st March 2011, 14:51
A great read. Thanks, Ben.
Personally, I think that fighting off all the girls would be my major problem . . . the boredom of it!
eddie3
1st April 2011, 18:57
Agreed,fighting off the girls would be my biggest problem;my heart wouldn’t be in it, I’d just be doing it to satisfy the sponsors and well,the wife.
joe
31st March 2011, 15:47
wearing a base ball cap 90% of the time
Alex Bkk
1st April 2011, 11:33
Indoors even, such bad manners.
Theo
31st March 2011, 16:00
I think we forgot reason number 11; your name currently is Felipe Massa. ;)
topdowntoedown (@topdowntoedown)
31st March 2011, 16:57
:D
Great article. I was going to write one of these and then got distracted… may have to dig it out.
Don Mateo
31st March 2011, 17:11
Great article this, and some of the responses very funny!
On the subject of fans, what about the ones that won’t leave you alone and ask you for autographs in the toilet, as I believe happened to Lewis Hamilton. If you’re one of the backmarkers you probably don’t get recognised that much, but if you achieve a high level of celebrity it must be a nightmare.
And not being able to make any sort of public appearance without being covered in sponsors’ logos.
mani
31st March 2011, 17:11
The photo of Vettel in the post-race press conference of Hungary 2010 and the Question below was outrageous… did someone really asked that to him on that press-conference?
I wonder what his answer would have been… how about “not really, why don’t you ask him (referring Weber)”?
AJB
31st March 2011, 17:15
-You can’t watch the Grand Prix. And you have to work on Sunday.
Training might not be so bad when it’s part of the job. It seems crap for the rest of us because we’ve got to use our spare time.
For me the biggest thing would be lack of privacy and ending up in The Sun for getting a speeding ticket. And the pressure of saying the wrong thing in a press conference and seeing “X Slams Y” in the papers the next day. Being the race engineer or mechanic gets you many of the advantages (travel, etc) without that pressure.
wasiF1
31st March 2011, 17:40
Nice work Ben Evans.I would love to become Bernie or a commentator in F1 where you get to talk about it other then work on it. But the best job in F1 have to be being a die hard F1 fan,as once pointed out by someone in the forum
“I rather die than change my life style with F1”
wasiF1
31st March 2011, 17:45
Once more thing if you are a driver you won’t be able to watch the race,until you are brave enough to look at the giant screen at 300 km/h.
Adam Tate (@adam-tate)
31st March 2011, 18:06
I’m sure some of them glance up at the screen as the whistle on by :)
pete
31st March 2011, 18:32
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPYcStboHgE
gotta love this just look at the confusion on his face LOL!
Nice article though and i have to say i think the most anoying thing from my perspective would be having to give interviews seperatly to all the different tv companys. Saying the same thing for 5 different media outlets would just be infuriating in that respect i’d probably be a bit like mika. “Mika you made that win look incredibly easy was it?” “yeah it was sooooooooo easy…..kidding”
The edge
31st March 2011, 19:03
I recon i could live with that…er…STUFF
electrolite (@electrolite)
31st March 2011, 20:30
I enjoyed that – thanks!
briank
1st April 2011, 1:52
I find the very premise of this article insulting.
t3x (@t3x)
1st April 2011, 2:42
None of these are actually bad, i mean you travel the world, get paid a fortune, your famous, you get given everything, your fit and healthy, doesn’t sound so bad :)
The Limit
1st April 2011, 3:42
There is really eleven reasons Keith. One good one would be ‘Felipe, Fernando is faster than you.’
Antifia
1st April 2011, 8:39
Mark is not affraid of telling us how it is? Gosh, I am really getting old. The war of words the guys have these days is nothing but pillow fights compared to the pre PR-runs-the-show days.
Ronman
1st April 2011, 9:53
is this an april fools ploy addressed at making us not want to become F1 driver, regardless of the fat that we are not even remotely fit to be kart racers let alone F1 gladiators?
fun article though, and i think all the listed above are worth the hassle to live a dream career, because lets face it, you do most of it before you are 30, and if you are moderately good you come out with a lot of financial support that will offer you a nice remainder of a long life backed by the knowledge that you can do whatever you want to do….
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
1st April 2011, 10:04
No. Check the date.
Alex Bkk
1st April 2011, 11:43
It is now… surprise us! :)
hawkii (@hawkii)
3rd April 2011, 15:38
image test
rishav
4th December 2011, 10:08
I want become an f1 racer so what can i do and i am in class 10th so please help me so what can i do for become an f1 racer [email protected] this is my id please mail me for f1 racer
yna
9th February 2012, 1:18
I will be happy for the service and in addition have high hopes you really know what a powerful job your are undertaking training other individuals with the aid of your web page. I know that you haven’t got to know all of us.
amazon gold ventures