Press conferences: Every driver’s favourite pre-race activity. Last year’s media briefing in Brazil was particularly well-attended as race director Charlie Whiting was roped in to enjoy the fun as well.
Can you come up with the best caption for this picture? Post your funniest suggestion in the comments below.
A selection of the best will feature in a future edition of the F1 Fanatic Round-up.
Caption Competition
- Caption Competition 215: Pinch me, Carlos
- Caption Competition 214: You Musk be joking
- Caption Competition 213: Paddling Pierre
- Caption Competition 212: Marko my words
- Caption Competition 211: Ricciardo’s back and something’s afoot
Browse all Caption Competitions
FlyingLobster27
14th January 2017, 12:04
Whiting and the drivers react to the Brazilian proverb, “the closer your hand is to your nose, the closer you are to retirement”.
Alex
14th January 2017, 17:56
The honey badger finds out that the other drivers are not coming to his birthday party…
steveetienne
14th January 2017, 20:22
sorry i must amend that, max is saying ‘i told you my penis was and invisisble and huge, look!’
schudha (@reganama)
15th January 2017, 10:11
+1 to matching up to pic perfectly
WheelToWheel (@lolzerbob)
15th January 2017, 19:13
+1
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
14th January 2017, 12:05
Following Charlie’s Statement that his stance on Track limits was fine there was a moment of silence. Some where bewildered. Hamilton suddenly seemed awfully interested in something else. Some where already out with resignation. “I have to get out of here” thought Rosberg.
Graham (@guitargraham)
14th January 2017, 12:08
it does seem like this was the moment rosberg thought retirement was a good idea
Graham (@guitargraham)
14th January 2017, 12:06
massa “yawn, so what we gonna do?” lewis ” i dunno, whatcha wanna do?”
Graham (@guitargraham)
14th January 2017, 12:10
it was at this moment that vettell realised ricciardo had replaced himself with a wax dummy and had actually sneaked off twenty minutes earlier
Imre (@f1mre)
14th January 2017, 14:53
:D
stefano (@alfa145)
14th January 2017, 20:20
I actually laughed with this one
Piotr E. Hogarth (@pehogarth)
14th January 2017, 22:01
This or the next one, very hard to decide :)
Daniel
14th January 2017, 21:15
Winner
Vishal Trivedi (@nomadindian)
15th January 2017, 0:25
+1
PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
14th January 2017, 12:15
As the drivers often chip in as stewards, Charlie agreed to replace Raikkonen on his driver press conference.
Sumedh
14th January 2017, 12:15
Massa: God, can’t wait for my last conference to get over.
Nico: *Calculating look* : I have other plans for you Felipe.
Sumedh
14th January 2017, 12:16
Sorry, it’s Brazil, so it should be:
Massa: God, can’t wait for my this to get over. Just one more after this.
Nico: *Calculating look* : I have other plans for you Felipe.
Nick (@theawesomefish)
14th January 2017, 12:19
Jos Verstappen enthralls the conference with a slideshow retrospective of his career.
LovelyLovelyLuffield
14th January 2017, 13:30
Ouch.
Pete (@repete86)
14th January 2017, 14:06
+1
Biskit Boy (@sean-p-newmanlive-co-uk)
14th January 2017, 12:19
Verstappen: I’m standing up for Felipe, I know Martini needed to see proof he was over 25 and I know what that feels like.
Miltiadis (@miltosgreekfan)
14th January 2017, 12:22
We are on a local high school.Charlie is the principal,Lewis,Felipe & Nico are the presidents of the kids & Sebastian,Max,Daniel are about to get punished for something they did.The journalists are the teachers,who make a motion about a possible punishement for the 3 kids.Max shouts “i’m not here to get punished”,while Sebastian & Daniel arrange a ping pong match. :p
Godwin Joseph (@godwin)
14th January 2017, 12:28
VES: Why does he (ROS) get to fight for the championship?
MAS: Chill out boy, No one can fight with Lewis. It took ROS 3 yrs to overcome Lewis.
HAM: Nice Watch Charlie 😊
Charlie: A selfie would be great 😀
ROS: What should I talk? 😳
RIC: Look into my Eyes, Emery
VET: Give me that cap Dan!
Schudha
14th January 2017, 13:01
VES: Why does he (ROS) get to fight for the championship?
Hilarious!
Chris (@tophercheese21)
14th January 2017, 12:38
Massa just wishes someone would look at him the same way Vettel looks at Ricciardo.
Tom L. (@tom-l)
14th January 2017, 12:41
“You gentlemen have been saying some quite appalling things to Charlie in the last few races, he’s been quite upset actually. Now, I think you’ve all got something you’d like to say to him, haven’t you.”
Bart
14th January 2017, 13:00
RIC: Wha- a pokemon!
VET: You saw that only NOW?
VES: Where’s my phone?
WHI: It does not breach the Sporting Code, so…
HAM: I’ll give it big whiskers and a purple tail.
MAS: Grrrr zzzz grrr zzzz…
ROS: Felipe is asleep? I’ll poke ‘m on!
Retired (@jeff1s)
14th January 2017, 13:17
Bwoah
Kevin Amery (@k-l-waster)
14th January 2017, 13:19
Did Charlie *really* just say that?!?
Ruben
14th January 2017, 13:30
Instead of using social media to attract younger fans, F1’s rendition of Sesamestreet’s ”One of these things” doesn’t sit well with the drivers.
Stubborn Swiss (@stubbornswiss)
14th January 2017, 13:36
Max VES: “….again I tried to shake Rosbergs hand, but again he just turned and walked away.”
Sravan Krishnan (@sravan-pe)
14th January 2017, 13:39
*Charlie farts*
Charlie (to himself): Kimi face on now, come on.
Daniel (to himself): Were the hell are my nostrils?
Seb: You, Daniel? Be honest.
Max: It was Nico.
Nico: One accusation at a time.
Felipe (to himself): 2008…
Lewis (to himself): Good thing my phone doesn’t have an olfactory sensor.
Pauline Lowrey
14th January 2017, 13:40
Riciardo: I will keep my eyes open, I will keep my eyes open…..
Vettel: When is this kid gonna stop trying to teach his granny how to suck eggs?
Verstappen: Well, as I have already ssid many times before…..
Charlie: Oh no, not again…..
Hamilton: I wonder how many favorites I now have on twiter
Massa: Oh please…..I’ve been to some boring press conferences in my time but this one takes the biscuit
Rosberg: Hmmmm……I wonder……..
Roth Man (@rdotquestionmark)
14th January 2017, 14:04
Massa: “I should have brought my Dad’s kindle.”
Gridlock (@gridlock)
14th January 2017, 14:18
Seb had questions of his own about Daniel’s bravery, and set out to find the answer.
Pat Ruadh (@fullcoursecaution)
14th January 2017, 14:30
Felipe had had his reservations about the new media strategy, and ‘Charlie Whiting’s Blankety Blank’ was the final straw
Tayyib Abu
14th January 2017, 14:31
DC’s just walked in wearing a mankini.
Steve Rogers (@yossarian)
14th January 2017, 14:33
Question from the floor: “Has Ricciardo told you all he suffers from severe athlete’s foot?”
Melvin (@)
14th January 2017, 14:47
Max: “….And that’s why i will be world champion next year and single handedly give RB the titel as well.”
HK (@me4me)
14th January 2017, 14:48
Charlie’s Angels: The Parody
Jeroen Bons
14th January 2017, 14:50
Max Verstappen: ”Honestly, I explained it to Charlie over and over again but he’s just to old to understand modern racing”.
Derek Edwards
14th January 2017, 14:55
Giving Charlie the power to apply penalty points to drivers using Snapchat during press conferences did not work as expected.
hzh (@hzh00)
14th January 2017, 15:00
Asked about the Mexican GP incidents, Verstappen instantly responds: “He started it. They started it!”
Neil (@neilosjames)
14th January 2017, 15:04
Max angrily requests an invisible armchair for all the drivers, not just the reigning world champion.
hzh (@hzh00)
14th January 2017, 15:06
“Are you all satisfied with your 2017 decisions?”
cardaan
14th January 2017, 15:11
Kimi’s first acting as an FIA’s press officer
ColdFly F1 (@)
14th January 2017, 15:18
Drivers visibly excited to support Max’s cost saving suggestion flying economy class.
badger (@badger)
14th January 2017, 15:28
The mannequin challenge craze begins accidentally in the pre race press conference.
hzh (@hzh00)
14th January 2017, 16:26
Not everyone was happy promoting the new F1 sponsor hand watches.
JackySteeg (@jackysteeg)
14th January 2017, 16:37
Meanwhile, at the world premier of “They Did Their Best”…
James Brickles (@brickles)
14th January 2017, 16:50
Mercedes announce Charlie Whiting as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate for next season.
SeaHorse (@seahorse)
14th January 2017, 16:53
The drivers’ reaction after Charlie gave explained the latest changes to the rules
SeaHorse (@seahorse)
14th January 2017, 17:20
Correction:
The drivers’ reaction after Charlie explained the latest changes to the rules
SeaHorse (@seahorse)
14th January 2017, 17:00
The audience after the premiere of the Official Review of 2016 F1 season ‘They did their best’
SeaHorse (@seahorse)
14th January 2017, 17:05
Max Verstappen points to Nico when asked who he thinks would retire from the 2016 Abu Dhabi GP
juan fanger (@juan-fanger)
14th January 2017, 17:22
Verstappen asks why Hamilton’s mechanic is part of the press conference.
Ninjenius (@ninjenius)
14th January 2017, 17:23
Charlie: “bwoah”.
Lewis: “bwoah”.
Felipe: “bwoah”.
Nico: “bwoah”.
Max: “bwoah”.
Seb: “bwoah”.
Danny: “BWOAH?!?!”.
StephenH
14th January 2017, 17:25
Reactions to Bernie’s new proposals to spice up Formula One by randomly adding Red-EX to a random driver’s fuel load drew a somewhat mixed reception …
Ninjenius (@ninjenius)
14th January 2017, 17:27
“There’s only one way we’re gonna make it across to the Winchester, guys…”
J-Canafa
14th January 2017, 17:39
Nico: Hey Felipe, my accountant says the Mercedes pension is the best on the grid…
Ben
14th January 2017, 17:56
Vettel thinking….. I want my car back bitch
Mark Thomson (@melthom)
14th January 2017, 18:09
Verstappen: “I’m not like them, rich and useless..yet”
Mark Thomson (@melthom)
14th January 2017, 18:17
Verstappen: “That was a stupid question, that’s like asking Nico if he’s gonna quit soon..”
Vishal Trivedi (@nomadindian)
15th January 2017, 0:22
Nice :)
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
14th January 2017, 18:26
Vettel thinks: Just my luck! I’m the only driver here who’s watch can’t be seen.
Arthur (@eriko)
14th January 2017, 18:33
A well timed snapshot captures all the micro-expressions when you say the words “World Champion” in Brazil.
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
14th January 2017, 18:50
Max: I didn’t really gain an advantage by going over the grass … OW! … Someone just kicked me under the table. Anyway, if you listen to the RT transmission you can hear me offer to relinquish to Vettel … OW! Who’s that kicking me under the table. Then I had an air bubble in the fuel line, which made the car go slower than … OW! OW! … What is wrong with this place? Someone keeps kicking me.
hzh (@hzh00)
14th January 2017, 19:04
Whiting used splash…
But nothing happened.
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
14th January 2017, 19:13
Massa: Psst … Nico … If you win the Championship Lewis is going to be so mad. He will drive like no one has ever driven before.
Rosberg: He he, that would be fun to watch … I mean, yes, I know.
Greup (@greup)
14th January 2017, 19:56
To show the drivers whos Boss, Charlie reads ALL the Rules, and forces Max to translate it into Dutch. Picture is from the fifth hour.
ChuckL8
14th January 2017, 20:14
Massa: “I feel like a senior citizen, stuck in a kindergarten class”
Thedonz
14th January 2017, 20:30
Hamilton farts (silent but violent)
Vettel smells the roses, says: who did that?
Verstappen: It was Rosberg, I heard it
Massa, Discreetly to Hamilton: I know what you did. Get me a drive for next season or I let everyone know.
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
14th January 2017, 20:33
Vettel thinking: These reporters are asking me really lame questions … it’s like Charlie has warned them not to ask me difficult questions … Maybe I said something that offended him. What could I have said that offended Charlie? Maybe I’d said something to the Italian or German media and Google Translator bungled the conversion into English.
J-Canada
14th January 2017, 20:57
Hamilton: “aaaaand bunny filter on Charlie!”
ksurv (@ksurv)
14th January 2017, 21:13
Happy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc, Sneezy, Sleepy and Bashful ask for help as the evil Queen Bernice had escaped from the sanitorium again
Bart
15th January 2017, 20:44
Good one :)
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
14th January 2017, 21:19
Ricciardo: Here, Sebastian, are the guys at Ferrari still mad about the last race? I mean, they know it’s just racing … don’t they?
BlackJack (@danieljaksa)
14th January 2017, 21:25
“This is the reason I really love F1. So I can explain my weaving under breaking at these enthralling press conferences.”
BlackJack (@danieljaksa)
14th January 2017, 21:30
Hey Dan, can you please tell Charlie to go forth and multiply?
andae23 (@andae23)
14th January 2017, 21:50
Verstappen: “… and that’s why I’m arguing they should run the Driver of the Day poll on Saturday, Friday and Thursday too.”
DavidK
14th January 2017, 21:57
The jury is still out, but Verstappen is adamant that Lewis is the one who made the smell.
jimmi cynic
14th January 2017, 22:29
Question to those in the front row: “Some claim F1 has become boring. What do you say to that?”
@HoHum (@hohum)
14th January 2017, 23:03
MV “you’re all too old, you should retire and let younger and faster drivers save F1”.
Emilio Robles (@kimiraikkonen5)
14th January 2017, 23:06
Lewis: “I’d prefer watching the wheel of fortune.”
Felipe: “Oh my God what a torture…”
Seb: “Don’t get too excited mate, you couldn’t get past Fernando for 6th.”
Nico (speaking to himself while remembering the previous race in México): “I shouldn’t have let him go in lap 1 that time…”
Charlie: “Bwoah!”
Max: “Still I don’t see why do we have to watch the replay of the 2014 Russian Grand Prix right now!”
rich mac
14th January 2017, 23:52
From the floor: And what will you be doing this time next year Felippe?
….
From the floor: Filippe…?
…
From the floor: Filippe…?
…
From the floor: Filippe…?
moblet (@moblet)
15th January 2017, 0:06
“Are we there yet?”
just.daz (@nemo87)
15th January 2017, 0:15
New that Jolyon Palmer has retained his seat for 2017 emerges..
just.daz (@nemo87)
15th January 2017, 0:15
News*
RaceKing86 (@paulking)
15th January 2017, 1:12
Despite his previous sentiments, Vettel now wished that *he* could ” off” from this press conference.
RaceKing86 (@paulking)
15th January 2017, 1:15
Despite his previous sentiments, Vettel now wished that *he* could ”(censored by FOM) off” from this press conference.
n0b0dy100
15th January 2017, 1:39
Seb: I know Kimi is the oldest driver on the grid, but he’s really starting to look his age these days…
Scottie (@scottie)
15th January 2017, 7:20
As proceedings became sufficiently boring, Lewis and Seb simultaneously execute their dare to touch their neighbors leg…
miki
15th January 2017, 7:41
After he himself joined the press conference of drivers whiting declares it as Boring than his job of race direction.
Poseidon
15th January 2017, 8:37
“So, do you guys ever miss your old teams? “
tgu (@thegrapeunwashed)
15th January 2017, 8:43
Catching all the action on the monitor, Nico can’t help feeling some pride in German humour as Daniel becomes the latest victim of Seb’s knockwurst-down-the-back-of-the-pants gag.
Steve (@)
15th January 2017, 9:08
To a man, the drivers express the thrill and excitement of modern Formula One.
schudha (@reganama)
15th January 2017, 10:07
Max: These drivers are so old and drive so slow that I have to take alternate racing lines to avoid hitting them.
Hotbottoms (@hotbottoms)
15th January 2017, 10:43
As the youngest driver on the grid, Max has yet to learn that the best way to dodge questions is to avoid eye contact with the reporters.
Jason
15th January 2017, 11:16
Lewis – “Wow, no wonder Charlie is known as the big man around here.”
Steven Smith (@ragwort)
15th January 2017, 11:20
Daniel. “Why is Vettel looking at me like that? Is he after my drive?”
Seb. “I’m not listening to this Dutch child any more”
Max. “I didn’t do anything wrong. Sure, we shook hands afterwards. But it was a bit limp-wristed”
Nico. “I’ve had enough of all this”
Felipe. “I was World Champion here once for almost ten seconds”
Charlie. “I’ve never held a microphone before. Is this how it’s done Lewis?”
Lewis. “No Charlie. Unless you is hoping to become a rapper.”
Jack Whyte
15th January 2017, 11:31
Alright who farted
graham228221 (@graham228221)
15th January 2017, 12:05
35 minutes later, Charlie regretted challenging anyone to recite the 2017 Sporting Regulations.
Robbie (@robbie)
15th January 2017, 12:05
While the front row ignores Max’s exuberance of youth, Seb observes Danial’s reaction as Max explains how he’ll blow his teammate away if it rains.
PhilEReid (@philereid)
15th January 2017, 13:47
Massa: “I really wish I could lean back”
David Not Coulthard (@davidnotcoulthard)
15th January 2017, 14:11
3 Toro Rosso alumni, 2 GP2 alumni, and 1 Schumacher Alumni.
Scalextric (@scalextric)
15th January 2017, 14:17
Everybody found a different reason not to shake Verstappen’s outstretched hand.
Selbbin (@selbbin)
15th January 2017, 15:22
Max says what the others don’t dare: that he doesn’t approve of Whiting replacing Rosberg at Mercedes.
lubhz (@lubhz)
15th January 2017, 16:04
Champions and race winners contemplate their prospects in face of the arrival of a certain young driver
JungleMartin
15th January 2017, 16:05
Everybody was fascinated by Verstappen’s descriptions of the 33 different handshake styles which inspired his race number.
Nevohkrek
15th January 2017, 17:26
Ricciardo just realizes that it wasn’t a dry but a wet fart and Vettel smells it…
Anna
15th January 2017, 17:29
This year’s media briefing at the Grand Prix of Brazil caused a bit of a stir. As Daniel Ricciardo’s appalled reaction and Sebastian Vettel’s anticipation of his subsequent outburst may have given away, the topic of discussion was Charlie Whiting’s suggestion of a possible ban of shoey’s as a podium celebration. Max Verstappen is trying to plead his case against it by stating that if you don’t go for a gap, you’re no longer a racing driver, even if the gap is that a champagne-filled PUMA racing shoe. Mercedes AMG-drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, frequent victims of the controversial celebration, seemed to sunk deeply into their own thoughts after the suggestion that the shoey is unhygienic and disgusting and remained mostly silent for most of the briefing.
Williams’ Felipe Massa was also invited to offer his veteran point-of-view, but seemed rather bored with the subject, seeing how he will never reach a podium that will allow him to possibly encounter the shoey anyway.
Broke84 (@broke84)
15th January 2017, 17:46
Lewis sighs mournfully at the loss of his phone.
Wesley (@)
15th January 2017, 18:02
Verstappen: “I’ve asked Charlie to join us here today to persuade these old men to stop complaining about my driving style and just let me through.”
Suvan Naidu (@serv)
15th January 2017, 19:51
Charlie Whiting hosts the grand finale of “The Biggest Complainer 2016”
mog
15th January 2017, 22:58
All but the Red Bull drivers managed their poker face at Charlie’s “explanation” of the Turn 1 decisions at Mexico.
Kiwi SteveP
15th January 2017, 23:00
Charlie drops the bomb shell “2018 cars will be driver-less due to safety concerns”
SATHIA
16th January 2017, 3:04
Reporter: Give us one facial expression that represent 2016 season
Traverse
16th January 2017, 8:49
Serial killer Vettel eyes his next victim.
Santan (@jasonhayes)
16th January 2017, 16:04
Danny Ric finally gets a chance to practice his mannequin challenge pose
Santan (@jasonhayes)
16th January 2017, 16:06
Vettel is not ammused ” I mean honestly what are we doing here, interviews or poses”
agoodall (@agoodall)
16th January 2017, 17:17
Epiphany: The exact moment Nico realizes that if retires he will never again have to listen to Max explain his own personal definition of “track limits”.
agoodall (@agoodall)
16th January 2017, 17:23
They look like the rich kids and the jocks in class having to listen to the nerd answer a math problem.
EL6O
17th January 2017, 2:25
“Anyone hungry?”, asks Max Verstappen.
Paul
18th January 2017, 14:29
“And then Ricciardo blocked me” , explained Max