The best F1 drivers can buy just about any road car they want with the amount of money they are paid.
When you work as a Formula One driver, most road vehicles must appear somewhat mundane in comparison. However, F1 drivers must find a way to travel between circuits, and since they are self-described petrolheads, they aren’t going to accept a chauffeured ride everywhere. They choose an automobile that they can really sink their teeth into, which frequently entails something rather remarkable.
As of March 2022: Every year, new F1 drivers start their careers. Some teen drivers shatter records that have been in place for years, while others continue to drive safe vehicles. Even though they’re a little different from the others, we’ve updated this list to add some new drivers and their vehicles!
The F1 drivers that are successful may buy pretty much any road car they want, no matter how constrained it may be, with the money they are paid. Even free cars are given to them by some manufacturers as part of sponsorship agreements. It’s undoubtedly fine for some people. However, this implies that you’re likely to find some very fantastic vehicles in the parking area hidden behind any particular grid, just waiting to be driven around.
We’ll regrettably never ride in one of these supercars. The next best thing is to tell you all we learned about their vehicles and motivations. Then, at least, we can fantasize about them in great detail. A little supercar fantasizing can’t be all that bad, right?
What kind of vehicle does an F1 driver prefer to travel in during his free time? You’re about to learn the solution to that question, so pay attention.
In This Article...
How One of Ferrari’s Very Odd Rules Is Excused for F1 Drivers
To work for Scuderia Ferrari is the fulfillment of a dream for many people, especially Italians. Imagine how intriguing it would be to work with one of the best teams of individuals who not only contribute significantly to the success of the teams in F1 and other series, but also the operation of road cars.
One might believe that those connected to Ferrari would have a better chance of getting a Ferrari road car at a discount. The unpleasant reality is that they don’t. Ferrari has an odd regulation that prohibits any employee from even having the option to purchase one of their vehicles.
You might wonder why. Well, as we all know, the Italian automaker typically only releases a small number of passenger cars each year. As a result, they strictly adhere to the norm that puts clients before staff.
Only Ferrari F1 drivers are authorized to purchase a new Ferrari.
It’s no secret that there are several requirements to meet in order to become a preferred customer of Ferrari, but the Italian manufacturer of sports cars and supercars also has regulations for its own staff.
In fact, buying a brand-new Ferrari is forbidden for Ferrari employees. Imagine working tirelessly to create a flawless example of Italian design, engineering, and performance, only to discover that you will never own one—at least not right away.
Enrico Galliera, Ferrari’s chief marketing and commercial officer, revealed in an interview with Drive that only Ferrari F1 drivers are authorized to purchase new vehicles from the manufacturer. He insisted that no incentives, discounts, or similar deals are also given to F1 drivers. Ferrari has a history of producing pricey sports cars for people with status and money, and its F1 drivers aren’t an exception to this rule.
In a manner, the rule is an attempt to protect its customers. Ferrari staff are prevented from buying new cars, so the vehicles are instead given to deserving clients first.
“The guiding principle is that it’s not appropriate if the car is delivered to staff given the limited manufacturing and the lengthy wait times for clients to receive their cars. Clients come first, “added Galliera.
However, sometimes having a lot of money or a good relationship isn’t enough. This is demonstrated by Ferrari’s refusal to give the rare LaFerrari Aperta to renowned jeweler David Lee. After being refused one of the few hundred LaFerrari Apertas planned for production, the late, longtime Ferrari collector Preston Henn also sued Ferrari.
It is Galliera’s responsibility to make sure that these limited-edition vehicles are “gifted” to Ferrari’s most devoted customers rather than just distributed to good customers. Additionally, a buyer may not always qualify as one of the brand’s “best customers” based solely on their wealth or extensive collections.
Pagani Zonda 760 LH driven by Lewis Hamilton
As you may anticipate, the seven-time World Champion is our first subject. He is the owner of a lot of pretty outstanding supercars.
The Pagani Zonda, which is space-age in both appearance and speed measurements, is the most notable of them.
But the Zonda the Brit has isn’t just any old Zonda. On the contrary, his model is incredibly distinctive. The letters “LH” naturally stand for the driver’s initials, while the number “760” represents the amount of horsepower it is capable of producing.
Do F1 drivers for Ferrari receive a Ferrari?
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are two drivers that essentially work for Ferrari. Does this strict regulation therefore also apply to the duo? No, is the response.
It’s interesting to note that Formula 1 drivers are an anomaly, as they consistently bear the media and audience attention and are more like public celebrities.
A Ferrari racer would seem somewhat strange cruising about in a Mercedes or a Honda. As a result, the corporation permits its drivers to acquire a Ferrari road car, but only at full retail price and without any rebates.
Of course, not every worker at Maranello is a master engineer or a technician because they want to drive a Ferrari. But do you think it’s fair to restrict them from even expressing interest in purchasing a Ferrari?
Do F1 athletes have their own cars?
Drivers in Formula One get the opportunity to travel the globe while operating some of the most advanced race vehicles in front of huge crowds. They have enough income to buy almost any car that is offered. However, their contracts frequently require them to select a model from the team’s or the automobile sponsor’s lineup. What do these people drive when they aren’t racing?
On their social media profiles, several of the drivers display pictures of their own vehicles. Some people like privacy. We can learn how the most elusive drivers arrive at grand prix thanks to the millions of racing and automobile images that Motorsport Images has available.
We were able to locate photographs of every automobile on the grid. The list’s ranking at the time of publication reflects the World Drivers’ Championship standings.
Which vehicles do F1 drivers drive?
The Australian, like his former Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen, is a huge Porsche road car enthusiast.
Although he just bought a McLaren to add to his collection, his preferred vehicle for many years was the Porsche 918.
This hybrid supercar boasts over 900 horsepower and a 2.6-second 0-60 mph time. With all that speed, it isn’t cheap; the estimated list price is $1.7 million.
Are there bonuses for F1 drivers?
For winning races, F1 drivers can receive bonuses. Depending on the agreement they have with their team, they may receive different bonuses. If a race win is more valuable for the team in the Constructors’ Championship, certain teams will pay more, and some teams may not award incentives at all.
It’s difficult to win a Formula 1 race. There are 19 of the world’s top drivers competing against you. Only 111 of the 771 drivers have ever won a Grand Prix. Being accepted into Formula 1 is a feat in and of itself, but winning a Grand Prix is something really rare that not many drivers will ever have the opportunity to do.
Does the F1 field pay taxes?
The forfait fee will be a very little amount upon which to pay taxes for an F1 driver who earns significant amounts of money from all around the world over the course of an F1 season.
Are extra cars brought by F1 teams?
Teams in Formula 1 only have two vehicles. This indicates that there are no spare cars and that each driver has a vehicle. However, teams bring enough spare components to every race to completely restore the vehicle, regardless of the amount of damage.
What happens to vintage Formula One cars?
There is no denying F1’s appeal, as evidenced by the millions of viewers who tune in to the races. As a result, it is usual to find certain cars on display as museum exhibits or in retail establishments like malls or hotels. The cars have obviously been stripped of their technical components, but you could buy one to liven up your living room if you dug into your savings!
What occurs to F1 vehicles after a collision?
So, your preferred F1 driver just crashed live on television. You may be wondering what will happen to the car that cost millions of dollars to develop now that it has been determined that he will be okay (likely thanks to the F1 Halo). So, fasten your seatbelt because you’re about to learn.
After collisions, F1 cars are repaired, and every component is examined using Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) techniques. The car is either driven to the pits or immediately placed behind barriers to wait till the race is completed. Much less labor is required if the chassis is unharmed.
So, if you’ve always wondered what happens to an F1 car after a collision, get ready to see the engineering and maintenance wizardry of the sport. F1 cars are essentially the Frankenstein of vehicles, but with a lot more safety measures!
Check out the great products from the official F1 store here if you’re looking for some F1 memorabilia.
Are new F1 cars produced by teams every year?
- Engine specifications: F1 chassis are designed to be as strong and light as possible because a collision with a lightweight chassis can quickly break it. And in certain seasons, the team makes chassis changes in the middle of the season. So they just create a new chassis each year and transfer only the components that must be carried over to the “new automobile.”
- New Regulations: Safety and speed are the FIA’s key priorities. As a result, it releases a new version of the car each year that is updated to reflect advancements in technology, time, and development.
New Model: The F1 team strives to redesign its car each year to increase speed or to be a newer, better version. Every year, the team improves and modifies its automobiles to maximize speed and safety.
How much does a Formula One vehicle crash cost?
Depending on the severity of the incident, F1 crashes can cost anything from $1,000 to over $1 million. The wings and flooring of F1 cars are particularly prone to damage because of how easily they may be broken. The back wheel of another vehicle might sustain serious damage from even a light tap.
The issue is that if the car is damaged in any way, it becomes essentially unusable. An ideal performance was considered when designing every component of a Formula 1 car. The performance of the car can suffer significantly if even one little component is slightly damaged.
A damaged rear wing can end a driver’s race, and even marginally damaged front wings can lose drivers many tenths of a second every lap.
Even more crucial is the floor in ground effect cars. The automobile might lose a significant amount of downforce with even minor damage to the floor, forcing the driver to resign.
Each damaged component on a Formula 1 car must be changed in time for the following session since each one becomes essentially useless. The cost of replacement might range from $1,000 to over $1 million, depending on the component that was harmed in the collision. A significant crash will often cost at least $100,000.