The low season has drawn shut, with the primary three races already completed. Formula 1 groups have unveiled new racing vehicles and their liveries. Winter checks have been accomplished in Bahrain, which suggests the eagerly anticipated begin of the season is underway.
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These months they stretched out endlessly, prompting the query: what have the Formula 1 drivers been as much as throughout this time? Have they developed their expertise in scaling mountains? Or maybe they relished their much-needed respite at residence? Let us discover essentially the most noteworthy occasions within the lives of Formula 1 drivers throughout their winter break.
Max Verstappen’s winter break began in Japan, the place he participated in Honda Racing Day alongside different drivers and his teammate Sergio Perez. In the identical place, Honda offered the present Formula 1 champion with a right-hand drive supercar. Verstappen grew to become the proprietor of the “farewell” explicit model of the NSX Type S within the specification for the Japanese market.
Also, in the course of the winter break, EA Sports signed a sponsorship settlement with the Dutch driver. According to the settlement phrases, throughout 2023, the EA Sports brand will at all times be on the chin of the motive force’s helmet. In addition, Verstappen will take part in creating some content material as a advisor. He additionally signed a private long-term sponsorship settlement with the enduring Dutch model Heineken.
Sergio Perez, in his flip, instantly plunged into soccer! The finish of the 2022 F1 season coincided with the beginning of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and Perez was rooting for the Mexican nationwide workforce from residence. And after the tip of the World Cup, he congratulated the Argentina nationwide workforce and all Argentines on their victory, posting an image with Lionel Messi. Checo additionally collaborated with Acapella. Co to launch his clothes line, for which a few of his favorite quotes had been chosen. By the way in which, that is already out there on the market.
At first, Charles Leclerc had a reasonably quiet low season outdoors of the standard automotive testing at Ferrari’s check monitor in Fiorano. He celebrated Christmas within the household circle by posting footage in cute jumpers. And then he stunned everybody by breaking into an excessive outside exercise after the brand new 12 months! Leclerc has been utilizing his free time to mountaineering, and he’s been fairly excessive up, it have to be stated! Do you all keep in mind the photograph of him climbing an icy mountain? What a preparation, Charles!
And then, along with Pierre Gasly, they performed basketball. After taking Esteban Ocon into the corporate, they attended the NBA common season match between the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls (108:126), which befell in Paris.
As for Carlos Sainz Jr., the FIFA World Cup additionally didn’t bypass him. He was rooting for the Spanish nationwide workforce along with Marc Marquez. And then, he went to Saudi Arabia to assist his father, Carlos Sainz Sr., who competed within the Dakar Rally. Unfortunately, the crew couldn’t full their participation. At the start of the ninth stage, Sainz Sr. had an accident, overturning his automotive and receiving extreme injury. The Spanish rider was given medical consideration and even despatched to the hospital by a medical helicopter, however the driver returned to attempt to return his Audi RS Q e-tron E2 to the race. The technical a part of the workforce tried to revive the automotive, however at evening it grew to become identified that the car had suffered structural injury to the carbon fibre monocoque.
For the primary time in Egypt! I’ve needed to go to right here for a very long time, and after my summer season journey, I needed to get to know Africa higher.
Lewis Hamilton
Driver, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
Lewis Hamilton visited Egypt for the primary time throughout his winter trip. He arrived on the invitation of the well-known French firm Christian Dior, holding a present of one other males’s clothes assortment in Cairo. (*1*) the motive force shared on his social media pages. After the tip of the racing season, Lewis went … to race! Have you seen that loopy drift video? It’s unimaginable! Recommended to see. Hamilton additionally spent a part of his winter coaching on ice in Antarctica. While jogging, he even met penguins and a seal!
George Russell additionally turned out to be a lover of ice adventures. He and his girlfriend Carmen Mundt spent the day with the Mercedes workforce driving round snowy Sweden. In common, the racer was everywhere throughout his break. He travelled rather a lot, together with to heat areas!
Pierre Gasly immersed himself within the FIFA World Cup, essentially the most of all F1 drivers. He attended a number of matches in Qatar and anxious concerning the French nationwide workforce till the ultimate. We hope that Christmas brightened up the recollections of the ultimate.
And then Gasly and his new teammate, Esteban Ocon, had enjoyable in Sweden. For two days, the racers took half within the Castrol Challenge, which befell on an ice monitor in northern Sweden, very near the Arctic Circle. “48 hours in Wonderland!” wrote Gasly. “It was unrealistically fun, but also unrealistically cold!” stated Esteban, and we are able to perceive him as a result of the temperature that weekend was about minus 30 levels! Esteban Ocon visited many thrilling locations throughout his trip: for instance, Disneyland in Paris, the NBA with Pierre Gasly and Charles Leclerc in Paris, and Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, the place he posted a pic with Hakimi. And the opposite day, one other one – with Zinedine Zidane, who grew to become an envoy of the Alpine model.
48 hours in Wonderland! It was unrealistically enjoyable but in addition unrealistically chilly!
Pierre Gasly
Driver, Alpine F1 Team
Lando Norris did loads of issues throughout his trip. One of the thrilling hobbies from his social networks throughout his break is cooking! At a restaurant in Amsterdam, he posted an image carrying a chef’s uniform and holding a flame torch. And he additionally skilled rather a lot! He is able to spend his fifth season with McLaren! Good luck, Lando!
Oscar Piastri returned to his hometown of Melbourne and took the chance to go karting. He talked about how excited he was for the brand new season on social media and couldn’t anticipate it to begin. Well, Oscar, the wait is over! We hope you’re thrilled to kick off the season. We perceive that the debut race was unfortunate, however we want you all the perfect for the remainder of the season!
Valtteri Bottas began his trip by snowboarding in Lahti and even taking part in hockey! But a couple of days later, Bottas went on an extremely energetic journey round Australia throughout his winter trip. He actively shared photographs on social networks. Bottas cycled round Australia and hiked, drank beer, and fed goats! In common, he had an entire relaxation!
Guanyu Zhou spent December in China. He visited Alfa Romeo China and posted a photograph the place he holds his racing helmet in entrance of the Shanghai skyline, which additionally contains the artwork of the identical skyline! Zhou additionally signed a sponsorship contract with Dior, turning into a model ambassador in China.
Throughout the winter break, Fernando Alonso stored himself busy with numerous actions. He visited his personal go-kart monitor and hit the slopes for snowboarding in Italy. From the tip of January, he began posting photographs on his social media accounts that includes the inexperienced colors of his new workforce, clearly indicating his pleasure for the upcoming season.
Lance Stroll amazed his followers by posting a video of him snowboarding in a Santa costume! And then he rested in heat locations and had enjoyable! But in the course of the preparation for the season, whereas coaching on a bicycle, he was injured and underwent surgical procedure, however he is able to race. We want you a speedy restoration, Lance!
Kevin Magnussen did discuss his official merchandise and his new partnerships. For instance, he spoke about collaborating with a Danish tech firm specializing in digital procurement in Denmark and Scandinavia’s private and non-private sectors. Furthermore, Kevin teamed up together with his father, Jan, for the Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi, the place they accomplished the race in seventh place, simply two laps behind the leaders. Magnussen was additionally presupposed to race within the Daytona 24 Hours, however he needed to pull out as a result of he wanted surgical procedure on his hand.
Great information! I’m excited to announce my new partnership with Intellis – a Danish tech firm specialised in digital procurement in the private and non-private sector in Denmark and Scandinavia.
Kevin Magnussen
Driver, Haas F1 Team
Nico Hulkenberg shared just a little content material, however he posted a humorous video of how he drives a tractor together with his daughter. Still, on the whole, he skilled rather a lot. He tried on a brand new uniform, as he bought the chance to return to the main Formula 1 peloton after spending three seasons on the sidelines!
Yuki Tsunoda was lately given the honour of turning into the primary licensed athlete in his hometown. Tsunoda comes from Sagamihara, with a inhabitants of simply over 720,000 individuals. Tsunoda obtained official recognition from town of Sagamihara as the primary Sagamihara City Hometown Athlete throughout a quick ceremony that was well-attended by his supporters. Congratulations, Yuki!
During the winter break, Tsunoda skilled arduous in Dubai, pushing himself to the restrict. He then travelled to New York to showcase the placing new livery of the Alpha Tauri automotive and the model’s upcoming autumn-winter assortment throughout New York Fashion Week together with his new teammate, Nyck de Vries.
Nyck has been quiet on social media. Still, he spent his winter break coaching on the most well-known Austrian ski station, Kitzbühel. He posted a photograph with Marc Marquez and Fabio Wibmer and introduced a brand new official companion for 2023 – Northwave Intelligent Security Operations.
Alex Albon spent a lot time in his residence nation of Thailand over the low season. He additionally went to Los Angeles, the place he noticed the sundown together with his girlfriend, performed golf and went karting! And the racer modified his coiffure – he grew to become a blonde! Wow!
During this winter break, Logan Sargeant, the brand new Formula 1 rookie for 2023, determined to make a visit again residence to the United States, the place he caught up with the Florida Panthers ice hockey workforce and even had the prospect to hang around with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
