From Alonso staring at the screen to Schumacher’s hand signals: the 14 best parts of multitasking in F1

Fernando Alonso nonchalantly watching the big screen during the Miami Grand Prix as Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll passed the competition made us think of the times F1 drivers performed elite multi-tasking while trailing of the steering wheel

So we investigated the footage, gathered all the evidence and found the moments where F1 drivers showed off their incredible abilities to do more than one thing at a time.

There’s a reason they’re among the best drivers in the world…

READ MORE: Fernando Alonso insists he can win a race in 2023 season as he targets key Grands Prix

Alonso watches his teammate

As he was the catalyst for this conversation, it’s only right that the list begins with Alonso watching Stroll pass Alex Albon for 13th at the Miami GP, before congratulating the Canadian on team radio.

What it also showed is that Formula 1 drivers are human beings just like the rest of us: they also watch TV when they should be working.

Alonso passes information to Stroll

Miami wasn’t the first time Alonso has been heard multitasking on team radio this season, as in Baku he found time to tell his engineer to pass a message to Stroll on what brake balance he thought was best for him. the canadian.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work out right away as Stroll went off and lost a position just a few corners later, but Alonso’s multi-tasking was still impressive.

READ MORE: Stroll reveals what it’s been like working with two-time champion Alonso so far

Senna stuck in sixth gear

Ayrton Senna did a lot of impressive things in Formula 1, but it’s hard to argue that his first home win at the 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix isn’t at the top of the list. As he led the race, Senna’s gearbox failed, leaving him stuck in sixth gear, while he too had to hold off the Williams of Ricardo Patrese, before he started to rain.

READ MORE: Best F1 Drives #4: Senna overcomes pain for emotional glory at home

The Brazilian driver would hold on for victory, but he was so emotionally and physically drained after the race that he had to be pulled out of his car and could barely hold his trophy to celebrate.

Schumacher’s hand signals

At the 1999 French Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher lost communication with his pit wall via the team radio. However, the quick-thinking seven-time world champion realized that while they couldn’t hear him, they could still see him.

So, he used hand signals to communicate with his team via onboard cameras, en route to finishing fifth ahead of Ferrari teammate Eddie Irvine.

WATCH: Enjoy the highlights of the thrilling, rain-battered 1999 French Grand Prix

One hand on the mirror and one on the wheel

Getting through 130R at Suzuka is usually quite a difficult task for drivers, but for Charles Leclerc, at the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix, it was made even more difficult by the fact that he had to drive with one hand.

The Monegasque was forced to drive at almost 300 km/h, while trying to keep his damaged rear view mirror in place, after making contact with Max Verstappen on the opening lap of the race.

READ MORE: Leclerc says Vasseur is ‘just starting’ the process at Ferrari and ‘trusts him fully’ for the future

Three wheels up Hamilton

Back at the 2020 British Grand Prix, Hamilton looked set to claim another win at Silverstone with ease, only to have his front left tire suffer a puncture before the final lap.

The seven-time world champion managed to cross the line in spectacular fashion on three wheels, just ahead of Max Verstappen in second.

READ MORE: Hamilton reveals evolution of his fitness team after Angela Cullen split

Webber leaves little to the imagination

We’ve often heard of drivers getting sick on a race weekend, but more often than not, it’s left to the imagination to figure out just how sick they really are.

However, at the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix, Mark Webber gave us an eye-opening revelation, when he was heard throwing up on his helmet while driving and telling his team that he had to pull over.

THE RISE OF THE Rookie: Mark Webber’s journey from motocross racer to F1 championship contender

Lauda battles injury on return

At the 1976 Italian Grand Prix, Niki Lauda put in one of the most heroic performances the sport has ever seen. Six weeks after sustaining serious injuries in a German GP crash, Lauda returned to the grid as he looked to keep his championship hopes alive.

READ MORE: ‘He was like a ghost’: Remembering Niki Lauda’s comeback from fiery Nurburgring crash, 45 years later

The Austrian finished fourth for Ferrari that day, all while he was in immense pain just to put on his helmet and was also slightly visually impaired. Driving a car at high speed, while fighting with the health of it, is an incredible multitasker.

Track commentator Russell

When Formula 1 went to Mugello in 2020, it was the first time many fans had seen F1 cars lapping around the famous Italian circuit. Thus, during the first practice session, George Russell gave an idea of ​​how to approach the circuit, commenting on his fastest lap at Mugello.

F1 NATION: Can Ferrari or Aston Martin break Red Bull’s streak? It’s our preview of the Monaco GP

Valtteri checks on Lewis

Despite going slower than usual under Safety Car conditions, the drivers are still traveling at fairly high speeds. So, at the 2021 British Grand Prix, it was impressive that Valtteri Bottas was able to approach his Mercedes teammate Hamilton to check and inform the team of him if the Brit had sustained any damage to the left side of his his car.

READ MORE: Bottas believes Hamilton ‘remains the fastest driver on the grid’ as he calls his former teammate ‘disturbingly talented’

Friday – courtesy of Lando Norris’s musical stylings

Lando Norris is one of the most fun-loving drivers on the grid and showed his light-hearted spirit in FP1 at the 2020 Tuscany Grand Prix.

Asked by his racing engineer to make sure the radio was working, instead of simply answering, the McLaren driver performed the Riton and Nightcrawlers song, featuring Mufasa and Hypeman. Fridaywhile driving the MCL35.

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Montoya’s ‘Ay Venado’ passes over their heads

At the 2001 Austrian Grand Prix, Juan Pablo Montoya was lapping Spielberg in practice when his engineer informed him that he needed to stop because there was a deer on the track.

But Montoya saw the funny side of things in a stressful situation, responding to his engineer “Oh deer,” though we don’t think anyone understood that at the time.

READ MORE: Sebastián, the son of Juan Pablo Montoya, joins the Red Bull Junior Team and marks the ‘ultimate objective’ of F1

Leclerc does not fasten his seatbelt

You can try, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a driver who had a couple of more hectic laps than Leclerc at the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix.

The Ferrari racer’s engine died, spinning him into the penultimate corner and although he was able to start his car, he had unfastened his seatbelts. He was then forced to pit as they sought to restrain him back in the car, only for him to retire from the race.

Hamilton’s headrest problem

Lewis Hamilton’s 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is ​​often known for his tangle with Sebastian Vettel under the Safety Car. However, many forget that the Mercedes driver had to go down the main straight at 340KM/H, steering his car with one hand while trying to fix his loose headrest. Unfortunately, he couldn’t quite handle it and was forced to pit, costing him the win.