F1 driver, Company Cars

[Deleted]

One of the perks of being an F1 driver, should be access to a really exotic company car for the road. 
But who do you think are the winners and losers amongst the F1 drivers in the company car that comes with the seat?
Things look pretty good if you’re driving for Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull (Aston Martin?), Mercedes, but after that it pickings start getting a bit thinner, STR/Honda might get you an NSX, or a nice bike, Sauber Alfa Romeo, a 4C or a Guila, Renault, hummmmmm a fast Clio or Megane, but what do you get if you’re driving for Haas, Williams or Force India?

So what cars do you think the drivers get, and what would you choose from the cars available from each of the Teams, if you had the chance?

For me, I'm pretty sure that Vettel and Raikonnen having access to a Ferrari 488 would be the overall winners, and probably my pick. Though a McLaren 720 might just be enough to attract some to the 'third best chassis on the grid'.

[mikael]

Just a (weak) remembrance in relation to Jim's interesting suggested topic.

I seem to remember that Hamilton was promised a McLaren roadcar (I don't recall the model) if he won a *second* title with McLaren. Thus he was not presented one on the strength of his first title alone (if I remember correctly). This would indicate also that his salary was not overwhelmingly high back then, in 2008, even though he was so close to taking the title in his debut year.

In this relation, I'm pretty sure, then, that Sergio Pérez and Kevin Magnussen were never offered (presented with) a McLaren roadcar. Maybe Jenson Button was, after so many years of service.

[René]

Nice one!
For the Ferrari drivers it has always looked good. But I know Kimi also drives an Alfa Stelvio which is more practical as a family car now with two kids. His favourite is an Enzo though.
The Red Bull boys used to drive Infinity but now Aston Martin, not bad. I guess in most cases it is engine or sponsor related. Mercedes for Williams and Force India? I actually don't know.

Ferrari drivers always had nice wheels.

[Carl]

A spoilsport might point out that being paid $2,000,000 to $3,000,000 per race weekend, essentially to be idolized while having fun with few serious elements of risk involved, the idea of further perks is a driver manager's wet-dream.

Does Briatore need his bedsheets changed daily? 

[charleselan]

In days past many opted for a Mercedes Benz as their road car of choice, especially when they were known for their bullet proof integrity. Many motorcycle racers also chose the three pointed star; although Mike Hailwood once owned a very nice Citroen Maserati SM.

Lotus drivers usually had Lotus Elan's, either the S3 or 4  , or an Elan +2. A great tale related by Jackie Stewart involved an occasion when he and Jochen Rindt, accompanied by wives, drove from their homes to a race meeting in Europe. JYS chose his company Ford Granada, but even though he tried to persuade Jochen otherwise, the Austrian was adamant that he would use his Elan +2. Well into the journey the passenger door on Jochen's +2 flew off the car and over the top of the Granada. JYS duly turned around and picked the door up, while Jochen drove on for the rest of the journey with Nina fully exposed in the passenger seat. I don't think Jackie had much trust in Lotus cars .

[Deleted]

Can't say much about this subject, but I do have the feeling that McLaren drivers are not being provided of a McLaren road car.

I think Ferrari drivers are leased Ferrari cars and most likely they have the pick of any FCA Group model, while on the Scuderia's books.

However, I do know Regazzoni paid for his Daytona, now owned by his daughter and son.

[Carl]

John Charles,

That must have been when the close friends both had houses at Lake Como. Poor Nina probably soon had a set of leathers paid for by Colin Chapman. Rob Walker once wrote about being nervous when his GP driver Jo Siffert postponed leaving for an important flight at the airport, an hour's drive on good roads, but the mountain roads were covered in fresh snow. The usually imperturbable Walker must have breathed a sigh of relief when Seppi, driving his Porsche 911, had them at the airline counter in 45 minutes. 

Unless the story is apocryphal, at least once Stirling Moss was asked by a traffic officer whether he thought he was Stirling Moss. Depending on how exasperated the policeman had been made by the chase, Moss would have had to answer carefully.

Cheers, Carl

[Deleted]

May 6, 2018 19:35:02 GMT charleselan said:

In days past many opted for a Mercedes Benz as their road car of choice, especially when they were known for their bullet proof integrity. Many motorcycle racers also chose the three pointed star; although Mike Hailwood once owned a very nice Citroen Maserati SM.

That brings back a recollection,  was it the recent Martin Brundle podcast from Motorsport where he said that the most money he got from his first season in F1 was on-selling the Mercedes that he'd bought using the discount available to F1 drivers.
I guess the big discount (might have been 35%) might be why lots of F1 drivers and MotoGP riders have Mercedes. 

A few recent MotoGP riders have a BMW M3 in the garage,  it was the prize for the season's top qualifier for a while.

I remember from his Autobiography that JYS had his business head on from early days, so drove a Ford executive car, and wore a blazer and tie so that people took him seriously. That worked out pretty well in the long run.

[chrisb]

i do know the Sauber guys have been given the hottest Honda hatches havailable

I guess everyone knows the story of Jimmy and the Anglia? but I know Jimmy swopped the Mustang for a Galaxy in 65 and Graham preferred a Jag, but Jimmy had his Elan's

[Carl]

May 7, 2018 18:22:06 GMT chrisb said:

i do know the Sauber guys have been given the hottest Honda hatches havailable

I guess everyone knows the story of Jimmy and the Anglia? but I know Jimmy swopped the Mustang for a Galaxy in 65 and Graham preferred a Jag, but Jimmy had his Elan's

Chris,

It's interesting how both Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart occasionally preferred large American boulevard cruisers, Stewart with the Granada (with pretenses to mid-size) and Clark the immense Galaxy.  Drivers of their talent, so often on the edge, understandably wanted at times to be comfortably cosseted.  We fans normally chose the opposite.

Cheers, Carl

[chrisb]

Carl, after years of clambering in and out of cars i too went down that route to a comfortable SUV - just wish the bloody thing was a bit more reliable....in saying that i spent six hours on the bike yesterday, not so cosseted, but great fun