12 Formula 1 Drivers Driving Insanely Fast Off The Track

When Formula 1 drivers aren’t in Formula 1 cars, well, interesting things tend to happen. Seen here is a mix of on and off-track exploits, with not-formula cars and road cars.

Whether it’s Ayrton Senna testing rally cars, Fernando Alonso in a hatchback at the Nurburgring, Nigel Mansell in a Ferrari F40, or Sir Stirling Moss in his daily driven electric car, it really is more entertaining to see some of the world’s best drivers when they’re not at work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHYt270aYE8

Ayrton Senna once tried out two rally cars, and it looked like quite the day out…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT3kVPK-0rc

One of the many perks of working for Ferrari as a racing driver is that you’re able to enjoy its cars on the “backyard” test track. Here are four of our favorite videos from the company’s YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbqR-KmLJ_w

One of the more entertaining clips here is Alonso’s hot lap of the Nurburgring, scaring everyone else in the car. It’s brilliant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82w_fRzictY

Yes, Sir Stirling Moss drives a Porsche. OK, so this isn’t insanely fast, but it’s still faster than his Renault Twizy—his current daily driver. So if you’re in London and get passed by an older gentleman in a green electric car, well, be happy it’s Moss zipping past.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uk8u7V2gUo

Ex-Formula 1, Le Mans, and Can Am pilot Jacky Ickx is perhaps now best-known for his triumphs in the “classic” Paris-Dakar, an event which is now run in South America. This guy is fast everywhere he goes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRp_NKynITs

If you didn’t know who Nigel Mansell is or what he looks like, you’d be forgiven for wondering why a man with a large moustache and funny hat is able to control the Ferrari F40 with ease. Epic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSmTuV37Nvw

OK, so Jenson Button and David Coulthard are racing on a track, just not a Formula 1 course. Button’s father used to compete in mixed surface events, and this is Jenson’s first taste of a high-powered rallycross machine. Looks like he loves it…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT5yLR4aluY

Yes, Tiff was a Formula 1 racer, and now—although these days he does arguably more presenting than racing—he’s still capable of going fast enough to scare his fellow racing drivers.
Image source: emercedesbenz.com