We imagine that “regular vehicles” must seem quite tame for Formula One professionals who are used to nothing short of super fast roadsters. However, when they are not busy racing and need to take a drive out in the town, they too have gotten their hands on some sweet rides from some of our favorite brands.
The enormous dollars that F1 drivers take home on a yearly basis, allows them the luxury of owning high-end automobiles. Some of them are even lucky enough to get a luxury vehicle as part of their contracts or via sponsorship deals. Let’s take a look at the set of wheels driven by the planet’s fastest racecar drivers.
Lewis Hamilton | Pagani Zonda 760 LH
Louis Hamilton is currently the owner of this custom Pagani Zonda 760 LH, which is the only one of its kind. Hamilton flaunted the supercar on Instagram, gaining raving reviews from his followers, who are just as taken away by this vehicle as we are.
He refers to it as his #batmobile and we can understand why; it goes from 0 to 62 mph in under three seconds! The vehicle also delivers 760 HP with a manual gearbox. Hamilton owns 15 expensive vehicles and he told The Sunday Times that he keeps some of them at his Monaco residence and others in Los Angeles at a rented garage.
Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 d Coupé
Valtteri Bottas is considered one of the F1 racers who keeps a low profile, however, he does make a statement when it comes to his taste in automobiles. Bottas is the proud owner of a Mercedes-Benz GLE 35- d Coupé, which he uses as his winter vehicle.
Bottas joined the Petronas team for the 2017 season, powered by Mercedes-AMG, explaining why he settled for the vehicle. He replaced Nico Rosberg who had announced his retirement after the 2016 season. Bottas has been spotted driving other luxurious vehicles, but the Mercedes proves to be a more practical choice during wintertime, in his native country Finland.
Sebastian Vettel | Renault Twizy F1
F1 champion, Sebastian Vettel, was the first person to sample the Renault Twizy F1. The Crackers revealed the electric vehicle back in 2013 in Spain. The concept automobile accommodates a vast majority of F1 technology and retails at an estimated £6.2K.
It possesses a modest capability of 17bhp to 97bhp using a similar KERS system found in Renault-engined F1 vehicles. The Twizy weighs about 1200 pounds and matches up to the Renault Megane 265, in terms of the power-to-weight ratio. It incorporates the steering wheel and wheels from the Renault 3.5.
Charles Leclerc | Ferrari 812 Superfast
What better way to celebrate one’s 20th birthday than to cruise through your neighborhood in the ride of your dreams? For his special day, Charles Leclerc got a brand new super-fast vehicle, literally. To make things even better, he received it as somewhat of a gift; it was a loan for a couple of days from Ferrari.
Regardless, who wouldn’t want to relax in the sleek interior of a Ferrari 812 Superfast even if it’s just for a few days? As displayed by the photos above, the vehicle, the driver, and the surroundings of his home environment in Monte Carlo, all blend in perfectly together. Who knows? Maybe one day, he can make this Ferrari permanently his.
Pierre Gasly | Honda NSX
French racer Pierre Gasly naturally loves automobiles and so, it’s no surprise that he’s the proud owner of a sports supercar. Gasly has a Honda NSX which cost him an estimated $190K. The second-generation NSX is a two-seater vehicle featuring a mid-engine and it’s also an all-wheel-drive.
The vehicle made it’s debut in 2015 with a live broadcast on YouTube. Gasly might have to hold back on making such huge purchases though as Red Bull demoted him back to the Toro Rosso junior team in 2019. Gasly didn’t perform at the top of his game in the previous year which contributed to the demotion.
Carlos Sainz Jr. | McLaren 720S
Carlos Sainz Jr. is part of the F1 McLaren team which explains why he now drives an extremely stylish vehicle produced by the brand. Sainz chose a bluish-gray colored McLaren 720S which features brake calipers in a classic orange hue.
He joined the team for the 2019 season replacing Fernando Alonso who retired after concluding the 2018 season. Sainz had an unlucky start, however, he made up for the lost time and displayed his full potential, along with that of his racing vehicle, the MCL34, which earned him consistent scores.
Kimi Räikkönen | Ferrari LaFerrari
Finnish racer Kimi Räikkönen rejoined the Ferrari team in 2014 and his return came with the perks of a company vehicle. He had the pleasure of cruising in a LaFerrari hypercar, of which only 499 units have been made. As such, owning this hybrid is a privilege worth boasting about.
Räikkönen did laps around the brand’s Fiorano track, starting slowly, before pushing the 963 HP mega-beast to its limit. He had a near accident when he pushed the vehicle a bit too much, causing it to swerve and end up on the grass.
Lando Norris | McLaren 570S
Ask any Formula 1 driver and they’ll tell you that the nature of their work is both exhilarating, as well as, grueling. Most have a calendar filled with Grand Prix events and they also have to be dedicated to a workout regime, to keep themselves fit for each race.
Like most F1 drivers, Lando Norris enjoys the benefits that come with representing vehicle brands and in his case, he represents McLaren. For his company vehicle of choice, Norris settled for a new McLaren 570S. The 570 HP mid-engined vehicle is capable of achieving speeds of up to 124mph in about 9.5 seconds.
Alex Albon | Honda e Prototype
F1 driver Alex Albon took time off of his busy schedule to sample the Honda e Prototype during the 2019 Goodwood Festival. Albon, who competes for the Toro Rosso team didn’t spare the electric hatchback when going uphill. Thankfully, he had Honda executives with him for the ride.
The Honda e Prototype is a small vehicle that has similar subcompact proportions to the Renault Zoe. However, the Prototype uses a rear-wheel-drive configuration, unlike its French rival, which makes use of a front-wheel-drive setup. The electric motor provides a 148 HP boost with 300+ Nm torque.
Daniel Ricciardo | Aston Martin Valkyrie
In 2018, F1 driver, Daniel Ricciardo, spent an estimated $3.2 million on an Aston Martin Valkyrie. Even more impressive is the fact that he dug into his own bank account to pre-order the vehicle back in 2017. The hypercar has a futuristic look, oozing luxury and its described as a “diffuser on wheels”.
The vehicle boasts a v12-rated 6.5-liter engine, delivering an incredible 1,130 HP. It is also designed to feature a single-clutch gearbox. Only 150 units of the Valkyrie have been manufactured, all of which have already been sold on pre-order alone!
Nico Hülkenberg | Porsche GT3 R
Former F1 racer, Nico Hülkenberg, recalls his grandfather and father telling him how important it is to clean his vehicle for the weekend. Hülkenberg listened and now, he washes his vehicle as often as possible and is not afraid to let the world know how much he loves his Porsche GT3 R.
Hülkenberg hasn’t shied away from sharing photos of his Porsche on Twitter and, needless to say, such posts cause quite a stir. After leaving his Formula One days behind, he found success as a Youtuber where he shares videos, test driving vehicles. In one upload, he pits the performance of the Porsche 911 GTS against the Tesla Model 3.
Sergio Pérez | Mercedes-Benz SLR AMG
Sergio Pérez signed a three-year extension deal with Racing Point F1 that will result in him competing for the team until 2022. He joined the team in 2013 on an estimated $16.69 million contract when they were known as Force India. He represented them up until they went into administration in 2018 and reformed as Racing Point F1.
At just 29 years of age, Pérez is the owner of a rare Mercedes-Benz SLR AMG, estimated to be worth $1.4 million! There were only 150 units of these exquisite convertibles built and placed on the market, with one on display at the Stuggart-based Mercedes-Benz Museum.
Romain Grosjean | Jaguar XF
To kickstart Jaguar’s 2016 Art of Performance Tour, F1 star Romain Grosjean completed a skill and agility test. He took the Jaguar XF through the paces over an innovative smart cone course. The cones use wireless tech to illuminate random pairs at any given time, setting out different course routes to follow.
Grosjean explained that the lightweight build of the XF and its agile handling capability allow it to operate as if it were a sports vehicle. The tour covered 46 different venues and offered more than 100,000 guests the experience of driving a Jaguar.
Fernando Alonso | Maserati GranCabrio
Fernando Alonso has raced for several F1 teams including Renault, Ferrari, and McLaren. It would appear that he always includes a vehicle upgrade as part of the negotiations when joining a team. During his time with Renault, he drove a Megane but when he joined Ferrari he received a Maserati GranCabrio.
The roadster features a pearl beige finish with a Bordeaux interior and it has a soft-top roof. While he didn’t exactly go for a Ferrari as expected, the vehicle is well within his contract because Fiat owns both the Maserati and Ferrari brands.
Antonio Giovinazzi | Alfa Romeo
Antonio Giovinazzi debuted during the 2017 season, racing for Sauber. He replaced Pascal Wehrlein who was recovering after a pre-season injury and he took the opportunity to display his excellence in F2. In 2019, he signed a contract racing for Alfa Romeo full time.
He had a photo op after the brand made the announcement, posing next to the 2018 Giulia 2.0T RWD. The vehicle goes from 0 to 60mph in just about 5.7 seconds and it features a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. It also comes in a distinctive red color with similar hued brake calipers.
Robert Kubica | Lamborghini Urus
Robert Kubica joined the Williams team for the 2019 F1 season after being their reserve driver in 2018. Kubica escaped a horrific crash during the 2011 Ronde di Andora rally which left him with a partially severed forearm. He also fractured his leg and right elbow.
Fortunately, he recovered and returned to the sport. In 2018, Lamborghini tweeted a photo of Kubica with its CEO, Stefano Domenicali, at their Sant’Agata Bolognese headquarters. Behind them, was a Lamborghini Urus SUV which raised curiosity about a possible partnership between the brand and Kubica. The 660-hp SUV retails for about $220K.
Nico Rosberg | 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
Nico Rosberg left the world of racing behind in 2016 which also happened to be the same year he secured the only world title of his career. He had been competing for Mercedes-AMG and he also owns a classic 1955 300 SL.
Rosberg had been working on building his social media presence, which isn’t so hard, given that his photos generally show him alongside opulent vehicles. He posted one photo of him driving around Monaco in the Mercedes 300 SL. However, Rosberg revealed that he would prefer to own his dream vehicle, the Ferrari 250 GT Spider.
Jenson Button | McLaren P1
Retired F1 driver, Jenson Button, spent a lot of time in the slower-moving automobiles during his racing years. However, when he’s off the track, he seems to prefer maneuvering faster vehicles and he’s owned quite a number of them! These include a Ferrari 355, Mercedes C63 AMG, Bugatti Veyron, and McLaren P1.
However, Button still stands by his statement, that there are two automobiles he could never own because of their hefty price tags. He was referring to the Ferrari 250 GTO and the McLaren F1, which he says are some of the most stunning vehicles of their era.
Jacques Villeneuve | BMW 135i E82
Jacques Villeneuve is a current NASCAR driver and he also dabbles in music. He was a member of the Williams, BMW, Sauber, and Renault teams during his F1 days. Villeneuve has an estimated net worth of $35 million, which allows him to own just about any vehicle he desires such as the BMW 135i E82.
The BMW E82 is a German-built machine, introduced to the public back in 2007. It can attain a top speed of 155mph and is able to go from 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds! Talk about a quality ride with acceleration! Furthermore, it’s a rear-wheel-drive vehicle with a front-engine setup.
Alain Prost | McLaren F1 XP5
The production of the McLaren F1 started in 1992 and its design was considered ground-breaking. Naturally, racing drivers signed up to get behind the wheel of this vehicle. Alain Prost was one of them and having driven for McLaren for six years, it made sense that he would have one of his own.
Andy Wallace set the speed record, reaching 243mph, for commercially produced vehicles while driving a McLaren F1 XP5. Wallace made the record in 1998 at the Ehra-Lessien test track in Germany. There were only 71 units of these vehicles built but including the race models and prototypes, the total comes to 106.
Ayrton Senna | Honda Acura NSX
Honda invited Ayrton Senna to have a look at the Acura NSX back in 1989. Senna did a road test and concluded that the vehicle was fragile. Honda took his feedback and went back to the drawing board; the end product was nothing short of spectacular.
Senna, of course, got his hands on an Acura NSX and he took pleasure in keeping it clean and driving it around. The vehicle featured Lift Electronic Control and Variable Valve Timing, which was the newest engine tech during that time. The wider engine compelled the designers to create a wheelbase that was slightly longer.
Niki Lauda | Mercedes-AMG GT S
The world lost one of its legends when former F1 racer Niki Lauda passed way in 2019. He passed on while he was admitted to the University Hospital of Zurich for dialysis at the age of 70. Fans, as well as, his former colleagues, decided to honor his legacy by wearing red caps.
During his lifetime, he drove a Mercedes-AMG GT S. In an interview for the Mercedes blog, he explained that it took him a while to decide on buying the vehicle because he never thought that he could afford the extra attention. He said that people already recognized him everywhere he went because of his red cap.
Stoffel Vandoorne | McLaren 570S
Back in 2016, McLaren racer, Stoffel Vandoorne, earned a full-time seat for the 2017 Formula 1 season. As of 2019, he is a simulator driver representing the Mercedes team. However, at that time, he was already cruising around in a McLaren 570S.
The vehicle packs a twin-turbo and a 3.8-liter V8 engine which produces a 562 HP boost. The vehicle weighs 3,189 pounds and can go from 0 to 60 mph in about 2.9 seconds. Photos of Vandoorne at a Belgium gas station with the British-registered vehicle made headlines on a number of celebrity news outlets.
Marcus Ericsson | Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
In a September 2018 tweet, racer Marcus Ericsson shared that he had just picked up his new Alfa Romeo in Sweden. He added that the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is a really nice vehicle to look at and to drive as well. The vehicle is named after the famous pass located in the Italian Alps.
Ericsson started racing for the Sauber team during the 2015 season and has remained a member to date. However, the team announced that Antonio Giovinazzi would replace him right before the 2018 Russian Grand Prix. Nonetheless, Ericsson still represents the team as a brand ambassador and third driver.
Brendon Hartley | Honda Civic Type R
Brendon Hartley’s first vehicle was a 1996 Honda Civic and he was happy to get a Type R upgrade. He said that the only downside is the fact that his busy schedule wouldn’t allow him to drive it as much as he would like.
Hartley has been serving as a simulator driver, as of 2019, for Scuderia Ferrari. He formerly raced for the Toro Rosso F1 team and has a total of 12 wins with the 7 fastest laps to his name. He has also raced with the Porsche and Murphy Prototypes teams.
Felipe Massa | Ferrari LaFerrari
Renowned racer Felipe Massa has earned the bragging rights associated with owning a LaFerrari. His vehicle shows off a glossy black color with red accents. Since its launch, only 499 units of the vehicles have ever been produced, making Felipe a very lucky man!
After announcing his plans to retire from the sport in 2016, he officially stepped down from F1 racing once the 2017 season concluded. Chris Evans was the first person to get his hands on the Italian hypercar. Other famous stars who own the vehicle include Samuel Eto’o, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Jamoriqua’s Jay Kay.
Alexander Rossi | Ford F-150 Raptor
Indianapolis 500 winner, Alexander Rossi, is known for being involved in sporadic near arrest situations after run-ins with the law. Rossi owns a fleet of modified vehicles which he often takes out on the road. The list of vehicles he owns includes a Ford Raptor and a 780 HP Audi A8.
Rossi also raced for the Manor Marussia F1 team in 2015 and served as a Caterham test driver before that. He now fully dedicates his time to IndyCar racing and he has shared that he doesn’t have any plans of returning to Formula 1.
Adrian Sutil | Koenigsegg Regera
Former F1 racer, Adrian Sutil, was seen flaunting his 1500 HP Koenigsegg Regera in 2019. He had the vehicle delivered to him at the French Riviera and he covered its first 31 miles, driving all the way to Monaco, followed by the Italian city of San Remo.
Sutil ordered the vehicle from his home country, Germany, making the transaction through his dealer Esser Automotive. He received the vehicle in a horizon blue color, similar to the one that was showcased during the Geneva Motor Show in 2015. Sutil previously owned a matte black and red striped Koenigsegg Agera X.
André Lotterer | Porsche 964 Carrera RS 3.8
André Lotterer is a Formula E driver. Formula E is a motorsport class that exclusively uses electric-powered vehicles. Lotterer is known for the success he’s achieved in endurance racing, as well as, his three Le Mans wins. He has fine taste in vehicles which is reflected by the Porsche 964 Carrera that he owns.
Lotterer’s fleet of vintage gems includes a 1967 Ford Mustang, a Volkswagen T3 Syncro, a Porsche 911 2.7, and the rare 964 Carrera. He shared that his long-term goal is to have enough room to display his collection of classic vehicles.
Mark Webber | Porsche 918 Spyder
In 2015, just in time for his 39th birthday, Mark Webber became the proud owner of a customized Porsche 918 Spyder, featuring a red and white color, christened the “Salzburg Design.” The interior bears the digits, ”605”, making it truly a one of a kind model made for Webber.
Webber explained that he settled for the number because six added to five equals 11 which was his number during his Formula 3 days. He said that he will extend the utmost attention and care to the vehicle as he doesn’t like seeing automobiles that are neglected.
Heikki Kovalainen | Lotus Evora
In 2010, racer Heikki Kovalainen spent some time at the Lotus test track in Hethel, England, sampling the Evora. He described the experience as everything he expected, noting that the weight to power ratio gave the Evora a racecar feel. He added that he enjoyed every lap, particularly when he slid the vehicle sideways.
Kovalainen raced for the Lotus F1 team which explains why he toured their manufacturing facilities followed by the test drive. His presence at the factory also put a smile on the employees’ faces during that visit. The vehicle has a 3.5-liter v6 engine, delivering 276 HP.
Michael Schumacher | Ferrari FXX
The Ferrari FXX is a sports enthusiast’s dream ride and that’s why Michael Schumacher bought one for himself. The aesthetics of the vehicle draws inspiration from the Enzo which is yet another car that Schumacher has owned. In 2013, Zenith, a supercar dealer garage, had both automobiles for sale.
Ferrari custom-designed the vehicle as a gift for Schumaker when he retired from racing in 2006. At the time the FXX went up for sale, it had 599 miles on it and that particular vehicle was the only one featuring a black color scheme. It was up for grabs for anyone willing to pay $2.66 million.
Max Verstappen | Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Dutch racer, Max Verstappen, bought a Porsche 911 GT3 RS in 2016 when he was just 18. He reportedly paid $400K for the vehicle, an estimated $176K above what it retails for in the U.S. We’re sure the purchase didn’t dent his account though, as he was fresh off joining the team Red Bull Racing and secured a Grand Prix victory.
He bought the vehicle in celebration of being promoted but he still had to obtain permission from his manager who also happens to be his father, retired F1 driver Jos Verstappen. Max, who received his driver’s license in 2015 previously drove a Renault Clio RS.