17 replies to this topic

[RedFever]

In the October issue of F1 Racing, a funny article portraits the deep friendship Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger developed as teammates at Ferrari first and Benetton later. A relationship still very close today.

The two drivers discuss their experiences living together and some of the practical jokes they played on one another.

One of the funniest stories is told by Jean: "We had a crazy accident with Todt's car. Gerhard had stolen it from Todt and while we were arriving at the testing circuit, he pulled the handbrake and we flipped over." Berger added: "It was the craziest thing we did together, if someone would have filmed us, two Formula 1 drivers, it would have looked funnier than a Mr. Bean episode. That was the first time in 25 years they had to use the ambulance they have in Maranello!".

There is also a cruel joke from Gerhard to Jean, during a test in Silverstone. "It was raining and we were staying in the pits. When it stopped, I went out for a lap to verify the situation as the circuit was drying. In front of the pits it was entirely dry, but the part far away was completly covered with water. As I was returning into the pits, knowing Jean, I knew that if he was going out, he would have gone flat out, so I stayed in the cockpit. The engineer arrived and I told him 'let's mount slick tires because it's all dry, let's start the test'. Jean put his helmet on and went out. In the meantime, I came out of my car and told the crew 'forget it, it's impossible to drive in these conditions'. Next we hear is a loud 'wwaaahhrr!' It was Jean spinning all over the grass!"

Alesi"Yes, you were a real nightmare!". Gerhard:"I played these tricks only to have fun, there was no malice about it, but it took Jean a couple of years to figure it out"

[RaceGirl]

I haven't seen that issue yet. Does it say what Todt was driving at the time of the crash?

[pa]

There's an excellent book idea here. There are probably thousands, if not millions of F1 fans all over the world who would shell out $25 (or the equivalent) each to get a copy of "F1 pranks and practical jokes". Well, I would, anyway.

Ripper post.

[Ivan]

Red,
I laughed so hard while I was reading that. But, you know it pissed me off too. Gerhard did more harm than good. Ruining a fast lap just for the hell of it or calling into the pit to make the team tell Jean to let him by in a slower car!

[Peeko]

I read once where Piquet and Brabham were testing, and Piquet was becoming bored with the numerous laps he was having to run. So he decided to play a prank on his team, and just before the start/finish line by the pits, he undid he seat belts and bailed out of the car, only to watch the horror on his mechanics faces when the car went by without a driver! I'll have to find the article again.

[RedFever]

Peeko, please do, I'd love to read it

[A3]

Classic stuff !

[magic]

greeeaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttt stuff

here another from the king of comedy, piquet.

middle of the race, piquet unexpectectly enters pitlane. his mechanics jumping up and running as piquet nears them.
piquet gesticulating wildly, indicating his tires before coming to a standstill.
the mechanics rush to get and fit the rubber as quick as possible.
only to witness piquet unstrapping and getting out of the car.
some essential parts on the car had died before he entered the pit anyway.

[mahelgel]

Would have loved to see the faces of those mechanics when Piquet got out of the car...

[arcwulf7]

Todt should have known better than to let Berger or Alesi anywhere near his car. As we get continually reminded, just because you have an F1 Super Licence doesn't mean you know how to drive.

[boost]

Those where great!..

These may need correcting..

Suzuka 97-98? i think.. they where taking the Drivers photo on the circuit. A mischeivous Damon Hill lunges and grabs Michael's DEKRA? hat off his head and promptly dashes away towards the pits with MS chasing behind. Apparently they where jumping armcos and weaving in and out off the garages. Not sure if it held up the photo

And i remember a post race interview, Mika was answering
a question, when Eddie suddenly splashes his glass of water on Mika then makes a mad dash out of the room. Mika then grabs the Jug of water, smiling, and gives chase!

[Peeko]

Red...

At the begining of his career in F1, he enjoyed playing tricks on the Brabham mechanics so much that he once deliberately bailed out of his car during a Silverstone test, just to see the looks of horror on their faces as it sailed past the pits, empty, like the Marie Celeste. He totally misjudged the speed he was doing, and by all accounts he was lucky to escape with minor lacerations.

[EKB]

Former F1 driver Ivan Capelli also played a number of practicle jokes.

He attached Mickey Mouse ears to his racing helmet. He once showed up on race day with his arm in a fake sling - to the horror of his team. And my favourite - at one of the grand prix, Ayrton Senna was being mobed by fans and media. Here is Ivan, being totally ignored. So he starts jumping up and down, pointing (at Senna), and yelling out "Look, a race car driver! A race car driver!"

Cheers,

EKB

[Radz]

Berger's always been the great practical joker and it was he who got Senna to unwind a bit when they were team mates at McLaren. The two best stories I remember are:
Senna gets into his hire car to drive to the circuit. As he pulls away, all these silver things fall from behind the sun visor into his lap. He just had time to figure out that they were the wheel nuts before the front wheels parted company with the car and he ground to a halt in a shower of sparks.
About three races later, Berger goes to his hotel room after the race to make sure his wallet, passport, keys and plane tickets are all together. They are - in one solid, superglued lump.
Classic laughs.

[RedFever]

Thanks Peeko.
EKB and Radz, good laughs. Loved Ivan's stuff. When I raced in Formula Italia and he was one of the best in the formula (a couple of us where making fun of him because we knew he was the fastest one and called him Quattrocchi - FourEyes - as he was wearing glasses at a young age, kind of unusual in racing), as we were getting ready to qualify for the Imola race, he completly oblivious to anyone's astonishement, arrived to his car with his helmet on, Bermuda swimming trunks and flip-flops. Nothing else. Very seriously asked his mechanic to make sure he wouldn't lose his flip-flops while he was driving as he didn't have another pair. It took people so by surprise that it took them a few minutes to understand that, no, he didn't really mean to drive dressed like that. Nice to see he didn't lose his fun side once he got to F1.

[DangerMouse]

Whilst flying in a helicopter Berger picked up Senna's briefcase and threw it out the window - Senna wasn't too pleased!

[Bob Nomates]

Brundle used to explain how his car felt to his Benetton race engineer using odd references. Before his last race the mechanics told him to say that this car felt abit Stage Coachy. So he went out to do a few installation laps and came back into the pits and his engineer asked him how his car felt over the radio...." err it's ok but it feels abit stage coachy at the rear" "Stage Coachy?...ok what does that mean?" The mechanics had a good laugh.

[colejk]

Apparantly Berger was quite the character. When Berger and Senna were team mates at McClaren, they did a PR evnt for Honda at a track out side Montreal for the Canadian GP. Honda invited all the Acura dealers to the track and they were given rides in NSX's (which were the pace cars at the time). My boss at the time received a ride with Berger. He says that Berger and Senna were playing cat and mouse around the track at over 150 miles an hour. Even driving over the infield chasing each other. At one point they were side by side less than yard away from each other. Berger looks over at my boss, gives him a crazy grin and starts laughing. They really enjoyed scaring the s**t out of the dealers that day.