Written by Isabel Jane Caporaso, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
Have you ever dreamt of a breathtaking winter wonderland — picturesque fresh snow, glimmering colourful lights and… a roaring Formula One car stealing the scene?
A dream come true for most motorsport enthusiasts, but realistically not possible, right? Wrong! Even though Formula One and frost don’t sound like a possible match, in the past there have been occasions to witness the cars sled-ding down the icy straight!
Here are three unforgettable times Formula One and snow have drifted together.
1- Silverstone 2005 snowy test session
Mention ‘winter testing’, and most people surely won’t picture cars driving around a snowy circuit — but maybe they should be!
Fernando Alonso did not let the icy weather get between him and his desire towards perfection, though.
In February 2005, ahead of a season when he would claim his maiden world title, the Renault driver ensured everyone on his team knew snowy weather did not mean they could take it easy.
He partook in a few laps around the circuit, but was mostly focused on ice cold pit-stop practice, with the intent to refine any impreciseness.
Alonso’s perfectionist stride and unbelievable hustle is what makes him a remarkable racing driver and two time world champion, even in the frigid temperatures!
2- Livigno 2016: Scuderia Ferrari on Ice
Imagine a snowy, picturesque weekend in the Italian Alps, and suddenly a Formula One car begins racing down the mountain. Exactly what happened in Livigno back in 2016.
Former F1 racer Giancarlo Fisichella received the amazing opportunity to take the 2009 F60 on a temporarily arranged icy circuit — featuring makeshift straights, turns and chicanes.
The incredible event took place in wintry Alpine weather, in chilling temperatures of -3°C, but luckily for the Tifosi present, the searing engine of the mighty red car kept them warm.
The first part of the show was focused on track action, as Fisichella took on an approach similar to rally racers, driving the F60 around to entertain the crowd and adapt to the, as expected, complicated track conditions.
The second half of the afternoon saw Fisichella take his F60 for a ride in the town center of the beautiful frosty town.
Is there anything more thrilling than the silence of the still crisp snow broken by the rumble of a V8 powerhouse like the F60?
3- Max Verstappen on the Hahnenkamm downhill course in 2016
Envision taking on one of the most challenging and thrilling downhill slopes in the world of skiing, except not on skis but… in a Formula One car!
This is exactly what Max Verstappen did in 2016 aboard the Toro Rosso Red Bull RB7 show car, demonstrating how cold blood and remarkable skill is necessary for a world champion in the making.
The engineering team made the necessary adjustments to assure the driveability of the car in such conditions. The first step was creating custom snow tires, as such compounds are non-existent, by tying chains around the tires.
Secondly it was essential to adjust the engine set-up to make sure the driver could easily control the car in the frosty conditions.
The unbelievable show the 19-year-old Red Bull prodigy put on sent chills down everyone’s spine, perhaps more so than the chilly weather in the region!
Formula One, one of the most spectacular sports on earth — requires incredible skill, impeccable strategies, but most of all spectacular settings. How beautiful would it be to see more action in glacial crisp scenes, amidst the snow?
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