F1
When F1 drivers do their Secret Santa!
© F1
Who received what from whom this year? In the Formula 1 Secret Santa special video Posted on the occasion of the Christmas holidays, the pilots were able to unwrap their mystery gifts in Abu Dhabi and thus discover their secret Santa, to our great delight.
George Russell: The Power Model
George Russell opened the show by receiving a book by Jordan Sales, "So you want to be a model?" and a kiwi bracelet whose packaging read "You hold the kiwi to my heart." With this nice clue, the Briton concluded that his benefactor was none other than Liam Lawson, the New Zealand driver!
From his legendary T-pose in the opening credits of the Formula 1 in 2023, the pilot Mercedes has received a lot of teasing. And he plays on it! Number 63 likes to take part in videos in which he strikes poses like a model, so much so that some fans say he is in his supermodel era. A detail that has not escaped the future teammate of Max Verstappen visibly.
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Liam Lawson: The Cars fan
Liam Lawson's Secret Santa also hit the nail on the head, as the Kiwi received a remote-controlled model of Flash McQueen. A fan of the little red car, star of the Cars animated films, the future driver Red Bull was very enthusiastic as he tore open the packaging and said he suspected what was going to be inside. It was hard to find the name of his Santa Claus for a day: "I've told so many people that I love Lightning McQueen!"
In fact, Lawson even made a humorous TikTok in 2023 in which he staged his meeting with "the one who made him want to become a Formula 1 driver" in an amusement park. After a few attempts, the New Zealander discovered thatOscar piastri was in charge of his gift, before thanking him through the camera with a beaming smile. It's safe to say that the Australian has succeeded in his quest for the perfect present
@liam_lawson30 Meet my hero this week… #formula1 #alphataurif1
Oscar Piastri: The apprentice padel player
In an envelope "very well packaged," Oscar Piastri received coupons for Padel lessons, a sport that arouses real enthusiasm among the majority of Formula 1 drivers. Immediately, Oscar Piastri's teammate Lando Norris guess this gift is given to him by Alex Albon ! According to the beneficiary, the Thai would not be a great admirer of his padel skills. As he considers to have a better level than the pilot Williams, he suggests that they use these coupons together to progress together. Classy!
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Alex Albon: The Golfer Who Loved Peaches
After advising his mysterious Santa "to improve their packaging skills," Alex Albon discovers a panda golf club headcover. A welcome gift for the golf enthusiast who thinks he should first thank Guanyu-Zhou for this attention, before discovering a personalized card with a Valtteri Bottas from behind, wearing a Santa hat as his only clothing. For Albon, it's certain that he will only see the Finn's buttocks when he takes out his clubs.
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Valtteri Bottas: The Iron Man and the Frog
For Valtteri Bottas, who enjoys running Ironmans between two race weekends, Santa had fun giving him a book of theories on specific triathlon training. To complete his mission, Santa added swimming goggles decorated with frogs in the colors of Sauber. For the Finn, this is proof that this gift came from George Russell since the green ladies reminded him of the man who stole his seat at Mercedes in 2022. Lost! Since it is Esteban Ocon who had drawn the name of the Mercedes 2025 reserve driver.
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Esteban Ocon: The pro of remote-controlled cars
Already dressed in his team uniform Haas, Esteban Ocon was spoiled with a radio-controlled drift car! Without thinking, the Frenchman deduced that this gift came from Charles Leclerc, aware that the Monegasque is among those who know his passion for remote-controlled vehicles. The former teammate of Pierre Gasly was able to expand its collection, despite a product deemed to be a joke "low budget" and will be able to have fun playing with toy cars when he is not behind the wheel of a car a little more imposing!
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Charles Leclerc: The Dachshund Father
Since the arrival of Léo Leclerc-Saint Mleux, a cream-coloured long-haired miniature dachshund, all eyes have been on him in the paddock. Unsurprisingly, Charles Leclerc has therefore received two toys for his dog. Amused, the Monegasque suggests that "Leo will be happy without a doubt," without having the slightest idea of who preferred to spoil the dog rather than the master. It is none other than Yuki tsunoda who decided to make Leo bark with happiness!
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Yuki Tsunoda: The future Argentinian
Yuki Tsunoda's mysterious benefactor turned to a specialty of his country. The Japanese first enjoyed a rather special cup and a bag of grass that he mistook for tea or coffee. No! It was a kit for making mate with a gourd and dried Yerba Maté. This infusion is particularly appreciated by Argentinians who have even made it an institution. No doubt about it, his Secret Santa was none other than Franco Colapinto!
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Franco Colapinto: The modeling clay sculptor
When Franco Colapinto opened his package, he thought his Secret Santa didn't really know what to buy him: some modelling clay probably bought in Qatar and a chalkboard puzzle. Unless it was a joke about his status as a young rookie who can therefore still play like children, there is no real connection between these two objects. For the Argentinian, it is the work of Carlos Sainz ! Without hard feelings for the Iberian, Colapinto even sculpted his future Williams using his gifts!
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Carlos Sainz: The original pepper
Carlos Sainz, who is regularly nicknamed Chili, was presented with a magnificent chili pepper costume in honour of this nickname. When he discovered that Guanyu Zhou was behind this original gift, he even promised that if the Chinese driver scored points before the end of the season, he would wear the costume for a photo! 72 hours later, the bet was kept by the Sauber driver and Sainz had to do his part by donning the costume for a photo.
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Guanyu Zhou: The Cat Lady
Animals are popular in the paddock, and their owners are crazy about them. Guanyu Zhou's reaction to opening his gift proved it once again. Lando Norris had the brilliant idea of having a personalized cushion made with a photo of Sweetcorn, the Chinese driver's cat. A gesture that particularly delighted him, so much so that the driver made an Instagram post about it!
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Lando Norris: The racquet expert
Obviously disappointed to see a gift no thicker than an envelope… Lando Norris received Padel lessons from his compatriot George Russell. According to the pilot McLaren, it's the height of it since his level would be better than that of his secret Santa: "I beat him the other day, so I put it back in the envelope and return it to Santa. If I need lessons, he needs lessons even more!" For Norris, this gift would have been acceptable from Fernando Alonso or Lance stroll, whom he considers much better than himself.
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Lance Stroll: The FC Versailles footballer
It was Lance Stroll's turn to unwrap a jersey from the Versailles Football team. The Canadian immediately guessed that his Secret Santa was French, but didn't immediately guess that it was Pierre Gasly. The Tricolore, who became one of the owners of the club this year, sent a message to the person in charge of distribution: a personalized copy is on the way!
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Pierre Gasly: The Team
Two years ago, Pierre Gasly received Padel rackets from Lance Stroll. This year again, it was the Canadian who played Santa Claus for the driver Alpine. In the continuity of this first present, the pilot Aston Martin gave him a personalized padel jersey. Gasly confided that they had been trying to organize a session together for two years without success, but that this time, he really wants to find a moment to face Stroll in a match.
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