I suspect I’m not alone in filling the void left by the Formula One summer break by following the Rio 2016 Olympics.
It’s actually been quite fun thinking Haryanto every time I’ve heard the name Rio, but then us F1 fans are fairly easily pleased.
I also hope I’m not the only guy who keeps thinking of Interlagos every time I realise Brazil is on the television?
Anyway, while there’s no motorsport event at the Olympics, F1 does have a few more links to the event than you might think.
Currently, the most obvious place the two combine is the Russian Grand Prix as the cars chase around the Sochi Olympic Park. I can’t recall either being that exciting, though Winter sports aren’t really my thing, however, I do still remember that bear winking in the Closing Ceremony!
Alex Zanardi is the only F1 driver to have competed at the Games taking gold in both the H4 time trial and road race in handcycling at the London Paralympics.
While, Ferrari helped out the Italian bobsleigh team in their bid for glory prior to the 2014 games.
Having watched a decent amount of action so far, it’s not like Rio 2016 is short of events that can quell our need for speed.
The rowing has men and women powering across the water in aerodynamic, lightweight carbon fibre (I think) boats, frankly, all they need is a steering wheel… and maybe some actual wheels.
The cycling also has very fit lads and ladies going round and round on a banked oval, sorry that’s IndyCar, not F1, how about BMX is that better?
And soon we will have the athletics with more guys and girls speeding around a track as fast as they can. Again just ignore the shape of that track because well, F1 doesn’t race on those.
All this Rio (Haryanto) fever got me wondering, which sports would the current F1 drivers play if they took part in the Olympic Games? Here are a few suggestions.
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