We all love a good teammate friendship, seeing how they laugh together in interviews and create funny moments that later become memes. However, not all driver pairings can end up that way; there are some which can end in fights on and off track, create divides within teams and even cause one to leave the team. Although, we are not here to talk about that. We are here to talk about the unstoppable driver duos that I’ve created in my head over a short period of time. To be honest with you, not much thought went into this, it was just kind of a ‘hmmm… I wonder what those two would be like as teammates’ or a ‘wow, those two would be unstoppable as teammates.’ So, here are my top 10 picks:
- Yuki Tsunoda + Fernando Alonso
At first, you may be thinking that this is the most random duo I could have come up with. But hear me out… imagine their PR and social media. The team would be fine to fire their social media co-ordinators because their job would be done for them. With Alonso’s TikTok presence and Tsunoda’s meme-worthy and just all-round likeable persona, this would be either a team’s worst nightmare, or best ally.
2. Kimi Antonelli + Ollie Bearman
This is a less random duo, but definitely more wholesome. Their friendship as rookies is honestly so adorable. As two of the most talented and loved rookies on the grid, everyone would root for them on track and off track. Of course, being the youngest drivers on the grid, they would also be the most, well, spirited too. I’m sure most of you have seen the video of them dancing in lit up glow stick suits. If not, then check it out please! You will not regret it.
3. Lando Norris + Isack Hadjar
Honestly, I can’t really waffle my way out of this one with a decent explanation. I just think that it would be really funny, (and slightly chaotic).
4. Charles Leclerc + Kimi Antonelli
The Tifosi’s dream to say the least. The man they see only second to God and the most Italian child to ever step foot in the Paddock (I’m just joking Michele Alboreto). A podium at Monza with Antonelli and Leclerc would become a national holiday in Italy (especially if they both drove for Ferrari).
5. Oscar Piastri + Max Verstappen
This would be the partnership equivalent of the ‘go girl… give us nothing!’ meme. Media days would be dry as toast and social events would be those two using each other as alibis to not have to socialize too much. It may not be the most entertaining of duos but they sure would never lose a race. (But who would the number 1 driver be?)
6. Pierre Gasly + Isack Hadjar
I don’t have much to say on this duo besides the fact that they would be SO French. Like not even a little bit French. VERY French. We need Laurent Mekies as the team priniciple and Alpine as the team. I don’t think we would get one English word spoken with that team line-up.
7. Charles Leclerc + Nico Hulkenberg
Honestly, I don’t think any team would go within 10 feet of this pair, their bad luck could be contagious. Leclerc would never have the right tires and would constantly be crying after each race (I’m 82% sure that Mattia Binotto still shows up in his nightmares). Hulkenberg may be in line for a podium but we’ll see whether he gets it with his luck. I couldn’t even find a picture of them together. The power would be too strong.
8. Alex Albon + George Russell
These best friends would be a chaotic British nightmare for any team they would drive at. Similar to Antonelli and Bearman, they came to F1 together after karting together through childhood. Together they would be the most hilarious partnership (as teammates or simply as friends). I can just imagine now the meme-worthy content of their media days.
9. Carlos Sainz + Fernando Alonso
OMG! A Spanish-speaking iconic partnership that would go down in history as the peak of iconic-ness in F1. Just imagine it. The thirst traps that team (and themselves) would post, the laughter in interviews and media. (and of course they are both great drivers too) BUT IMAGINE WHEN THEY GO TO THE SPANISH-SPEAKING RACES!!!
10. Daniel Ricciardo + Yuki Tsunoda
I get that Danny Ric isn’t on the grid anymore but like IMAGINE. It would be so funny. Yuki’s short-king-angry-but-also super-hopped-up-on-Red-Bull vibe with Daniel’s Australian-charismatic-always-positive-hilarious-honey-badger vibe could never ever fail to amuse fans. Drive To Survive could genuinely do a whole season on them.
Guys I just realised that they were already teammates for a hot minute so I’m sorry. I’m still keeping number 10 though because it’s iconic.
So, those are my top combinations for driver partnerships on the grid! Leave a comment if you have any more ideas.
See you trackside!
Trackside Talk 