Ping-pong or the Olympics? It's a tough choice for formula one drivers as they contemplate how to spend their rare free time during the August break. Felipe Massa, having returned to his native Sao Paulo, has posted on Twitter photos of his downtime on the saddle of a four-wheeled motorcycle, and playing mini table-tennis with his brother Eduoardo.
Red Bull's Mark Webber has headed to the real Olympics, watching his countryman James Magnussen grapple with the pain of losing Gold in a swimming race he was hotly tipped to win. "It's called the journey," said Australian Webber. "That's the amazing thing about sport."
Champions Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button are also enjoying sport of a different flavour. 2009 title winner Button, and his model girlfriend Jessica Michibata, headed to the Philippines for an Ironman competition. "Triathlons aren't ever going to make me money," the McLaren driver told the Daily Mail. "But whenever I have any time off it doesn't take me long before I am pining to get back out on one." 2012 championship leader Alonso, meanwhile, won a 20 kilometre cycling time trial -- at a speed of almost 45 kilometres per hour.
Lewis Hamilton is holidaying in Grenada, the country of his father Anthony's heritage, while Lotus' Romain Grosjean is enjoying a honeymoon with his new wife Marion Jolles, a French television presenter well known in the F1 paddock. Seven time world champion Michael Schumacher is just enjoying some downtime with his young family. "I'm more focused on living a quiet and private life, so I would rather avoid lots of people," he said. (GMM)
Drivers relax during August shutdown
- Published on 07 Aug 2012 14:50
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
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Red Bull Ring
Driver profile
- Team Aston Martin
- Points 629
- Podiums 9
- Grand Prix 199
- Country ES
- Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (44)
- Place of b. Oviedo, ES
- Weight 68 kg
- Length 1.71 m
- 187,783 comments on Aston Martin
78 members have this team as their favourite
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Team profile
- Team name Lotus F1
- Base Enstone, United Kingdom
- Daniel Ricciardo 3
- Kimi Räikkönen 7
- Romain Grosjean 8
- Kimi Räikkönen 9
- Romain Grosjean 10
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Kevin Magnussen 20
- Nico Hülkenberg 27
- Jolyon Palmer 30
- Esteban Ocon 31
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- 65,124 comments on Lotus F1
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