Being a Formula One driver is a bit like being a rockstar, except for a stricter diet.
A driver is only as good as the team around him. You’ve got the chief race engineer on lead guitar, software technicians on keyboards, the press officer on backing vocals and the mechanics making up the rhythm section. So which band would a grand prix team be?
Ferrari – U2
Fabulously successful, rich, highly political and have the ear of governments. Often popular with those who aren’t so interested in the genre, but can nonetheless put on a flamboyant live show.
BMW Sauber – The Black Eyed Peas
They had plenty of credibility but little success for years until they hired blonde bombshell Fergie to provide vocals. The record company shoveled in cash, and the group became a global sensation. Since BMW took over Sauber, they’ve started to do pretty well too.
Renault – The Strokes
You just don’t know what to expect from them. They release one critically acclaimed album and follow it up with a howler. Then, a couple of years later, they’re back on top and picking up awards.
Williams – Radiohead
These public school boys from Oxford were huge up until the late 90’s and then went all avant-garde, sprouting walrus tusks and things like that. Many thought the end was nigh when they separated from their record company, but going independent seems to suit them.
Red Bull Racing – New Order
Were born out of an older outfit. New Order meant new direction, and they proceeded to spend a fortune on product design. The band had their own night club, the Hacienda, whereas Red Bull take their ‘Energy Station’ to every race, complete with DJs.
Toyota – Sigue Sigue Sputnik
Arrived on a crest of New Wave hype, their record company spent an absolute fortune signing them but never saw any return. The band even used the slogan âFleece the Worldâ, and the best they could manage was a number two in the charts.
Scuderia Toro Rosso – Fleetwood Mac
The scene of fisticuffs, Stevie Nicks and the other girl routinely beat each other up. Spent £2 million on a party by flying all their friends to the South of France. One of the members disappeared to join a religious cult. Scott Speed has gone off to race stock cars.
Honda – Oasis
Their best work is their earliest. They keep saying their best is yet to come but no one actually believes them. The Gallagher brothers can never agree who the front man is. Nick Fry and Ross Brawn may have a similar argument.
Super Aguri – The Beta Band
Or B-Band, or B-Team even. They had a committed following and enjoyed critical acclaim, yet they still ran into financial difficulties and were forced to call it a day. Will the same be true of the popular Super Aguri?
Force India – The Who
They went by four different names in just two years: The Confederates, The Detours, The High Numbers and The Who. A bit like Jordan/Midland MF1/Spyker/Force India. They had a habit of smashing all their equipment too.
McLaren – Pink Floyd
Lawyers have closely scrutinized their work, and it has transpired that the main players haven’t spoken to each other in some time.
Found inspiration from outer space when they recorded the original score for images transmitted from the first moon landing.
McLaren sought similar inspiration when they built their factory. And they supplied composites for the Beagle 2 space probe.
