F1
With the Monaco Grand Prix and its accompanying fashion show fast approaching, we've conjured up some chic racing gear for Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso drivers to wear. See what you think.
The 2018 Formula One Championship arrives in Monaco on May 27 for arguably the season's most glamorous race weekend. As well as high-speed thrills on the track and luxury yachts in the port, there's also a catwalk show to satisfy the high-fashion cravings of the beautiful people present.
The Amber Lounge Fashion Show is, boast its hosts, the only event in the world to feature actual, real-life F1 drivers on its catwalk. Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull Racing's own Daniel Ricciardo have all strutted their stuff in next season's collections.
Inspired by this motorsport/fashion mash-up, we started wondering what Ricciardo, his team-mate Max Verstappen, and Scuderia Toro Rosso drivers Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly might look like on the track with a haute couture makeover. Could this be the future of F1 attire? Probably not, but we still think they look pretty natty.
Gentlemen of the road
Taking its cue from the trends adorning the earliest motoring enthusiasts in the early 20th century, as well as the sartorial preferences of Mr Toad from Kenneth Grahame's The Wind In The Willows book, this line brings that Edwardian golden period into the future for a look that pitches up somewhere between Glorious Goodwood and Blade Runner. We can just imagine Daniel Ricciardo turning up at the track in this.
Leather forever
Leather combusts at 212°C. F1 Nomex® race suits, however, can withstand temperatures of 840°C. That's hotter that the average house fire. So, while leather might be present in drivers' gloves and ankle boots, it isn't the most suitable material for F1 jumpsuits. And just think how sticky they'd get after races – drivers would need to be peeled out of their cars like wacky wall walkers. Still, these leather outfits look pretty damn hot and we think Max Verstappen would agree.
Podium dancer
F1 drivers have been known to enjoy the occasional party, and, if they’re good enough at their day job, they also get to stand on a podium at the end of races. It's only logical, then, to bring the two things together in our podium dancer collection. Those wedgie-enabling trousers might prove uncomfortable during an extended stay in the cockpit, but at least drivers like Scuderia Toro Rosso's Pierre Gasly will be primed to give it some on the podium should they finish in the top three.
Rainbow warrior
As motorsport continues to explore sustainability, with Formula E cutting out harmful emissions with its all-electric racing and F1 reducing its own environmental impact, it's time for drivers to get in touch with their ethical side while supporting LGBT pride and adding some pizzazz to proceedings. Introducing the rainbow warrior line. Commentators will never confuse drivers again with helmets like this.
Road rash denim
FIA regulations in place since 1975 have ensured all driver jumpsuits are flame retardant. And that's a very good thing, obviously. Over time, heavy, NASA-spec uniforms have been replaced with lightweight lab-tested suits. Before any of that, though, drivers were free to wear bog-standard clothes, like cotton shirts, while super-cool '60s driver Innes Ireland wore something that looked suspiciously denim-like. Even if it wasn't, though, the idea of a (safe) denim race suit is far too appealing – so we've conjured up another killer collection for Brendon Hartley to check out.
