Formula 1 is delighted to announce the Formula 1 Pirelli Hot Laps program. The first event will be the 2018 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX, followed by nine other events
at this year’s FIA Formula 1 World Championship, soon to be announced.
The Formula 1 Pirelli Hot Laps program will allow spectators, celebrities and guests
attending a Grand Prix to have an extraordinary and unique experience: being driven in a
supercar by a professional racing driver on the same exciting circuits where their F1 heroes
battle it out.
Pirelli, Global Tyre Partner of Formula 1, will present the program and provide all the tyres
from a bespoke Pirelli garage in the Formula 1 paddock, where these amazing supercars will be
on display throughout the race weekend.
Aston Martin and McLaren are the first two manufacturers to confirm their participation in ten
events. More leading automotive brands are due to be announced in the next weeks.
Aston Martin, whose Aston Martin Valkyrie has been designed in cooperation with Aston Martin
Red Bull Racing’s Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey, will be primarily using the 4.0 litre twin turbocharged V8 powered new Vantage. Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s official drivers, Daniel
Ricciardo and Max Verstappen, will be among the drivers who will be at the wheel of these
supercars.
McLaren will give participants the chance to experience the exhilarating McLaren 720S supercar,
the latest in McLaren Automotive’s Super Series, with the possibility of being driven by Lando
Norris, McLaren F1 reserve and test driver, Mika Häkkinen, McLaren Ambassador, or the
McLaren F1 drivers, Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne.
McLaren pioneered the use of carbon fibre in Formula 1 with the MP4/1 in 1981, and every car
it has made since has used the material to make its vehicles lighter, faster and efficient. The
new 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 M480T engine delivers astonishing levels of performance:
standstill to 100km/h (62mph) takes less than three seconds with a maximum speed of
341km/h (212mph).
Special promotions and competitions to gain access will be arranged during the season by
Formula 1 and partners of the Formula 1 Pirelli Hot Laps program. Sean Bratches, Managing Director, Commercial Operations at Formula 1 said: “The Formula 1 Pirelli Hot Laps program represents a new opportunity to allow Formula 1 fans to get closer to a real track experience. The once in a lifetime experience of being driven at speed by a racing driver at iconic race circuits in dream cars is truly unique. We are seeking to be fan first and this is yet another example of our efforts to that end. This also is a demonstration of our capabilities to provide more value to valued partners like Pirelli and the Formula 1 teams."
Mario Isola, Head of Car Racing at Pirelli said: "Pirelli is proud and delighted to be exclusive partner of the F1 Hot Laps 2018 program: the first ongoing experience designed specifically for fans to sample the speed and emotion of on the-limit driving from the inside, on actual circuits used during each grand prix weekend. Now in the eighth year of its latest Formula 1 era, Pirelli will showcase the performance and technology of its renowned P Zero road car tyre range on the world’s most sophisticated
sportscars and supercars. This family of tires benefits of course from all the know-how and
experience gained on the race track: Pirelli’s premier research and development laboratory."
Simon Sproule, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Aston Martin Lagonda said: “We’re excited to be one of the leading car companies in F1 to engage in the Pirelli Hot Laps
program. We welcome the opportunity to bring a new dimension to the F1 experience for our
fans and customers.”
John Allert, Chief Marketing Officer, McLaren Technology Group, said: “McLaren is proud to support this initiative to bring people closer to the sport, our team and our special sportscars and supercars, providing people with a unique and unprecedented experience in a McLaren they will remember forever.”
