Practical jokes have long been a part of the Formula 1® paddock culture, offering a lighter side to the intense competition on track. From legendary pranks in the early 1990s to ongoing antics in the 2026 season, drivers, engineers, and teams have shared memorable moments of mischief that reveal the camaraderie behind the scenes.
One of the most famous pranks dates back to Ayrton Senna and Gerhard Berger’s time together at McLaren between 1990 and 1992. Berger once filled Senna’s hotel room in Australia with 50 frogs, creating a chaotic surprise. Their playful rivalry continued with Berger swapping Senna’s passport photo for an inappropriate image and even tossing his briefcase from a helicopter. Senna’s retaliation was equally creative, filling Berger’s shoes with shaving foam.
More recent examples include the friendly pranks between Ferrari teammates Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. In 2022, Leclerc hid in a cupboard to surprise Sainz on his birthday, showcasing a lighter, more personal side of team dynamics. Meanwhile, Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel teamed up to prank Nico Rosberg during a 2012 German Grand Prix press conference by manipulating his microphone volume, adding a humorous twist to the media event.
Other notable moments include Eddie Irvine’s interruption of Mika Hakkinen’s 1999 Canadian Grand Prix post-race interview by throwing a towel, which sparked a playful water fight. Sergio Perez has also been involved in pranks, notably faking an engine problem over the radio during the 2011 Japanese Grand Prix’s final lap to trick his race engineer Marco Schupbach. Schupbach later returned the favour with false race results and a fake rain button on Perez’s steering wheel.
In the 2025-2026 period, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli and his race engineer Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington engaged in an ongoing prank war involving cream cakes, water pistols, hot sauce, and even deactivating security passes. At the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix end-of-season dinner, drivers attempted to prank George Russell by saving him a seat next to Max Verstappen, though Russell moved the chair elsewhere.
Other instances include Niki Lauda’s 2013 Nürburgring prank, where he pretended to find his missing ear—a biscuit—during an interview about his 1976 accident. Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad have also kept the tradition alive in 2026 with pranks involving staged TV interviews and hidden earpieces. Meanwhile, McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri pulled a karting prank in July 2026, where Norris drove off with Piastri still aboard, causing Piastri to lose his hat.
These examples underline how practical jokes remain a vibrant part of the Formula 1® paddock atmosphere, involving not only drivers but also engineers and team members. The tradition of friendly mischief continues to bring humour and human connection to the high-pressure environment of the sport.
As the 2026 season progresses, the playful spirit within the paddock shows no signs of fading, reflecting a longstanding culture where competition and camaraderie coexist. Such moments offer fans a glimpse beyond the race results, highlighting the personalities and relationships that shape the world of Formula 1®.