Rain is the natural enemy of many a sport, but these Formula One team members managed to turn the wet weather in Japan into another activity – boat building.
The rain has been coming down hard at the Suzuka Circuit during the second practice session ahead of the weekend’s race, as you might have gathered from the teams’ various social media accounts.
Current scenes in the pitlane. ☔️ #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/luGdPh0Ir0
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 6, 2017
UPDATE: The start of #FP2 is delayed indefinitely… #JapanGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/Wt2zyIdYFi
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) October 6, 2017
It’s pretty wet out there.
Seriously… Help? #JapaneseGP #FP2 pic.twitter.com/0ahHUVQKMb
— Renault Sport F1 (@RenaultSportF1) October 6, 2017
The only way @Max33Verstappen is going out in FP2 at Suzuka… #JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 #F1 pic.twitter.com/VJHxz66ssB
— Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) October 6, 2017
Mercedes had the right idea though.
*Immediately starts to prepare paper boats for #FP2* #JapaneseGP @F1 pic.twitter.com/i7nsrBhoCM
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) October 6, 2017
It seems boat building is a bit of a thing within the world of Formula One – here’s one Red Bull Racing made earlier.
This feels familiar! 🌧🛶 Who remembers which year our crew had to resort to building boats in Suzuka? #JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 #F1 pic.twitter.com/KbpSNnVTLZ
— Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) October 6, 2017
So who built the best of the bunch this time around? Mercedes’ effort wins bonus points for the baffling narrative within.
😂😂😂 #JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 #F1 pic.twitter.com/6IE24oS2zX
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) October 6, 2017
Just a basic paper boat for McLaren, but a round of applause please for the hat.
Rain delays, Suzuka style… ☔️🇯🇵 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/FFj7OtnMbv
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 6, 2017
Force India started small…
And the @ForceIndiaF1 emerges from the garage and heads out into the pitlane! Only, it is not a car… #JapaneseGP #PinkPanthers pic.twitter.com/e8WToDWUq9
— Sahara Force India (@ForceIndiaF1) October 6, 2017
… but ended up with something a little more complex.
We’re taking it a step further. The F1 development race is well and truly on! #JapaneseGP #PinkPanthers pic.twitter.com/C6M5eBa8MU
— Sahara Force India (@ForceIndiaF1) October 6, 2017
What a machine! Force India in with a chance of pole position with pace like that.
And how it sails! #JapaneseGP #PinkPanthers pic.twitter.com/P9Wh0dwEDK
— Sahara Force India (@ForceIndiaF1) October 6, 2017
Sauber joined the party too.
It's time for FP2 but the session has been postponed due to 🌧 Meanwhile the boys were hard at work building….⛵ #JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/hGaYBdRsaH
— Sauber F1 Team (@SauberF1Team) October 6, 2017
But it’s Renault who surely emerged as the winners, with their magnificent ‘Hulk in a Bag’ creation.
If anyone sees this Hulk at the other end of the pitlane… could you bring him back please? #JapaneseGP #FP2 pic.twitter.com/BivwVTwhDd
— Renault Sport F1 (@RenaultSportF1) October 6, 2017
Surprising pace, huh?
Hulk deployed 🎤💪#JapaneseGP #FP2 pic.twitter.com/dBhAoBABsK
— Renault Sport F1 (@RenaultSportF1) October 6, 2017
It certainly had the edge over Renault’s initial banana boat.
#FP2 will start at 14:45 local time! #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/L3rNsPt2lt
— Renault Sport F1 (@RenaultSportF1) October 6, 2017
The things we bring with us to races, honestly… 🍌 #JapaneseGP #FP2 pic.twitter.com/5GdAsOY2ST
— Renault Sport F1 (@RenaultSportF1) October 6, 2017
Will the Japanese Grand Prix prove to be a banana skin for Lewis Hamilton in the title race?