Best F1 adverts

Ad agency staff must lose sleep thinking about how best to use monosyllabic, monotone Finn Kimi Räikkönen in their commercials. The solution? Put him in an advert that only requires him to stare blankly, spit on a piece of paper and sign his name. Brilliant.

This one definitely falls in the ingenious category. Commentator Murray Walker spouting some dodgy racing analogies to describe Damon Hill eating a stuffed crust pizza. A Dadaist masterpiece.

This advert is all the more enjoyable when you consider that Alonso and Hamilton's relationship at McLaren imploded just after it was filmed. Dropping in two-time F1 champion Mika Häkkinen at the end was a genius move, too.

Mark Webber is many things: great driver, fitness fanatic, good F1 pundit on Channel 4. What he is not is a singer. Probably hoping this ad would never leave the confines of Canberra, unfortunately YouTube is a cruel mistress.

Considering Mika Häkkinen was famous for never really saying anything during his F1 career, he’s remarkably good value when he pops up in adverts. This one features a nice cameo from his old rival Michael Schumacher, too (more on him later).

Remember in 2013 when Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg didn’t loathe each other? Well here’s proof, even if that rapport is masked by the Mercedes drivers’ wooden dialogue. Interestingly, that beard is not the worst Lewis Hamilton hair situation we’ve witnessed…

No one driver in particular in this one, apart from the lucky gits who got to drive these Ferraris on the streets of London, Rome, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, New York and Sydney. Shell claim this is the most expensive advert ever made. Worth every penny, we reckon.

The second appearance in this list for Herr Schumacher, Fiat used the seven-time world champ to pedal any number of their road cars. There’s even an advert with him and Kimi Räikkönen driving a Fiat Bravo. True story.

We reckon Hunt the Shunt could have made a career in front of the camera, judging by his star turn alongside British comedy duo Morecambe & Wise in this Texaco advert – although he loses points for cracking up at 0:43.

It says a lot about the handling flaws of the Ford Tempo that it looks like a bugger to drive even with there’s a three-time F1 champ behind the wheel. Sir Jackie’s ability to deliver the line “The Ford Tempo is a real drivers’ car” without falling about laughing is testament to what a pro he is.