From Alonso watching the screen to Schumacher's hand signals – the 14 greatest bits of multitasking in F1

Fernando Alonso nonchalantly watching the big screen during the Miami Grand Prix, as his Aston Martin team mate Lance Stroll overtook the competition, had us thinking about the times F1 drivers performed elite levels of multitasking while behind the wheel.

So, we have dug through the footage, collected all the evidence, and found the moments where F1 drivers showcased their incredible abilities to do more than one thing at once.

There's a reason they are among the best drivers in the world...

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Alonso keeps an eye on his team mate

As he was the catalyst for this conversation, it's only right that the list starts with Alonso watching on as Stroll overtook Alex Albon for 13th at the Miami GP, before complimenting the Canadian on the team radio.

What it also showed is that Formula 1 drivers are human beings just like the rest of us – they also watch television when they should be working...

Alonso passes on information to Stroll

Miami was not the first time Alonso was heard multitasking on the team radio this season, as in Baku he found time to tell his engineer to pass Stroll a message about what brake balance he felt was best for the Canadian to use.

Unfortunately, it didn't work immediately, as Stroll ran wide and lost a position just a few corners later, but it was still impressive multitasking from Alonso.

READ MORE: Stroll reveals what it's been like to work with two-time champ Alonso so far

Senna stuck in sixth gear

Ayrton Senna did plenty of impressive things in Formula 1, but it's hard to argue that his first win on home soil at the 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix is not at the top of the list. While leading the race, Senna's gearbox failed, leaving him stuck in sixth gear, while also having to hold off the Williams of Riccardo Patrese, before rain began to fall.

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The Brazilian racer would cling on for victory, but he was so emotionally and physically exhausted after the race that he had to be lifted out of his car, and he could barely hold up his trophy in celebration.

Schumacher's hand signals

Back at the 1999 French Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher lost communication with his pit wall via the team radio. However, some quick thinking from the then two-time world champion meant that he realised that while they could not hear him, they could still see him.

So, he used hand signals to communicate with his team via the onboard cameras, on his way to finishing fifth ahead of his Ferrari team mate Eddie Irvine.

WATCH: Enjoy extended highlights from the exciting rain-hit 1999 French Grand Prix

One hand on the mirror and another on the wheel

Going through 130R at Suzuka is often quite a difficult task for the drivers, but for Charles Leclerc, at the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix, it was made even tougher by the fact that he had to steer with one hand.

The Monegasque was forced to drive at nearly 300km/h, while trying to hold in place his damaged wing mirror, after making contact with Max Verstappen on the opening lap of the race.

READ MORE: Leclerc says Vasseur 'just starting' process at Ferrari and 'trusts him fully' for future

Three wheels up Hamilton

Back at the 2020 British Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton looked set to claim another win at Silverstone with ease, only for his left-front tyre to suffer a puncture ahead of the final lap.

The seven-time world champion managed to cross the line in dramatic fashion on three wheels, just ahead of the charging Max Verstappen in second.

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Webber leaves little to the imagination

We have often heard of drivers being sick on a race weekend but most of the time, it is left to the imagination for us to decipher how ill they really are.

However, back at the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix, we were given telling insight from Mark Webber, when he was heard vomiting in his helmet while driving, before telling his team he needed to stop.

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Lauda battles injury on return

Back at the 1976 Italian Grand Prix, Niki Lauda put in one of the most heroic performances the sport has ever seen. Six weeks after suffering serious injuries in a crash at the German GP, Lauda returned to the grid as he looked to keep his championship hopes alive.

READ MORE: ‘He was like a ghost’ – Remembering Niki Lauda’s comeback from fiery Nurburgring crash, 45 years on

The Austrian overcame his understandable nerves at his F1 return to finish fourth for Ferrari that day, while still suffering immense pain from the burns he suffered in the accident – to the extent that even putting on his helmet was agony. That’s some courageous multitasking.

On-track commentator Russell

When Formula 1 went to Mugello in 2020, it was the first time many fans would have seen F1 cars going around the famous Italian circuit. So, during the first practice session, George Russell gave insight to all about how to tackle the circuit, by commentating on his flying lap of Mugello.

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Valtteri checks on Lewis

Even though they are going slower than usual under Safety Car conditions, the drivers are still travelling relatively rapidly. So, back at the 2021 British Grand Prix, it was impressive that Valtteri Bottas could pull alongside his Mercedes team mate Hamilton to check, and to report back to his team, whether the Briton had sustained any damage to the left side of his car after contact with Verstappen.

READ MORE: Bottas believes Hamilton 'still the fastest driver on the grid' as he calls former team mate 'annoyingly talented'

Friday... courtesy of the musical stylings of Lando Norris

Lando Norris is one of the more fun-loving drivers on the grid, and he showcased his exuberant spirit in FP1 back at the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix.

Asked by his race engineer to make sure the radio was working, rather than simply answer back, the McLaren racer gave a rendition of Riton and Nightcrawlers song – featuring Mufasa and Hypeman – Friday, while driving the MCL35.

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Montoya's 'oh deer' goes over their heads

Back at the 2001 Austria Grand Prix, Juan Pablo Montoya was clocking in the laps at Spielberg in practice when his engineer informed him that he needed to pit because there was a deer out on track.

But Montoya saw the funny side of things in a stressful situation, replying back to his engineer “oh deer”... although we don’t think anybody got it at the time.

READ MORE: Juan Pablo Montoya’s son Sebastian joins Red Bull Junior Team and sets ‘ultimate goal’ of F1

Leclerc not buckled in

You can try, but you’d be hard-pressed to find any driver having a more eventful couple of laps than Leclerc at the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix.

The Ferrari racer’s engine cut off to spin him around at the penultimate corner and, while he was able to get his car going, he had unbuckled his seat belts. So, he was forced to pit as they looked to fasten him back into the car, only for the Monegasque to retire from the race.

Hamilton's head rest issue

Lewis Hamilton’s 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is often known for his tangle with Sebastian Vettel under the Safety Car. However, many forget the Mercedes driver having to go down the main straight at 340km/h, steering his car with one hand while trying to fix his loose head rest. But with safety the top priority in the sport, Hamilton was ultimately forced to come into the pits to allow his team to effect repairs, costing him a chance of victory.