Before the Austrian Grand Prix, Kiwi F1 driver Liam Lawson faced off against fellow New Zealander Jonny Balchin in an odd pre-race warm up - racing tractors in Lederhosen.
Jonny, a content creator living in Austria, first put Lawson through a series of classic Austrian tasks - including learning how to properly cook schnitzel, and even a bit of yodelling.
Once it got to the big tractor race, Liam was given the choice of his ride - the blue or green tractor.
In the end, he went with the blue one because it had a carbon fibre cup holder. As you do.
With the engines roaring (kinda), Liam sped off the start line and “boosted ahead with a beauty of a start.”
But Jonny’s green machine had a slightly higher top speed (emphasis on the slightly), and suddenly things were neck and neck.
Just as it was anyone's for the taking, the F1 instincts kicked in. Liam showed his experience and took the inside on the second corner, laughing as he flew ahead.
“We could feel the power of the tractor, the sweat in our Lederhosen, the sun beating down – it wasn’t over as we came to the final straight,” Jonny said.
The green machine just didn’t have quite enough juice to catch up, and Lawson took the win.
He used his winning words to crown it “the most interesting lap [he’s] ever done.”
Lawson even scored a sticker of the Austrian flag for his efforts.
After that tractor win, Liam was clearly still in race mode, finishing with his season-best, placing sixth at the Austrian GP this morning.
Like Jonny says, “whether it’s a 300kph or a 30kph tractor”, Liam’s got some pretty mean skills out on the track.
