Odd product promotions by otherwise-respectable F1 drivers

Paul Hayes · Post by **Paul Hayes** » 25 Mar 2011, 19:50

I'll kick us off with...

You too could have Jenson Button's hair!

We all know the feeling. Itchy, flaky scalp. Girls turning their noses up at you because your hair is just too messy and greasy.

But what's this? Help is at hand! Who better to give advice on how to care for your follicles than the 2009 Formula One World Champion? Because as we all know, there is a definite and proven link between being able to drive a racing car quickly and skillfully, and... erm... haircare.

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 25 Mar 2011, 20:08

Fernando Alonso and Silestone worktops:

Paul Hayes · Post by **Paul Hayes** » 25 Mar 2011, 20:12

Do you think the thought process was:

"Silestone... That looks a bit like... 'Silverstone'! Let's get a racing driver!"

shinji · Post by **shinji** » 25 Mar 2011, 20:19

Barrichello and the Power Balance bracelet.

As heard on the podcast!

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 25 Mar 2011, 20:24

Paul Hayes wrote:Do you think the thought process was:

"Silestone... That looks a bit like... 'Silverstone'! Let's get a racing driver!"

Yeah...that and maybe because they though Alonso was hard-headed, I don't know :lol:

shinji wrote:Barrichello and the Power Balance bracelet.

As heard on the podcast!

With such forefront, he was the perfect guy to advertise it :lol:

Chewie · Post by **Chewie** » 25 Mar 2011, 21:08

Nigel Mansell flogging car insurance...

,,........I'm sorry; you said 'well respected'......

..................

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 25 Mar 2011, 21:36

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4Ws_Bp7WYA

It's not really the product itself, but what he managed to say with a straight face.

billy · Post by **billy** » 25 Mar 2011, 21:52

Castrol Rankings promotion on Autosport website:

Not the strangest promotion, but poor Johnny looks quite done in these days, doesn't he?

Paul Hayes · Post by **Paul Hayes** » 25 Mar 2011, 21:54

billy wrote:Castrol Rankings promotion on Autosport website:

Not the strangest promotion, but poor Johnny looks quite done in these days, doesn't he?

I've found that quite a haunting image on the Autosport site this past week or so. He does look as if he'd much rather be elsewhere and doesn't quite know why he's holding up that iPad, doesn't he?

Lord Fiddlebottom · Post by **Lord Fiddlebottom** » 25 Mar 2011, 23:27

Schumacher and Barrichello being overly enthusiastic over a box of Tic-Tacs.
But maybe that doesn't count, as Tic-Tac was a sponsor in their Ferrari days.

Lord Fiddlebottom · Post by **Lord Fiddlebottom** » 25 Mar 2011, 23:32

Paul Hayes wrote:I'll kick us off with...

You too could have Jenson Button's hair!

We all know the feeling. Itchy, flaky scalp. Girls turning their noses up at you because your hair is just too messy and greasy.

But what's this? Help is at hand! Who better to give advice on how to care for your follicles than the 2009 Formula One World Champion? Because as we all know, there is a definite and proven link between being able to drive a racing car quickly and skillfully, and... erm... haircare.

There's something about a champion's hair...

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 25 Mar 2011, 23:38

Barrichello advertising cloning.

Lord Fiddlebottom · Post by **Lord Fiddlebottom** » 25 Mar 2011, 23:38

This went in print after Lewis's first race win, showing quite some confidence in his future paychecks:

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 26 Mar 2011, 00:31

i can't find a picture of it but i remember a wilux (i think) commercial on the back of a dutch magazine where verstappen was standing under a shower, with racing clothes still on, it looked ridiculous

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 26 Mar 2011, 02:11

Is there someone who can translate Portuguese (I think) on this website? I have no idea what they're saying in this ad.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 26 Mar 2011, 06:59

A certain Australian race car driver has recently been advertising milk from his country's capital city recently...

Post by **mario** » 26 Mar 2011, 07:56

Lord Fiddlebottom wrote:This went in print after Lewis's first race win, showing quite some confidence in his future paychecks:

At least it is a bit more sophisticated than shampoo or kitchen worktops, I guess.

Speaking of Alonso and advertising, though, there was the advertising campaign he did for a certain deodorant company a year or two ago. And going further back, didn't Senna take part in an advertisement for a particular Ford car aimed at the South American market in the 1980's?

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 26 Mar 2011, 08:01

fjackdaw wrote:

Barrichello advertising cloning.

That needs to go in Caption This! :lol:

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 26 Mar 2011, 11:51

LionZoo wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4Ws_Bp7WYA

It's not really the product itself, but what he managed to say with a straight face.

Really? Is anything Ford built for the North American market in the 80s a driver's car? :lol:

I thought Jackie Stewart was obsessed with security :lol:

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 26 Mar 2011, 11:59

JeremyMcClean wrote:Is there someone who can translate Portuguese (I think) on this website? I have no idea what they're saying in this ad.

What I could understand was something like "Arisco ketchup is very red, Rubens is going to be an F1 Champion (if only...), he eats well, champion in taste".

mario wrote:
Speaking of Alonso and advertising, though, there was the advertising campaign he did for a certain deodorant company a year or two ago. And going further back, didn't Senna take part in an advertisement for a particular Ford car aimed at the South American market in the 1980's?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziMsOznCJfc complete with shots of the 1984 Monaco GP, including his overtake on Niki Lauda!

Aerond · Post by **Aerond** » 26 Mar 2011, 12:18

I once read in an 1989 mag covering the japanese GP that Japanese drivers used to do all kind of odd advertising like washing powder...

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 26 Mar 2011, 12:41

Paul Hayes wrote:I've found that quite a haunting image on the Autosport site this past week or so. He does look as if he'd much rather be elsewhere and doesn't quite know why he's holding up that iPad, doesn't he?

Johnny's not holding anything up at all - the pose is so awkward it has to be superimposed. It's a bit like one of those "fail" pictures with someone allegedly holding up an enormous cardboard cheque on a sunny day, only to have the person cast a shadow on the ground with hands wide open and nothinb between them.

JeanDenisAlcatraz · Post by **JeanDenisAlcatraz** » 26 Mar 2011, 14:43

Lord Fiddlebottom wrote:This went in print after Lewis's first race win, showing quite some confidence in his future paychecks:

This one works, though, because it makes someone like me go "ohhhh my God I wish I was him and had one of those and a Pussycat Doll of my own."

Maybe I'm alone here...

Priceless · Post by **Priceless** » 26 Mar 2011, 17:38

JeremyMcClean wrote:Is there someone who can translate Portuguese (I think) on this website? I have no idea what they're saying in this ad.

Here's my shot at it:

Girl: Wow, it's Rubens Barrichello, European Formula Opel Champion!
He uses Arisco catchup, with much pleasure.
He says he's sorry for not talking about it live. He's like all champion drivers: he has such a voice...
He's like them, also because he's going to become Formula 1 Champion. And for that, he eats very well.

Barrichello: And I race very well.

Girl: Arisco - the Champion Catchup. Champion in taste, and in price!

Quite the optimistic type, this girl...

Post by **tommykl** » 26 Mar 2011, 18:20

Priceless wrote:
JeremyMcClean wrote:Is there someone who can translate Portuguese (I think) on this website? I have no idea what they're saying in this ad.

Here's my shot at it:

Girl: Wow, it's Rubens Barrichello, European Formula Opel Champion!
He uses Arisco catchup, with much pleasure.
He says he's sorry for not talking about it live. He's like all champion drivers: he has such a voice...
He's like them, also because he's going to become Formula 1 Champion. And for that, he eats very well.

Barrichello: And I race very well.

Girl: Arisco - the Champion Catchup. Champion in taste, and in price!

Quite the optimistic type, this girl...

What did you expect? It's a commercial!

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 26 Mar 2011, 18:21

tommykl wrote:
Priceless wrote:
JeremyMcClean wrote:Is there someone who can translate Portuguese (I think) on this website? I have no idea what they're saying in this ad.

Here's my shot at it:

Girl: Wow, it's Rubens Barrichello, European Formula Opel Champion!
He uses Arisco catchup, with much pleasure.
He says he's sorry for not talking about it live. He's like all champion drivers: he has such a voice...
He's like them, also because he's going to become Formula 1 Champion. And for that, he eats very well.

Barrichello: And I race very well.

Girl: Arisco - the Champion Catchup. Champion in taste, and in price!

Quite the optimistic type, this girl...

What did you expect? It's a commercial!

That, and the fact no one could imagine Barrichello would go through all that...

Priceless · Post by **Priceless** » 26 Mar 2011, 18:37

Phoenix wrote:
tommykl wrote:What did you expect? It's a commercial!

That, and the fact no one could imagine Barrichello would go through all that...

Yes, of course I say that with hindsight. I for one hoped Barrichello could win the championship during his first years with Ferrari (abandoned all such hope after Austria '02).
Anyway, sorry for the misplaced comment.

Priceless · Post by **Priceless** » 26 Mar 2011, 18:54

Thought I'd leave my contribution to this thread, too...

The ad is for... well, I don't know the name for this in English off the top of my head, we call this (the product) "massa corrida", and it's used in construction for finishing interior brick walls, it's applied and sanded before paint is applied.

The pun only makes sense in Portuguese though, I think... "corrida" is Portuguese for "race". Translating literally, the ad says: "Massa"? "Racing"? That I know!

FMecha · Post by **FMecha** » 28 Mar 2011, 10:44

Priceless wrote:Thought I'd leave my contribution to this thread, too...

The ad is for... well, I don't know the name for this in English off the top of my head, we call this (the product) "massa corrida", and it's used in construction for finishing interior brick walls, it's applied and sanded before paint is applied.

The pun only makes sense in Portuguese though, I think... "corrida" is Portuguese for "race". Translating literally, the ad says: "Massa"? "Racing"? That I know!

Paints for houses?

That ad really make may day!! :lol:

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 28 Mar 2011, 10:52

shinji wrote:Barrichello and the Power Balance bracelet.

As voted by Choice magazine as one of the biggest rip-offs of 2010 because there is no known link between the magnets and the claims the company makes.

madmark1974 · Post by **madmark1974** » 28 Mar 2011, 11:14

These are all old ones, and blatantly copied from Sniff Petrol's site, but worth sharing anyway :

I particularly like the Schumacher Magnum-rip-offs, especially given he was replaced at Ferrari by Raikkonen ...

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 28 Mar 2011, 11:18

Captain Hammer wrote:
shinji wrote:Barrichello and the Power Balance bracelet.

As voted by Choice magazine as one of the biggest rip-offs of 2010 because there is no known link between the magnets and the claims the company makes.

If I remember correctly they were sued by several countries for making false claims...

USA is one of them...

In Australia they opted for refunding...

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 28 Mar 2011, 18:11

madmark1974 wrote:

I'd bet this was in the middle 90es. After Schumacher had won his second title and went to Ferrari, his face was literally on everything. This ice, board games, shampoos (if I remember correctly) and so on...
It was a flood of Schumi-merchandising.

Ferrim · Post by **Ferrim** » 28 Mar 2011, 18:58

madmark1974 wrote:These are all old ones, and blatantly copied from Sniff Petrol's site, but worth sharing anyway :

That one is interesting because in Spanish the word "hostia" means "host" in the context of sacramental bread. But "hostia" is also used, at least in Spain, to refer to a crash: "me di una hostia" would mean "I had a crash" or "I crashed [against] something". And there is an augmentative form of the word, "hostión", which would be a particularly big "hostia".

From "hostión" to "tostión" there's just a letter, and Montoya has probably suffered quite a few "hostias" and "hostiones" during his racing career :lol:

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 28 Mar 2011, 20:31

Don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but...

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 28 Mar 2011, 21:43

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujmUCHReG_M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rztXrbrklk&feature=related

Some Montoya ads from a few years back.

JeanDenisAlcatraz · Post by **JeanDenisAlcatraz** » 29 Mar 2011, 00:04

Klon wrote:I'd bet this was in the middle 90es. After Schumacher had won his second title and went to Ferrari, his face was literally on everything. This ice, board games, shampoos (if I remember correctly) and so on...
It was a flood of Schumi-merchandising.

Was he on as much as Franz Beckenbauer?

Now tehre's a man who must have a few ex-wives to pay off - there's nothing he won't advertise.

JohnMLTX · Post by **JohnMLTX** » 29 Mar 2011, 17:02

What about the commercials featuring Damon Hill and Murray Walker for Pizza Hut?
(and damon has spun his pizza!!!)

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 29 Mar 2011, 17:42

JohnMLTX wrote:What about the commercials featuring Damon Hill and Murray Walker for Pizza Hut?
(and damon has spun his pizza!!!)

"Hill's lost it. He's out of control."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4Q_9VYU9FE
and outtakes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nafnclze ... re=related

Was he on as much as Franz Beckenbauer?

Not quite, luckily Schumacher knows where to stick his "nosecone" into. And yes, I think that was the best adult pun of F1 without Virgin Grand Prix for a long time. :mrgreen:

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 29 Mar 2011, 17:51

JeremyMcClean wrote:Don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but...

dr-baker wrote:A certain Australian race car driver has recently been advertising milk from his country's capital city recently...