Watch Red Bull Drivers Take On AlphaTauri In Japanese Game Show Driving Challenge

Sep. 22, 2023 2:14 PM ET bySebastian Cenizo Video /Comments

The blindfolds may be the best part.

Of all the current Formula 1 teams, Red Bull's two outfits are by far the best at promotions, and the latest is particularly entertaining, pitting the two teams' drivers against each other in a series of game show-style events. Held indoors, the challenges see the drivers operate a small Honda kei truck rather than theirCivic Type Rcompany cars, which means low speed, low weight, and high entertainment values.

The first three challenges are unusual, while the last is a race of sorts. The first challenge is randomly chosen by Max Verstappen, and it sees a driver from each team reverse the truck through a series of obstacles before parallel parking in a tight space. Let's just say that F1 drivers don't seem to have to do a lot of parallel parking in their daily lives.

Sergio 'Checo' Perez handles the driving duties for this first challenge, while Yuki Tsunoda drives with Liam Lawson riding shotgun, and it's the Japanese driver who sets the fastest time, giving AlphaTauri the advantage. It's not the first time that thejunior team has beaten the primary teamin an unusual challenge like this, and it won't be the last, but Red Bull quickly equals the score in the next challenge, where the drivers must work together.

The driver is blindfolded (each driver gets a unique blindfold), while their passenger must navigate. Any boxes that fall off the truck throughout the course add two seconds to the overall time.

Liam drives, and Yuki navigates, and while they only drop one box weaving their way through the course, they lose 11 as they brake over the line. Some nefarious tactics must be employed, and the AlphaTauri drivers dislodge some Red Bull boxes in an effort to maintain their lead.

But Checo is a fantastic co-driver, and Max finishes the course quickly and smoothly, without dropping a single box. In the final challenge, supersized automotive 10-pin bowling is the game, and while Max gets a respectable eight pins down, Liam matches him. Yuki swaps into the driver's seat for the spare, and although he fails, he does knock one more pin down, making it nine to Max's eight. AlphaTauri wins the best-of-three challenge, but then it's time for a 'proper' race.

Checo and Liam drive, and Max and Yuki act as their respective delivery assistants (the truck has to stop mid-race to offload boxes). Both teams do well, but Checo wins, showing why he's in the senior seat.

What amusing automotive entertainment will Red Bull cook up next? It's already driven an F1 carthrough a Las Vegas casino, and it's given Max the opportunity tolearn drifting from Mad Mike. Topping that is going to be a tall order.