Formula 1's 2026 drivers' questionnaire has produced the most entertaining peek behind the paddock curtain this season, with the grid offering unusually candid assessments of who actually gets things done off the track — and who definitely does not.
The most consistent answer across the field concerned dinner bills. Pierre Gasly's reputation for generosity was volunteered, unprompted, by multiple drivers. "Pierre got the driver dinner last year," one grid member said. "Pierre paid the bill last year very kindly. Big up Pierre. That was a big bill and he did pick it up. So well done." A second nomination went to Lewis Hamilton, identified as the current form pick. "I feel like there's a lot of good bill payers. Lewis probably," one driver offered. "He's been very — he's been paying lately. Lewis always generous."
Gasly's hospitality did not buy him universal praise, though. Asked who was the least likely to answer a phone call on the grid, one driver did not hesitate: "Not Pierre. 100%. Like last person on the grid." Fernando Alonso was singled out as the funniest on the grid, but only within a specific context. "I think if you just take someone and you just speak to them, Fernando will make you laugh. He'll say something ridiculous. Very racing specific. It's always about racing, but it'll be funny."
Alonso also won the island survival vote. "Maybe one of the wiser drivers, Fernando," one driver explained. "I feel like Fernando could be quite a good choice there, cause he'll want to get off the island. I feel like he probably is looking for the same things and he's quite smart and wise, so I'll go with Fernando. Might be a bit quiet, but I reckon we'd get off the island."
The punctuality questions produced fewer kind words. Esteban Ocon was named as the driver most likely to sleep through an alarm, with one teammate providing specifics: "I'm going to say Esteban Ocon because I know he has actually slept through his alarm once, and he got to the track like 30 minutes before the session." Franco Colapinto took the more general late-to-things prize, particularly for fan forums. "Franco, I think. He's late to most things. At least when we do fan forum together, he's normally late."
Alex Albon and Lando Norris came out of the exercise well. Albon was described as the driver you want in your corner — with one caveat. "I rely on Alex to be sort of there for me. But if I rely on him to pick up the phone, I don't rely on him at all. So I'd actually probably say Lando is the one. If I called, I think he would answer."
On the succession question — who would make a good team principal once their racing career is over — Carlos Sainz was the consensus pick. "I would say Carlos in that regard," one driver said. "I do think he would be — I could see him being more involved in it. I think he enjoys that part of it." George Russell earned a separate mention as the most active contributor in the drivers' group chat, largely because of his GPDA workload: "I would say that's George, but also because he's doing stuff for the GPDA. So in our chat, he actually does work."
Liam Lawson, finally, got a nod of a different kind. Asked who was most likely to end up on reality TV, the grid settled quickly. "Liam's got that vibe." Lewis Hamilton's future show title was also provisionally floated: Keeping Up with the Hamiltons.
---