---
title: "Liberty Media Announces Special Hot Laps Program for Fans During F1 Weekends"
description: "Lucky fans could be driven around their favorite F1 tracks by the likes of Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen."
date: "2018-02-17"
modified: "2018-02-17"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18571/liberty-media-announces-special-hot-laps-program-for-fans-during-f1-weekends"
categories:
  - "F1"
  - "News"
  - "Racing"
tags:
  - "Daniel Ricciardo"
  - "Fernando Alonso"
  - "Formula 1"
  - "Liberty Media"
  - "max verstappen"
  - "Mclaren 720s"
---

# Liberty Media Announces Special Hot Laps Program for Fans During F1 Weekends

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/02/screen-shot-2018-02-17-at-10-57-27-am.png>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Formula 1's new owner, Liberty Media, has partnered with the series' exclusive tire manufacturer, [Pirelli](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/17763/lamborghini-urus-owners-get-choice-of-purpose-built-pirelli-tire-compounds>), to bring the Hot Laps program to the F1 circus during the 2018 season. The program aims to give spectators and special guests a once-in-a-lifetime thrill in the company of F1's most popular drivers.

It's no secret that the sport of Formula 1 is going through a renaissance period as it attempts to reshape itself in order to attract younger crowds while maintaining its already massive worldwide fan base. The Hot Laps program will make it possible for race attendees to pay or win (through contests) the opportunity to sit alongside [Fernando Alonso](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18438/backlash-fuji-wec-date-change-for-fernando-alonso-deemed-unfair-by-some>), Daniel Ricciardo, [Max Verstappen](<https://www.thedrive.com/start-finish/15425/does-this-fia-steward-have-a-grudge-against-max-verstappen>), Stoffel Vandoorne, and even veteran world champ Mika Hakkinen as they lap that weekend's F1 track.

![message-editor%2F1518883258437-8864-2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1518883258437-8864-2.jpg>)
*McLaren 720S, *McLaren**

The program will be possible thanks to a collaboration with automakers like Aston Martin and McLaren, who will provide a stable of [V8-powered Vantage](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/16199/aston-martin-let-max-verstappen-loose-in-the-new-vantage-and-many-tires-died>) and 720S supercars for the newest F1 fan experience. According to Formula 1, more automakers and drivers are bound to join the program and will be announced in due time. We can't imagine that Ferrari and Mercedes-AMG won't follow suit, considering they already put on similar experiences for VIP guests.

The Hot Laps program will debut at the second race of the season in [Bahrain](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/9512/formula-ones-bahrain-in-season-testing-a-summary>) with nine more venues to be announced soon. Without minding a driver's contractual agreement with a specific team, which supercar/driver/track combination would you like to experience?

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)