Duke beats race ace Hamilton and gives advice to F1 starlets
THE Duke of Sussex had a few words of friendly advice for two young British Formula One racing drivers at a Silverstone museum opening.
Prince Harry was driven to the doors of the new building in an electric Mercedes by six-time Formula One world champion driver Lewis Hamilton.
He then toured the Silverstone Experience, Northamptonshire, a museum charting British motor racing through the years, alongside race ace Hamilton, yesterday.
As he left he shook hands with Red Bull Racing’s Thai-british driver Alex Albon and George
Russell, who drives for the Williams team. Both men will be starting the new F1 race season next weekend, which begins with the Australia Grand Prix.
The Duke told them: “Good luck. Enjoy it when you get there. Look after yourselves.
“Remember – it’s all up there,” he said, pointing to his head, before jokingly adding “none of that”, gesturing as though turning a steering wheel.
The experience is the new home of the British Racing Drivers’ Club’s archive and also has hands-on exhibits for visitors. It also includes interactive exhibits on the workings of race cars, as well as a pit gun challenge.
Prince Harry managed to beat Hamilton on the timed challenge, causing both men to laugh, with the Duke saying: “They’ve stitched you up.”
The world champion, perhaps showing he was better off behind the steering wheel, said: “Bloody hell, 10.7 seconds? Race lost!”
Pointing at the Duke he then asked museum staff: “How much did he pay you for that?”
The Duke met former stars of the track, including ex-world champion F1 driver Damon Hill, ex-f1 driver Martin Brundle and two speed talents from the 1960s, motorcycle racer Stuart Graham and Lady Christabel Watson, previously Christabel Carlisle.
Now in her 80s, Lady Watson raced Minis and once beat the actor Steve Mcqueen at Brands Hatch.
She was talking to the Duke about her overalls, now donated to the museum, which she had handstitched from fire retardant material by her own Polish dressmaker.
Explaining why she raced, she said: “I did it for the thrill of the speed, because I got so bored watching them go round and round.”