Oliver WhiteHaving been pointed towards a great photo for this week’s Caption Contest, I happened across some rather bizarre shots of the Formula One drivers arriving in Bahrain on Thursday. I find it interesting to see the drivers looking relaxed and carefree as they wander into the paddock, all dressed in their usual clothes with little sign of sponsor’s logos and the rest (okay, maybe a few logos). But what did strike me, and what made the following set of photos bizarre, is the range of sunglasses these wealthy athletes chose to put on their faces…
Now I will be the first to admit that finding a pair of shades that look half decent on my face is an arduous task at minimum, but I do tend to stay away from the 1980s throwbacks, a time when some of the drivers were barely even born. The retro look may work for some people, and it may even be a requirement of some of the sponsors, but there is a limit. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the full extent of Formula One eye-wear fashion.
Heikki Kovalainen – To be honest, not that bad.
Fernando Alonso – Can get away with the aviator look, just.
Felipe Massa – Cannot get away with the aviator look. But you do have to respect his authoritah!
Robert Kubica – A slightly updated Terminator look?
Timo Glock – A funky version of the ‘slightly updated Terminator look’?
Nick Heidfeld – Nick chose to ignore Glock Wan’s advice and instead consulted with Sebastien Bourdais’s daughter.
Sebastian Vettel – By the way Seb, Don Johnson wants his shades back.
Mark Webber – Takes his UV protection seriously.
Maybe I don’t understand fashion, maybe I am the absurd one. But even so, I think most of the drivers look pretty humorous wearing what they’re wearing.
All images © xpb.cc/Motorsport.com.
And in case the joke is lost on some people, Gok Wan is a fashion consultant who found fame on British television.
I just had to comment on that title. I love puns and that is a cracker. I may not have anything to say on the subject of the drivers’ choice of facial furniture but the title in itself elicited the comment so was clearly worth the effort.
Thanks Steven. When I post, I usually have a title in mind before writing anything, but this one took me some time. It was the last text to the added to this post and came about from the ridiculous nature of Glock’s eyewear. But of course, now I’ve started with the Glock Wan puns, my mind won’t allow them the rest. There’s just far too many… 😀
Excellent stuff Ollie, I love it. Heikki seems to be the only one who suits his sunglasses and the Webber one is just classic 😀
Great post Ollie 🙂
I also can’t believe how many drivers wear Ray Bans! *must.fight.urge.to.buy.ray.bans* lol 🙂
I find it interesting that Webber seems to be the only driver wearing Oakleys. Considering their ‘pedigree’ with sportspeople, I thought Oakleys would have been more prominent among the drivers.
Edit: I think Kubica’s and Glock’s might be Oakleys. They have the square ‘O’ on the arm-hinge. Although you wouldn’t think they’re Oakleys when you look at them! Fisher Price was the company that sprang to my mind!
I was about to mock Ray Bans, but then I took a quick look at my sunglasses and realised they are, erm, Ray Bans. 😀
Ray-Bans sponsored Brawn at one point, back when it was BAR. I wonder if they’re wishing they’d stuck with the deal…
By the way, happy birthday Ollie 🙂
I’ve left Ollie some virtual cake in my NaBloPoMo album. Naturally, anyone else who wishes to look at it is also welcome 🙂
I was about to mock Ray Bans, but then I took a quick look at my sunglasses and realised they are, erm, Ray Bans. {Oliver White – 3 comments ago}
Great minds think alike 😉
Caaaake!!! Nom nom nom. Thanks Alianora, you’re very kind. 🙂
Damn. Ollie got the cake before me.
Happy birthday.
Thanks Steven, and to everyone else for the well wishes. 🙂
it’s like everyone is tempting me! damn my bad eyesite 😉
Yep, they still sponsor the team, they’ve recently done a deal with Brawn too 🙂
In all honesty, and without wanting to add to the temptation, my Ray Bans have been by far and away the best sunglasses I’ve ever owned. They look okay on me (not too bug eye) and have lasted several years. I think I got them in 2006, on my way home from Venice in April that year. I’ve never had a pair of sunglasses that have lasted 3 years before.
i’m going to have to get used to wearing contacts… 😀
Can you not get prescription lenses put into a pair of Ray Ban frames?
yep but they can be a little expensive, plus what happens if i’m out and go inside…how will i see? 😀
You won’t be able to see, but you’ll look cool. Besides, isn’t that what handbags are for? All those things that men couldn’t be bothered to carry around, like an extra pair of glasses. 🙂
Specsavers did me a pair of prescription Quiksilver shades on their ‘buy one regular pair of glasses, get a pair of sunnies cheap’ deal. Not sure they do Ray Bans though. Might be worth enquiring around though. And when you pass your driving test, you’ll soon cherish having a pair of prescription sunglasses in your car.
oooo i like that idea, well i have an opticians appointment on thursday, i’ll ask then 🙂
Caaaake!!! Nom nom nom. Thanks Alianora, you’re very kind {Oliver White – 10 comments ago}
You’re welcome, Ollie 😉
Snap !
I’m glad you explained the pun because I didn’t get it, not being in the UK and all. My first thought was Obi Wan, and I was struggling to see the connection….
Those sunnies of Glocks look like a paid of skiing goggles. I have seen some pretty tragic sunnies in my time, but those take the cake. Talking about cake, happy birthday Ollie !
Thanks Pink. 🙂
What a great post! I was thinking the same thing during the Bahrain GP Weekend and as an Optometrist I would never have selected such frames for these guys! Although I think Kimi’s are a good choice! I can’t find an image of him though…I think they were Ray Ban’s.
Happy birthday Oliver, hope you have a wonderful day!
Thanks B. 🙂
Kimi Raikkonen at the 2009 Chinese Grand Prix.
Kimi in China wearing his shades. Don’t know which brand they are though.
Kimi is wearing Tag Heuer Speedway, designed by himself…
btw.. by any chance is Heikki wearing RB 3342?
oh wow good job those look pretty cool not sure if they would suit me lol
Thanks Prashant. I thought Tag Heuer just made watches. You learn something new everyday!
According to the official Ray Ban website, they are very similar. The special code is found printed on the inside of one of the arms in case anyone is curious. For Levis, the colour and style code is sewn into the label halfway down the inside leg. Don’t ask me how I know these things, I just do. 🙂
Sunglasses (and glasses to a lesser degree) are a nightmare for me – only certain styles really fit my face properly. And I’m not brave enough to even try the styles that Glock and Kubica have chosen.
I found a video on YouTube where Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, Adrian Sutil, Nick Heidfeld and Timo Glock replace the German presenters of Formula 1.
Glock Wan looks hilarious.
BTW-It’s in German
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_mh9VygCgQ
um I’m young. Who’s Don Johnson?
also please hope my school is closed because of the snow. i reali want to go and play at wollaton park (in notts) to have a snowball fight wiv my freidn who goes to another school. fanx.
claire.
on the subject :
Heikki-alrite
nando-mmmm
felipe-lets justsay he wudnt ‘fit in’ in my area
nick-not 2 bad
seb-it’d be alrite wiv ma frnds. he wudnt fit in wiv da ‘cool’ kids.
mark-lol