Formula 1 drivers usually have clauses in their contracts that forbid them from doing extreme sports to save themselves from injury. Football isn’t usually classed as an extreme sport, unless you’re playing against Jamie Carragher.
Formula 1 drivers usually have clauses in their contracts that forbid them from doing extreme sports to save themselves from injury. Football isn’t usually classed as an extreme sport, unless you’re playing against Jamie Carragher.
As an avid Arsenal fan growing up, Lewis Hamilton got to live out one of his childhood dreams as he played a 5-a-side football game with some of the biggest legends in the Gunners’ history.
The line-ups were filled with huge Highbury names, such as Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Sol Campbell and Paul Merson.
As the captains of their respective teams, Hamilton faced off against Henry, who had former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher on his team.
Known for his defensive prowess and sheer loyalty to the Merseyside club, Carragher made sure to leave his mark on the Formula 1 star, and it raised a few eyebrows in the process.
Jamie Carragher once ‘left one on’ Lewis Hamilton in a 5-a-side exhibition match weeks before the Monaco Grand Prix
During the 5-a-side exhibition match, Hamilton was subject to a rough challenge from Carragher, who barged the reigning world champion at the time into the metal fencing that surrounded the pitch.
Hamilton was unscathed in the incident, which would usually be deemed a fairly standard challenge in the professional landscape.
Given the fact that it was an exhibition match, however, it did come across as quite a harsh tackle by those in attendance.
Carragher was pulled up on the challenge following the conclusion of the game, which ended in Henry’s team taking the victory on penalties.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1’s Natalie Pinkham, the Liverpool legend was asked if he was aware that Hamilton had the Monaco Grand Prix to compete in soon when he made the tackle, to which he replied, “No, he’s coming to play football.
“You’ve got to play by our rules now, not the Monaco Grand Prix. He had his shin pads on, so I think he knew what to expect, but no, he did very well.
“It was a good game to be involved in. He’s quite strong, even though I was trying to leave one on him, I think I hurt myself a little bit there!”
Martin Brundle, who was commentating on the exhibition alongside legendary football voice Martin Tyler, wasn’t too happy with the incident, telling Pinkham afterwards, “I wanted to come out here and help him out.
“He needs some other F1 drivers next time, they were brutal with him! They cut him no slack whatsoever, and I’m pleased he’s got all of his legs and ankles intact, ready for Monaco.”
Lewis Hamilton went on to secure pole position and a podium at Monaco two weeks later
Heading into the race weekend at Monaco, Hamilton held a 20-point lead in the F1 standings over his Mercedes counterpart and arch-nemesis, Nico Rosberg.
The British driver had just extended his tenure at the Silver Arrows, signing an extension to his existing contract that would see him remain in Brackley until at least 2018.
Hamilton managed to take first blood on Rosberg by securing pole position on Saturday, which marked the now seven-time world champion’s first-ever front-of-the-pack start on the streets of Monaco in his career.
Despite stretching out a 20-second lead during Sunday’s Grand Prix, a late safety car scuppered Hamilton’s chances of securing victory.
He dropped down to third place on track, with Rosberg taking the chequered flag first instead. In the end, the Brit would have the last laugh as he secured his third world title by the conclusion of the season.
Category: General Sports
