F1 TV's Jolyon Palmer Gets Behind the Wheel of a Supercar at Albert Park

Former F1 driver and current F1 TV analyst Jolyon Palmer swapped the commentary box for the cockpit, driving a Gen3 Supercar around the Albert Park Grand Prix circuit. The special outing in Anton De Pasquale’s Team 18 Camaro was filmed for F1 TV, with Palmer describing the heavy, powerful machine as "way more forgiving" than the Formula 1 cars he last drove at the Melbourne venue.

Why it matters:

These crossover events between F1 and Supercars highlight the unique appeal and technical challenge of Australia's premier touring car category to a global audience. For F1 personalities like Palmer, it's a rare chance to experience a radically different racing philosophy firsthand, which enriches their analysis and connects two major motorsport fanbases during a marquee event week.

The details:

• Palmer, the 2014 GP2 Series champion and former Renault F1 driver, completed the laps with Dick Johnson Racing's Anton De Pasquale riding shotgun as his guide.
• He noted the Supercar required earlier braking points but could attack curbs more aggressively than an F1 car, calling the overall experience "night and day different."
• The drive held personal significance, as Palmer infamously crashed his Renault at Albert Park during his last F1 outing there in 2017. He joked he was "trying to make sure I didn’t do the same in the last corner" this time.
• Palmer's career mirrors that of his father, Dr. Jonathan Palmer, who also moved from an F1 driving career (83 starts in the 1980s) into broadcasting.

What's next:

Palmer's drive is part of a growing trend of F1 and Supercars cross-pollination during the Australian Grand Prix. It follows Oscar Piastri's run in a Tickford Racing Mustang earlier in the week and precedes a Red Bull promotion featuring Daniel Ricciardo and Broc Feeney. These stunts serve as compelling promotional content and underscore the shared spotlight for both championships during a flagship motorsport week in Melbourne.