FORMER F1 DRIVER PALMER SAMPLES DEWALT CHEVROLET

MEDIA RELEASE/Team 18 – Photos: supplied

Former Formula 1 driver turned TV commentator Jolyon Palmer got a taste of Supercars machinery on Wednesday ahead of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, taking the wheel of Anton De Pasquale’s #18 DEWALT Racing Chevrolet Camaro at Albert Park.

Palmer, who contested 35 Grands Prix for Renault in 2016 and 2017, completed several laps of the Melbourne street circuit as part of a feature being filmed for F1TV, where he now works as a commentator and analyst. The feature will air on Sunday in the build-up to the Grand Prix. The 35-year-old also took De Pasquale for a ride during the session, experiencing the power and grip of the V8 Supercar first-hand.

The filming also included 2010 Supercars champion James Courtney, now a Team 18 co-driver and Supercars broadcaster, who was on hand capturing content for the Supercars broadcast which will air on Sunday.

Palmer admitted the experience was a stark contrast to Formula 1 machinery, impressed by the physical nature of the Camaro.

The cameo appearance comes as Team 18 prepares for Round 2 of the Repco Supercars Championship, with De Pasquale arriving in Melbourne fresh from victory in Race 2 at Sydney Motorsport Park. Supercars action at Albert Park begins on Thursday.

Jolyon Palmer, Former F1 Driver & F1TV Broadcaster

“That was a huge amount of fun. I had a run as a passenger last year and you could feel the grip and the speed, and it was really impressive. But to actually get behind the wheel is very cool, trying to slide a little bit, trying to feel the limit of grip and feeling the power the car’s got as well.

“It’s night and day different. It’s heavy, it’s got some grunt, it’s got power, braking distances are all earlier and the car is able to ride the kerbs a lot more. It’s also way more forgiving. I crashed last time I was here in Formula One, so I was trying to make sure I didn’t do the same in the last corner, but you can feel the car sliding a lot more and you can catch it. It was honestly so fun to drive.

“The whole team has been super helpful, really letting me drive the car, which is something. And Anton as well for letting me drive his car, sitting in and also giving me loads of pointers. He’s obviously driving at the top of his game now, so learning from him and getting a few pointers over those laps was quite helpful so I wasn’t starting from absolutely nothing.”

Anton De Pasquale, driver #18 DEWALT Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

“He built up to it really well in the first lap. I think we had two laps or something, and by the end he was pushing pretty hard. You can tell when you’re with someone who’s driven at a high level, they start feeling the tyre and they get pretty comfortable pretty quickly. So it was cool. I felt pretty safe, surprisingly. I didn’t think I would, but it was good.

“I’ve done it once before with Luke Youlden many years ago, and that’s the first time in a long time I’ve [been a passenger]. At first you don’t know what to expect, and especially here it’s so fast and there are a few walls. But he was really good. He had a lot of respect for the car and he wasn’t going to push too hard and get out of his comfort zone. He’s a great driver and we had a heap of fun.

“Apparently we were talking before and he was looking through what I’ve done in the past, maybe to see if I can drive or not, and I raced his brother at Silverstone one year. I don’t remember how I went or how he went, that was many years ago. It’s amazing how through the years you have so many connections with so many people through motorsport worldwide. It’s always pretty cool.”

SCHEDULE
2026 Melbourne SuperSprint (All Times AEDT)

Thursday 5 March
10:35am, Practice 1 (30 mins)
12:25pm, Practice 2 (30 mins)
2:20pm, Qualifying – Race 4 (12 mins)
2:42pm, Qualifying – Race 5 (8 mins)
5:00pm, Race 4 – 105km (19 laps or 1 lap after 5:38pm)

Friday 6 March
5:30pm, Race 5 – 105km (19 laps or 1 lap after 6:08pm)

Saturday 7 March
9:00am, Qualifying – Race 6 (12 mins)
9:22am, Qualifying – Race 7 (8 mins)
5:35pm, Race 6 – 105km (19 laps or 1 lap after 6:13pm)

Sunday 8 March
10:10am, Race 7 – 80km (14 laps or 1 lap after 10:43am)

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