YouTube superstars Dude Perfect have dipped their toes into the glitzy world of Formula One for the first time, filming an action-packed video involving all 20 drivers at this year’s Australian Grand Prix.
The group, who first met as college roommates at Texas A&M 15 years ago and have since garnered a remarkable 60 million YouTube followers, teamed up with F1 in Melbourne for their first taste of America’s fastest growing sport.
In the episode, the social media sensations go head-to-head with Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, talk pancakes with Carlos Sainz – and try to high-five every driver on raceday as part of their popular ‘Betcha’ segment.
F1’s popularity in America is growing year-on-year, with a huge portion of the new fanbase comprised of the so-called ‘Drive to Survive’ generation – and the link-up with Dude Perfect is set to cast the net even wider.
In the new video, which was first shared exclusively with Mail Sport, Cody Jones is the Dude tasked with the tough job of racing around the F1 paddock in search of 20 high-fives from the sport’s biggest names.
Dude Perfect’s hilarious new YouTube video sees them enter the world of Formula One
After beginning well with Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu and Daniel Ricciardo, Cody then runs into trouble in hilarious fashion with Sergio Perez, after the Red Bull driver snubs his advances on his way to a team meeting.
Just seconds later, Mercedes also throw a spanner in the works with Lewis Hamilton, leaving Cody devastated. ‘He’s my hero,’ was the response after the seven-time world champion walked straight past without so much as a second glance.
Hilariously, Cody then manages to tick off the rest of the grid, before returning to the Mercedes hospitality area for a second – and final – try at a high-five from his idol.
Once again, though, the Brit had no interest in stopping for pleasantries with the YouTube star, racing past to leave Cody staring down the barrel of a failed ‘Betcha’.